,,notes ,,on ,,the ,,apocalypse2 ,,with ,an ,appendix ,,containing ,,dissertations ,,on ,,some ,,of ,,the ,,apocalyptic ,,symbols1 ,,together ,,with ,,animadversions ,,on ,,the ,,interpretations ,,of ,,several ,,among ,,the ,,most ,,learned ,,and ,,approved ,,expositors ,,of ,,britain ,,and ,,america4 ,,by ,,david ,,steele1 ,sr41 ,pastor of the ,reformed ,presbyterian ,congregation1 ,philadelphia4 ,,philadelphia3 ,,young ,,ferguson1 ,no4 #ad ,,south ,,seventh ,,st4 #ahgj4 ,,to ,,the ,,rev4 ,,john ,,cunningham1 ,,ll4,d41 ,missionary from the ,reformed ,presbyterian ,church to the ,jews in ,london1 ,england4 ,,rev4 ,,and ,,very ,,dear ,,friend ,,and ,,brother3-- ,although we are separated upon the wall1 one far from the other1 we are not altogether precluded from mutual salutation4 ,placed by our ,master on two hemispheres1 between which the electric current bears frequent tidings1 our respective positions are advantageous for noting the events of providence4 ,these constitute the signs of the times1 and are the counterpart of prophecy4 ,prophecy and providence reflect light upon each other1 and both are helpful to the interpretation of each2 but ,he alone who is the ,wonderful ,counsellor1 can cause us to understand either4 ,in submitting the following work to the public1 ,i venture to do so under your auspices1 if not under the sanction of your name4 ,and ,i embrace the present occasion1 ,rev4 ,sir1 to bear willing testimony to your acknowledged scholarship1--your profound erudition1 especially in ,natural ,science and ,philology4 ,i do also cheerfully and joyfully recognise you as a public witness2 and at the present time of general defection1 as an official and consistent witness in the ,british ,isles for the integrity of our ,covenanted ,reformation1--that reformation which in its fuller development is destined to secure the rights of ,god and man in reorganized society4 ,such1 ,i believe to be one of the cheering lessons which may be learned by ,christ's witnesses from searching the ,apocalypse4 ,that you1 ,dear ,sir1 may be long preserved1 sustained and comforted by the providence and grace of the ,most ,high1 amid all your self-sacrifice1 privation and reproach which you endure for the truth's ,bake1 is the prayer of ,your brother in covenant bonds1 ,,david ,,steele4 ,,philadelphia1 ,february #ast1 #ahgj4 ,,preface ,the ,apocalypse is one of the most sublime and wonderful dramatic exhibitions presented for human contemplation4 ,internal evidence concurs with authentic history1 in demonstrating to the devout and intelligent reader1 its divine origin4 ,god1 angels and men1 are the principal actors4 ,men's natural curiosity may find entertainment in this book2 and from no higher principle1 many have doubtless been prompted to attempt a discovery of its mysterious contents4 ,what is true1 however1 of supernatural revelation in general1 is equally true of this book3--,the natural man receiveth not the things of the ,spirit of ,god1 neither can he know them1 because they are spiritually discerned4 ,to the right understanding of the ,apocalypse1 so far as the prophetical parts of it are contemplated1 the following prerequisites would seem to be indispensable3-- #a4 ,a competent knowledge of what may be termed the fundamental doctrines of the gospel3 such as the unity of the ,divine ,nature2 the distinction of persons in the ,godhead2 the atonement and intercession of ,christ2 the total depravity and renovation of human nature2 the resurrection and final retribution1 etc4 #b4 ,acquaintance with symbolical language1 as the only language common to all men since the confusion of tongues4 #c4 ,familiarity with the typical dispensation1 from which most of the symbols are taken4 #d4 ,freedom from all political bias4 ,no expositor of the ,apocalypse appears to have possessed all these qualifications1 however few and simple4 ,the most learned and judicious interpreters of this book have been divines of ,britain and of the ,united ,states4 ,after so many laborers employed in this harvest1 the reader may ask1--,what remains to be gleaned8 ,to this inquiry1 it may be sufficient to remind the devout ,christian1 that as the ,apocalypse is the end of the ,bible1 so the harvest is the end of the world2 and during the intermediate time the ,lord of the harvest is sending forth laborers4 ,prophecy has engaged the attention and occupied the thoughts of the writer1 more or less1 for the last thirty years4 ,he has consulted the views of most of the distinguished and approved interpreters of the book of ,revelation2 among whom the following are named1 viz43 ,mede1 ,sir ,isaac and ,bishop ,newton1 ,durham1 ,fleming1 ,gill1 ,whitaker1 ,kett1 ,galloway1 ,faber1 ,scott1 ,mason1 ,mc,leod2 and many others3 from all whose labors1 he has derived much instruction2 and from all of whom he has been obliged in important points to dissent4 ,the immediate occasion of this undertaking1 was the urgent request of the people of his charge1 that the substance of a course of lectures delivered in ordinary ,sabbath ministrations1 might be put into a more permanent form1 for their future edification4 ,in the early centuries of the ,christian era1 so wild1 enthusiastic and corrupt were the sentiments of some ,millenarians1 that this book ceased in great measure to be read or studied2 and even its divine authority came to be questioned by many learned and pious men4 ,as the ,dark ,ages of ,popery resulted from neglect of the sacred ,scriptures in general1 so even among the first reformers the ,apocalypse was viewed with suspicion as to its claim to inspiration4 ,it is probable that many of the unlearned will hear with wonder1 and doubt the assertion1 that even the great reformer ,luther rejected the ,apocalypse1 as being no part of the sacred canon6 ,the same judgment he formed of the epistle by ,james6 ,with characteristic boldness1 he wrote as follows3--,the epistle of ,james hath nothing evangelical in it4 ,i do not consider it the writing of an apostle at all4444 ,it ascribes justification to works1 in direct contradiction to ,paul and all the other sacred writers4444 ,with respect to the ,revelation of ,john1 ,i state what ,i feel4 ,for more than one reason1 ,i cannot deem this book either apostolic or prophetical1 444 and it is sufficient reason for me not to esteem it highly1 that ,christ is neither taught nor known in it4#a ,such was the estimation in which that distinguished reformer held two inspired books of the ,new ,testament at the dawn of the ,reformation4 ,how great the increase of scriptural light since his day6 ,the grand design of this book1 as declared by its divine ,author1 is1 to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass1 444 to testify these things in the churches3--to make known beforehand1 to those styled his witnesses1 the certainty of a great apostacy1--the rise1 reign and overthrow of the ,antichrist1 that when it came to pass1 they might believe1 and exemplify before the world the patience and the faith of the saints4 ,during that protracted period1 the witnesses could neither know their duty nor sustain their allotted trials without these necessary instructions4 ,from the position of the witnessing church--in the wilderness during the whole time of ,antichrist's reign1 which is also the position of the apostle ,john when viewing in vision the woman upon the beast2 7ch4 xvii4 #c17 that appears to be the only advantageous position from which to view the actors in this wonderful scene4 ,and since few have voluntarily gone forth to ,christ without the camp1 bearing his reproach1 or submitted to wear the mourning garments of sackcloth1 it is not at all surprising that the ,apocalypse--emphatically a ,revelation--should continue to be1 to many1 a sealed book4 ,but on the other hand1 blessed is he that readeth1 and they that hear the words of this prophecy1 and keep those things which are written therein4 ,as this work is intended for the instruction and edification of the unlearned1 rather than for the entertainment of the learned1 words of foreign extract are used as seldom as possible4 ,practical remarks and reflections are rarely introduced2 the principal aim being simply to ascertain and present to the reader the mind of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,how far this object has been accomplished1 is of course left to the judgment of the honest inquirer4 ,the reader1 however1 in forming his judgment of the value of these ,notes1 may be reminded of that inspired rule in searching the ,scriptures1--,comparing spiritual things with spiritual4 ,to assist him in the application of this divine rule1 many chapters and verses are quoted from other parts of the ,bible1 but especially within the ,apocalypse itself2 that by concentrating the various rays upon particular texts or symbols1 their intrinsic light may be rendered more luminous4 ,thus the interpretation given1 if correct1 may be confirmed and illustrated4 ,,notes ,,on ,,the ,,apocalypse4 ,the heavens and the earth did not make themselves4 ,the material universe furnishes to the intelligent creature a visible demonstration of the eternal power and godhead of its ,author4 ,besides1 a sense of ,deity is essential to humanity2 and a supernatural revelation is not necessary to convince rational beings that there is a ,god4 ,man is a dependent being in common with all other creatures1 and all creatures depend upon a first cause4 ,that cause is ,god4 ,dependent as a creature1 man may know something of the natural perfections of his ,maker2 and possessing a conscience1 which implies accountability to a superior1 he may know1--he must know1 something of the moral attributes of ,god4 ,in view of these positions1 we may account for the fact1 too often overlooked by the reader of the ,bible1 that the ,holy ,spirit directed the first of all historians to begin his narrative so abruptly4 ,assuming that the reader is already assured of ,god's being1 ,moses proceeds at once to account for the origination of the material universe4 ,in simple narrative he writes1--,in the beginning ,god created the heaven and the earth4 ,thus ,god's being1 and the eternity of his being are assumed as known by the first inspired penman2 a fact or principle not to be disputed4 ,true1 the being of ,god has been questioned1 but only by fools--brutish people2 who1 by their atheistical suggestions have proclaimed to their fellows their brutish folly4 7,ps4 xiv4 #f1 xciv4 #h1 #i47 ,as the ,bible takes for granted that mankind have had a previous revelation in their own physical and moral constitution1--in the visible heavens and earth2 the same is true of the last book of the ,bible1 the ,apocalypse4 ,it assumes that the reader has some competent knowledge of the preceding books of the sacred ,scriptures4 ,the reader is supposed to be acquainted with the patriarchal and ,mosaic dispensations of the ,covenant of ,grace4 ,moreover1 the moral law1 as inculcated in the ,old ,testament2 the ,levitical priesthood and ministry1 as being shadows of good things to come2 the doctrine according to godliness1 taught in the gospels and epistles of the ,new ,testament1--are all taken for granted and supposed to be received with a divine faith by all who would profit by this last book of the sacred canon4 ,it is further assumed in the ,apocalypse1 that the humble inquirer into the mind of the ,holy ,spirit has a knowledge of ancient history1 of the character and destiny of ,egypt1 ,babylon1 etc4 ,and finally1 it is requisite that the successful inquirer into the mind of ,god be acquainted with the language of symbols2 and1 above all1 that he be resolved1 with the inspired writer ,john1 to take a position with the mystic woman in the wilderness4 ,with these few preliminaries1 we proceed3 ,,chapter ,i4 #a4 ,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 therein2 for the time is at hand4 ,verses #a-c4--;,here1 our divine ,mediator appears in the continued exercise of his prophetical office in his estate of exaltation4 ,while present with his disciples on earth1 he told them he had many things to say to them1 but they could not hear them then4 7,john xvi4 #ab7 ,upon his ascension he fulfilled his own and his ,father's promise in sending the ,holy ,spirit to guide them into all truth--bring all things to their remembrance1 and show them things to come4 7v4 #ac47 ,the fulfilment of this promise we have in the whole of the ,new ,testament1--doctrines1 facts and predictions4 ,jesus said1--,of mine own-self ,i can do nothing4 7v4 #cj47 ,the same is true of his teachings as of his works3--,the words that ,i speak unto you1 ,i speak not of myself1 7xiv4 #aj47 ,in all that ,jesus began both to do and to teach1 7,acts i4 #a17 he was instructed by his ,father4 ,these things are all plainly implied in the first verse4 ,indeed1 the official actings of the three ,persons in the ,godhead had been frequently taught by ,christ during the time of his personal ministry2 and they are more fully and frequently recorded by the beloved disciple than by any other evangelist1 in that gospel which still bears this apostle's name4 ,thus1 it appears that although this book is called a ,revelation of ,jesus ,christ1 he is not the ultimate author4 ,it is a revelation which ,god gave unto him4 ,by ,god here1 we are to understand the person of the ,father4 ,the reader is thus conducted to the divine origin of all supernatural revelation1--the eternal purpose of ,god4 7,heb4 i4 #a1 #b47 ,the object of the whole ,bible1 in the evolvement of the divine economy of man's redemption1 appears to be the unfolding of the ineffable mystery of the ,trinity1 and displaying the perfections of the ,godhead1 to his own glory as the highest and last end4 ,the channel through which the divine will comes to the church1 is exhibited in the beginning of this book4 ,originating with ,god the ,father1 passing to the ,mediator1 communicated to a holy angel2 by his ministry it is made known to ,john1 who reveals it to the church6 ,how beautiful the order here6 ,how wonderful and condescending on the part of ,god6 ,although we commonly and justly designate the whole ,bible by the name ,revelation2 yet we are to consider that this book is so called by way of eminence4 ,doubtless it is so styled by its divine ,author because it reveals events which were then future1 and which could not be discovered by human sagacity4 ,but this holds equally true of other parts of the ,scriptures1 especially those parts which are prophetical4 ,it may be that this book is called ,apocalypse because of the opposition which it was to encounter from ,antichrist1 as also because of its singular and intended use to a peculiar portion of professing ,christians4 ,as on the one hand the ,romish church1 and too many who protest against her encroachments1 prohibit or discourage the disciples of ,christ from reading this book2 so1 on the other hand1 it has been of singular use to others in strengthening their faith and ministering to their comfort4 ,john bare record of the word of ,god and of the testimony of ,jesus ,christ and of all things that he saw4 ,a question arises here1--,what is the difference1 if any1 between the word of ,god and the testimony of ,jesus ,christ8 ,or is there any distinction intended by the ,holy ,spirit8 ,most readers as well as expositors view these expressions as identical4 ,we shall meet with them1 or their equivalent1 frequently hereafter2 and it may be proper at the outset to inquire a little into this familiar phraseology4 7,see chapters i4 #i2 vi4 #i2 xii4 #aa1 #ag2 xx4 #d1 etc47 ,recognising the inspired rule of interpretation1--comparing spiritual things with spiritual1 we refer to ,psalm lxxviii4 #e1 where testimony and law are obviously distinguished4 ,the same distinction will be found in ,isa4 viii4 #af1 #bj4 ,the prophet refers the reader to two tests of doctrine and practice3 first the law4 ,but as the spouse of ,christ is unable1 in her perplexity1 to apply the law to the present case in a manner satisfactory to herself1 she is directed by her ,lord1 7,song i4 #h17 to go forth by the footsteps of the flock4 ,that is1 search and ascertain how the disciples applied the law in similar circumstances1 and imitate their approved example4 ,this is a rule recognised and often inculcated in the ,new ,testament4 7,heb4 vi4 #ab47 ,the inspired penman in ,psalm lxxviii4 #e1 refers to the covenant transaction at ,mount ,sinai1 where the law was exhibited as an appendix to the covenant of grace--added to the promise4 7,gal4 iii4 #ai47 ,the reader will find this whole matter set before him1 perhaps to his surprise and delight in ,exod4 xx4 #a-ag4 ,the ,lord 7,jehovah7 is the ,god 7,elohim7 of his people4 ,how shall they know that he is their ,god8 ,by the law8--,no1 for that is a rule to all men4 ,they know by the testimony as distinct from the law4 ,testimony consists of facts4 ,god's people knew that he was their ,god1 because he brought them out of the land of ,egypt1 out of the house of bondage4 ,this was the doing of the ,lord1--the testimony of ,jesus ,christ4 ,and so it is an important and precious truth to us at the present day4--,the preface to the ,ten ,commandments teacheth us1 that ,god is the ,lord 7,jehovah7 and our ,god4--,this great historical fact is the controlling motive to acceptable obedience to the moral law4 ,to this1 among other truths of the gospel1 every faithful minister will bear witness with the apostle ,john4 ,john also bore witness to all things that he saw1 as presented to him in a succession of visions to the end of this book1 in view of some of which1 he wondered with great admiration4 7xvii4 #f47 ,in the third verse there is a blessing pronounced on all such as hear1 read and keep those things which are written in the words of this prophecy4 ,a mere reading and hearing of the ,apocalypse will not secure the blessing4 ,it is suspended on the keeping4 ,blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book4 7,ch4 xxii4 #g47 ,the divine and compassionate ,author of this prophecy1 who knoweth the end from the beginning1 foresaw the violent and ignorant opposition even to the reading of it1 which would be encountered by those for whose special direction and comfort it was given4 ,while the man of sin would attempt to deprive the church of the light of the ,bible in general1 the great ,antichrist would join him in special hostility to this book4 ,the judgment of the former is1 that the ,bible in the hands of the people will generate heresies2 of the latter1--the ,apocalypse is so hard to be understood as to be unintelligible4 ,a revelation1 and yet unintelligible6 ,this is very nearly a contradiction4 ,such sentiments betray rebellion against the authority1 and a reflection upon the wisdom and beneficence of ,god4 ,all ,christians acknowledge1 as ,peter says of the writings of ,paul1 that in this book are some things dark and hard to be understood3 but there have been always and now are1 some disciples who do not subscribe to the teaching of most expositors of this book1--that their actual fulfilment1 alone1 will interpret these predictions4--,doubtless it was in view of such discouragements that our ,lord prefixed and repeated the special blessing4 ,and this promised blessing of the ,master himself is sufficient to countervail all the discouragements and hostility of the adversaries1 thrown in the way of the reader and expositor4 ,moses endured as having respect unto the recompense of the reward4 ,let us copy his example4 ,he is faithful that promised4 ,let the pious reader1 therefore1 disregard the counsel to omit the reading1 of this book in family worship1 as we have sometimes heard2 whether it be tendered by ,papist1 ,prelate or ,presbyterian1 because it is directly contrary to the express command of ,christ1 7,john v4 #ci17 and because by following such counsel1 he would forfeit the special blessing here promised4 #d4 ,john1 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 whom be glory and dominion for ever and ever4 ,amen4 ,vs4 #d-f4--;,here we have the customary salutation1 addressed to the churches of ,asia ,minor4 ,many other churches had been organized in other parts of the earth at this date2 7,a4,d4 #if37 but the special reason why ,john saluted these seven1 and addressed an epistle to each1 would seem to be his vicinity to them in the place of his present sojourning1 and probably his personal acquaintance with them in the exercise of his ministry among them1 7v4 #aa47 ,his prayer for these churches is substantially the same as that prefixed to most of ,paul's epistles4 ,grace and peace are inseparable in the divine arrangement4 ,there is no peace1 saith my ,god1 to the wicked4 7,isa4 lvii4 #ba47 ,the solitary pilgrim in his place of banishment1 contemplating the ,abrahamic covenant1 and realizing that grace and that peace in which he desires his fellow disciples to share1 sets before us the threefold source whence these divine influences flow4 ,first1 from him which is1 and which was1 and which is to come2 a description of ,god the ,father1 whose personal subsistence has priority in the ,godhead1 and who occupies the like priority in voluntary relationship and economic standing4 ,from the ,father personally1 as the representative of ,trinity1 we have seen 7in verse #a17 this book emanated2 and now from the same we are taught that grace and peace come to fallen man4 ,second1 ,john's prayer here1 differs from ,paul's usual form in the beginning of his epistles2 for ,paul omits the ,holy ,spirit1 commonly saying1--,grace be to you1 and peace from ,god the ,father1 and from our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 7as in ,gal4 i4 #c47 ,in this last book of ,scripture we have the co-equal ,three introduced as co-operating in the work of man's redemption4 ,thus our attention is directed to the seven ,spirits which are before the throne2 by which we are to understand the ,holy ,ghost1 in his essential equality with ,god the ,father1 but in the place of official subordination4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is one personally1 but seven in his manifold gifts and graces1 with special reference to the seven churches4 ,and whereas the divine ,spirit1 in the order of his personal subsistence and operation is third1 here he occupies the second place in the order of revelation4 ,third1 ,the special reason for reserving the notice of our ,saviour to the last place1 is doubtless that the beloved disciple may take occasion to leave on record an expression of his admiration of the ,mediator's person1 one of whose names is ,wonderful1 7,isa4 ix4 #f27 and that he might exemplify the ruling principle of his own heart1--,we love him1 because he first loved us4 7#a ,john iv4 #ai47 ,the apostle dwells upon the personal glory of ,immanuel1 contemplating him in his threefold office of prophet1 priest and king4--,he is the faithful witness in his prophetical office4 ,the only begotten ,son1 which is in the bosom of the ,father1 he hath declared him4 7,john i4 #ah27 who1 before ,pontius ,pilate1 witnessed a good confession4 7,john xviii4 #cg47 ,he is the first-begotten of the dead4 ,he died unto sin once1 as an expiatory sacrifice to atone for the guilt of an elect world4 ,being a priest for ever after the order of ,melchizedek1 he ever liveth to make intercession1--death hath no more dominion over him1 as it had over ,lazarus and many others who came out of the graves after his resurrection4 7,matt1 xxvii4 #eb1 #ec47 ,among all1 he has the preeminence4 7,col4 i4 #ah47 ,he is the ,prince of the kings of the earth4 ,there is not in the sacred volume a title of our ,redeemer more full or expressive than this1 on his headship or royal office4 ,a prince is of royal parentage4 ,such is the understanding of mankind in all civilized nations4 ,joseph in ,egypt typified1 in part1 the kingly office of ,christ2 and ,solomon on the throne of ,israel partially typified him in his dominion3 but as ,balaam foretold that he should be higher than ,agag1 7,num4 xxiv4 #g17 so we may say he is higher than ,joseph1--,a greater than ,solomon is here4 ,pharaoh said unto ,joseph1 ,thou shalt be over my house1 and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled3 only in the throne will ,i be greater than thou4 ,when the ,father says to the ,son1 ,thy throne1 ,o ,god1 is for ever and ever1 7,ps4 xlv4 #f17 this is consistent with excepting him that did put all things under him4 7#a ,cor4 xv4 #bg47 ,although we are not warranted to say with some1 ,the ,father is the fountain of the ,godhead1 we may warrantably and boldly say1 the ,father is the fountain of authority4 7,john vi4 #ch47 ,the dominion of the ,mediator is universal1 reaching from the roofless heaven to the bottomless hell4 ,it is comfortable to the disciples to know this in anticipation of the rise and reign of ,antichrist4 ,he is1 by the appointment of the ,father head over all things1 7,eph4 i4 #bb17--;able to save to the uttermost all that come unto ,god by him1 to consume with the spirit of his mouth1 and destroy with the brightness of his coming1 that ,wicked1 the ,man of ,sin4 7#b ,thess4 ii4 #h47 ,in view of the personal dignity and mediatorial dominion of ,christ1 the apostle gives expression to his admiration and wonder at the amazing love and condescension displayed by him on behalf of himself and all others1 on whom that love was fixed from everlasting1 and whose guilt and pollution were taken away by the atoning and cleansing blood of the ,lamb4 ,to these saving benefits is to be added the honour to which the redeemed are advanced as kings and priests1--a royal priesthood4 ,the living ,head is a priest upon his throne1 7,zech4 vi4 #ac17 and all the members are assimilated to him4 7#a ,pet4 ii4 #e1 #i47 #g4 ,behold1 he cometh with clouds2 and every eye shall see him1 and they also which pierced him2 and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him4 ,even so1 ,amen4 ,verse #g4--;,how animated the language1 sublime the conception1 and awe-inspiring the sentiment here6 ,time is annihilated6 ,the end is seen from the beginning1 and all eyes are directed to the sovereign ,judge of the world1 as he comes in majesty to fix the final destiny of all the children of ,adam6 ,these have constituted only two classes sincere world began4 ,every eye shall see him1 but the eye will affect the heart very differently4 ,the hearts of some1 with holy ,job1 will be filled with joy unspeakable1 7,job xix4 #bf1 #bg27 but others1 with mercenary ,balaam1 will be inspired with terror and dismay4 7,num4 xxiv4 #ag47 ,of them that pierced him1 who shall be able to abide his indignation8 ,judas1 ,caiaphas1 ,herod and his men of war2 ,pontius ,pilate1 and all who have consented to the counsel and deed of them1 must appear before his judgment seat4 ,all kindreds of the earth1 covering all the combinations of ,antichrist during the definite period of twelve hundred and sixty years1 shall wail because of him1 7,rev4 xiv4 #aj1 #aa47 ,assured of the equity of ,messiah's judgment1 the apostle1 in the exercise of like precious faith with all them that believe1 subjoins his hearty assent1--,even so1 ,amen3 ,so let all thine enemies perish1 ,o ,lord4 ,doubtless the design of the ,holy ,spirit in this verse is to furnish ground of encouragement to those who were to be engaged in the protracted conflict with the powers of darkness foreshadowed in the prophecy of this book4 #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 ,ver4 #h4--,the same divine person1 to whom the apostle directs the doxology in the #fth verse1 is introduced in the #hth3 that is1 the ,lord ,christ4 ,he claims eternity and omnipotence4 ,he describes himself here in the very words which in the #dth verse are descriptive of the eternal subsistence of the person of the ,father4 ,alpha and ,omega1 the first and last letters of the ,greek alphabet1 are explained in the words1--the beginning and the ending4 ,this language is not to be understood as expressing or defining the duration of the ,godhead only2 but it points also to the divine purpose and providence4 ,to the same purpose speaks our ,redeemer under the name of ,wisdom3--,the ,lord 7the ,father7 possessed me in the beginning 7head1 purpose7 of his way1 before his works of old4 7,prov4 viii4 #bb47 ,in joint counsel with the ,father1 ere the wheels of time began to move1 and being almighty to execute the purposes of ,god1 he is perfectly qualified to act as the final ,judge of the world4 ,and in the great and last day every tongue must confess that he is ,lord1 to the glory of ,god the ,father4 7,phil4 ii4 #aa47 ,for to this end ,christ both died1 and rose1 and revived1 that he might be ,lord both of the dead and living4 7,rom4 xiv4 #i47--;,god is judge himself4 7,ps4 #a4 #f47 #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 ,ver4 #i4--;,again1 the inspired writer addresses the ,christians in ,asia1 acquainting them very briefly and simply with his present local situation2 not so much to move their sympathy with him1 as to express his unabated affection for them3--,i am your brother1 and companion in tribulation4 ,although the like afflictions were accomplished in his brethren1 the ,devil was permitted to cast only some of them into prison4 ,but it is remarkable that ,john utters not a word1 much less manifests any resentment1 against the persecutor4 ,he was in the isle that is called ,patmos3--but he does not say who sent him there4 ,historians tell us that he was banished by ,domitian1 the ,roman emperor2 others say1 by ,nero2 but the former is more probable4 ,this island is proverbially barren4 ,it is situated among a number of islands in the ,aegean sea1 a point of the ,mediterranean running northward between ,europe and ,asia1 and not very remote from most of the churches here addressed4 ,the ground of controversy between ,john and his persecutors was the word of ,god1 and the testimony of ,jesus ,christ4 ,of these he bare record4 7v1 #b47 ,this1 say most expositors1 was the cause of ,john's banishment4 ,this unguarded language confounds the difference between a cause and an occasion4 ,john had given no cause of banishment to his enemies4 ,the true cause of their hostility was their hatred of the word of ,god and the testimony of ,jesus ,christ4 ,for these ,john contended earnestly1 as ,jude enjoined2 7ver4 #c37 just as ,paul and others were bold in their ,god to speak the gospel of ,god with much contention4 7#a ,thes4 ii4 #b47 ,we have here the standing ground of strife between the believer and the infidel2 between ,christ and ,belial1 between the church and the world4 ,there is a divine hand interposed all along in this warfare1 and the conflict will terminate only in the extermination of one of the parties4 7,gen4 iii4 #ae2 ,rev4 xx4 #aj47 #aj4 ,i was in the ,spirit on the ,lord's day1 and heard behind me a great voice1 as of a trumpet1 ,ver4 #aj4--,the beloved disciple had often tasted the good word of ,god1 while the bosom-companion of ,christ in the time of his ministry on earth3 ,his heart burned within him4 7,luke xxiv4 #cb47 ,especially had this been his happy experience on the holy ,sabbath4 ,now that his condition is solitary1 being by violence driven out from the inheritance of the ,lord1 7#a ,sam4 xxvi4 #ai17 his gracious ,master favours him with a special visit4 ,did he not say to his disciples while he was yet with them1--,i will not leave you comfortless8 ,i will come to you4 7,john xiv4 #ah47 ,the ,comforter was promised to supply the want of the ,saviour's bodily presence1 7v4 #af17 and now ,john is in the ,spirit1 and it is the ,lord's day1--the ,christian ,sabbath4 ,we may well suppose this disciple never was happier1 no1 not when he was leaning on ,jesus' bosom4 ,he would not now envy the emperor or any of his persecutors in all their outward peace and prosperity4 ,he was in an ecstasy1--whether in the body or out of the body he could not tell3 but his soul was susceptible of the impressions of ,christ's love1 and of the intimations of his sovereign will4 ,shall ,i hide from ,abraham the thing which ,i do8 7,gen4 xviii4 #ag47 ,surely the ,lord ,god will do nothing1 but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets4 7,amos iii4 #g47 ,john does not boast as ,balaam1--falling into a trance1 but having his eyes open3 yet he heard and saw as distinctly and clearly as if his perceptions had come through the medium of his bodily ears and eyes4 ,he heard behind him a great voice as of a trumpet1 not to alarm1 but to engage attention4 #aa4 ,saying1 ,i am ,alpha and ,omega2 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 ,v4 #aa4--;,christ speaks1 asserting his eternity1 and consequently his equality with the ,father4 ,this book being written in the ,greek language1 our ,saviour names and appropriates to himself the first and last letters of the alphabet in that language1 and gives the interpretation1--the first and the last1 as in v4 #h4 ,john is directed to write and send to the seven churches all that is contained in this last book of the ,bible4 ,the churches are named here1 and in the second and third chapters they are addressed severally in a letter to each4 ,it may be noted that besides the general commission to preach the gospel to every creature1 apostles had a special call to write2 and sometimes a prohibition1--write not1 7ch4 x4 #d47 ,many of the most learned and godly divines whom we would consider best qualified1 have never left any writings for the instruction of posterity2 whilst others less qualified1 either in respect of literature or piety1 or not at all qualified1 have filled the world with books without a special call from ,christ4 7,john xx4 #cj1 #ca2 xxi4 #be47 #ab4 ,and ,i turned to see the voice that spake with me4 ,and1 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 stars2 and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword2 and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength4 ,vs4 #ab-af4--;,his attention being arrested1 the apostle turned to see the voice1--that is1 the person from whom the voice came4 ,a glorious vision was presented to his view1--seven golden candlesticks or lamp-bearers1 in allusion to the golden candlestick with the seven lamps as placed in the tabernacle4 7,exod4 xxv4 #ca-dj47 ,in the midst of the candlesticks appeared one like unto the ,son of man1 the ,mediator1 clothed in sacerdotal garments1 supplying oil for the light1 after the example of ,aaron and his sons4 7,exod4 xxvii4 #bj1 #ba47 ,the garment may signify his mediatorial righteousness1--the golden girdle the preciousness of his love1--his head and his hairs white like wool1 his purity and eternity1--his eyes as a flame of fire1 his omniscience1 by which he searches the reins and hearts1 and sees the end from the beginning2 his feet like unto fine brass1 the stability of his appointments and the excellency of his providential dispensations1--his voice1 the irresistible energy of his word to quicken1 terrify or destroy at his pleasure4 7,john v4 #be1 ,heb4 xii4 #bf47 ,the sharp two-edged sword will represent his awful justice against the impenitent who resist his righteous authority4 ,with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked4 7,is4 xi4 #d2 ,luke xix4 #bg47 ,his countenance as the sun shining in his strength1 disclosed to the beloved disciple such splendor as to overwhelm him4 ,the like display of divine majesty was insupportable to ,saul of ,tarsus when on his way to ,damascus4 7,acts xxvi4 #ac47 ,to the workers of iniquity1 our ,god is a consuming fire4 7,heb4 xii4 #bi47 ,it is a certain truth1--,the vengeance of the gospel is weighter than the vengeance of the law4 7,heb4 x4 #bh1 #ca47 ,let us therefore fear4 #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 #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 stars1 which thou sawest in my right hand1 and the seven golden candlesticks4 ,the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches2 and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches4 ,vs4 #ag-bj4--,we have the effect of the vision upon the beloved disciple4 ,he who had leaned on ,christ's bosom at supper1 and who had seen his ,master transfigured on the holy mount1 was now utterly overwhelmed with the effulgence of his glory4 ,john fell at his feet as dead4 ,so it was with ,daniel1 a man greatly beloved4 7,daniel x4 #d-h47 ,but the compassionate ,saviour dispelled his fears1 as in all similar cases2 making known to his astonished servant his supreme deity and real humanity1 as the first and the last1 who died for the sins1 and was raised again for the justification of his people4 7,rom4 iv4 #be47 ,he is alive for evermore1--become the first fruits of them that slept4 7#a ,cor4 xv4 #bj47 ,he dieth no more4 ,death hath no more dominion over him4 7,rom4 vi4 #i47 ,and so complete is his victory over the king of terrors1 the last enemy of the believer1 that he hath the keys of hell and of death4 ,he has the key of the bottomless pit1 7xx4 #a27 having triumphed over principalities and powers1 making a show of them openly4 7,col4 ii4 #ae47 ,whether ,christ used the word1 amen1 to ratify the truth of his immortality2 or whether this is an expression by ,john of his joyful acquiescence in that truth1 is not material3 we know on satisfactory evidence1 that our ,lord is a prophet and king1 as well as a priest1 after the power of an endless life4 7,heb4 vii4 #af2 ,rom4 xiv4 #i47 ,john is next commanded to write1--,first1 the things which he had seen2 that is1 the description of the foregoing vision3--,second1 the things which are2 that is1 the actual condition of the church1 as delineated in the diverse characters of the seven churches addressed1 as in the next two chapters3--,third1 the things which shall be hereafter3 that is1 the prophetical part of the book1 from the beginning of the fourth chapter to the close1 as containing the prospective history of the church and of the nations1 as she was to be affected by them1 or they by her1 till the consummation of all things4 ,this is the division of the book made by the divine ,author himself1 and it is a natural and intelligible one4 ,all attempts of learned and pious men by other divisions to render this mysterious part of the ,bible more clear to the unlearned reader1 tend only to display the ingenuity of the writers1--not to say their temerity1 while they darken counsel by words without knowledge4 ,such artificial divisions are as unfounded1 in the apprehension of sober expositors1 as the attempts of impious ,arians and others1 to turn the historical narrative of the creation and fall of man into an allegory6 ,the meaning of the seven stars and seven candlesticks is then explained to ,john4 ,the word1 are1 is used in a figurative sense1 and not to be taken literally4 ,it means here1 symbolize1 represent or signify4 ,it is to be interpreted in the same sense as in the following places of sacred ,scripture3--,it is the ,lord's passover4 7,exod4 xii4 #aa47 ,that rock was ,christ4 7#a ,cor4 x4 #d47 ,this is my body4 7,matt4 xxvi4 #bf47 ,none but a ,papist will have any difficulty here1 or perhaps1--a ,lutheran6 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,some commentators1 among whom may be mentioned the learned ,dr4 ,gill1 a leading ,antipedobaptist minister of ,england1 have imagined1 that the seven epistles addressed to the ,asiatic churches1 contain a mystical prophecy of the church general1 covering the whole period of her history from the apostolic age till the end of the world4 ,according to this fancy1--for it is nothing more than a fancy2 the church in ,smyrna1 will represent the church's condition in the second stage of her history1 when ,arianism prevailed6 ,and the ,laodicean must represent her last1 and so her worst condition6 ,how will this harmonize with the #bjth chapter1 where she appears in triumph over all her antichristian foes8 ,this is given as a specimen of the unbridled fancy and licentious imagination with which even good men may be tempted to approach the reading and interpreting of this important and instructive part of ,god's word4 ,but ,peter informs us that some persons in his time1 wrested those parts of ,paul's writings which were dark and hard to be understood3 and this was not the worst of their conduct1 for they treated the other scriptures also in the same reckless and irreverent manner1 which were neither dark nor hard to be understood4 7#b ,pet4 iii4 #af47 ,these epistles are no more mystical or prophetical than those of the apostle ,paul4 ,they are simply and properly descriptive1 although like all other epistles1 they are applicable to the church general in all ages1 and equally suited to the case of individuals1 as is clear in the close of each3--,if any man have an ear1 let him hear4 #a4 ,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 labour1 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 laboured1 and hast not fainted4 #d4 ,nevertheless1 ,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 ,nicolaitans1 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 ,verses #a-g4--,this first epistle1 addressed to the church in ,ephesus1 comes from the ,lord ,jesus1 who holds the stars in his right hand2 who gives commission to the ministry1 gives them authority as his ambassadors to negotiate with mankind1 communicates to them the light which they diffuse in the world1 sustains them in their respective spheres1 and controls them as they move in their orbits4 ,he walks in the midst of the candlesticks1 as the sun in the system of nature1 trimming and snuffing the lamps that they may burn more clearly4 ,this is the second epistle sent from ,christ to the church of ,ephesus4 ,paul1 who is thought to have planted this church1 7,acts xviii4 #ai17 had written to those ,christians some thirty years before1 while he was a prisoner in ,rome4 7,eph4 i4 #d2 vi4 #bj47 ,paul and ,john were nothing more than ,christ's amanuenses1--the pen of a ready writer4 7,ps4 xlv4 #a2 #a ,cor4 iii4 #g47--,the angel of the church is at once a symbolic and collective name1 including also the idea of representation3--not a pope or any other prelatic personage4 ,no doubt in our ,saviour's estimation the saints take precedence here of the bishops 7overseers47 and deacons1 as they do in ,phil4 i4 #a2 ,eph4 iv4 #h-ab4 ,all ecclesiastical officers are ,christ's gift to the church2 but the object or recipient of the gift is more valued than the gift4 ,and just here is the point where prelates do greatly err1 not knowing the ,scriptures4 ,they have arrogated to themselves the honourary title of clergy2 and for the sake of distinction1 and to give plausibility to their ambitious pretensions1 call the membership of the church the laity1--contrary to the express decision of the unerring ,spirit4 ,peter cautions the elders that they be not as lords over ,god's heritage1--lot1 clergy2 where it is obvious that the body of the people1 as distinguished from their rulers1 are denominated the clergy4 ,moreover1 it is evident to any unbiased reader1 that the membership1 and not a bishop only1 are addressed by our ,lord in these epistles2 as when he says1--some of you4 7v4 #aj47 ,hence it may be inferred that there is no proof in these epistles on which to erect the antichristian hierarchy of diocesan prelacy2 and consequently that ecclesiastical government is by divine right1 lodged in the hands of a plurality of presbyters4 ,christ notices what is commendable1 before he administers reproof4 ,i know thy works4--,there seems to be an incompatibility between the patience commended1 and not being able to bear them which were evil4 ,but patience under persecution or any other providential dispensation1 is perfectly consistent with an enlightened zeal against error and immorality4 ,indeed1 the two graces1--patience and zeal1 are inseparable in themselves1 and as connected with all the other graces of the ,holy ,spirit4--,there were such in the primitive church1 who claimed to be apostles1 and who1 upon trial1 were discovered to be impostors4 ,paul1 in the exercise of the miraculous gift of discerning of spirits1 could1 without presbyterial examination of witnesses1 personally detect false apostles1 deceitful workers in ,corinth4 7#b ,cor4 xi4 #ac47 ,but ,john was not at ,ephesus1 and therefore the ordinary rulers are approved by ,christ for the faithful exercise of discipline4 ,persons who falsify the doctrines and corrupt the order and ordinances of divine appointment1 are the worst of liars1 and having been by competent authority found to be such2 they may be so called without breach of charity4 ,when discipline is neglected or relaxed1 error and tyranny soon enter1 with confusion and every evil work4 ,but when false teachers have gained followers and influence in the church1 the friends of truth and order will be in danger of yielding to the pressure4 ,they are liable to become weary and faint in their minds1 7,heb4 xii4 #c27 but zeal for their ,master's honor will animate them to contend for the faith so as to secure his approbation4 ,it is remarkable that so much labor1 patience1 zeal etc41 should be found in this church while chargeable with having fallen from first love4 ,habits contracted in the fervor of early affection to ,christ1 may continue to influence an individual or a church1 when the fervency of affection is sensibly abated4 ,this state of feeling the exercised ,christian will confess and lament4 ,nothing but repentance and reformation in such a case will procure the approbation and restore the favor of ,christ4 ,continued impenitence is threatened with removing the candlestick1 the gospel1 ministry and ordinances4 ,the ,nicolaitans were a sect of corrupt professors of ,christianity of whose doctrines and deeds little or nothing is certainly known4 ,it is most generally supposed that they were a sort of ,antinomians1 who turned the grace of ,god into lasciviousness2 and there is a tradition1 not well sustained1 that their heresy was derived from ,nicolas1 a proselyte of ,antioch1 one of the seven deacons of whom we read1 ,acts vi4 #e4 ,the similarity of name seems to have suggested this fancy2 for there is no historical evidence that one who was of honest report1 full of the ,holy ,ghost and wisdom1 was permitted thus to fall away4 ,their deeds1 however1 were hateful to ,christ1 and therefore hateful to his real disciples3 for one of the infallible marks of a state of grace is to hate what1--yes and whom1--our ,lord hates4 7,ps4 cxxxix4 #ba1 #bb47 ,all who read or hear these things are interested in them1 whether they will hear1 or whether they will forbear4 ,what ,christ saith in each of these epistles1 the ,spirit saith2 and what is said to each church is said to all the seven2 that is1 to the whole visible church4 ,to him that overcometh false apostles1 the deeds of the ,nicolaitans1 any doctrines or practices in opposition to the truth of ,christ1 or militating against the honor of ,christ2 to such he will give to eat of the tree of life1 from which ,adam was excluded upon the breach of the first covenant4 7,genesis iii4 #bb-bd47 ,what the first ,adam lost by the fall1 the last ,adam will restore with interest1 7#a ,cor4 ii4 #i47 ,the felicity of the saints in glory can be represented only by sensible things2 and even then but very imperfectly4 7#a ,cor4 xiii4 #ab2 #a ,john iii4 #b47 #h4 ,and unto the angel of the church in ,smyrna write2 ,these things saith the first and the last1 which was dead1 and is alive2 #i4 ,i know thy works1 and tribulation1 and poverty1 7but thou art rich17 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 ear let him hear what the ,spirit saith unto the churches2 ,he that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death4 ,vs4 #h-aa4--,smyrna is the second in order of the seven churches addressed through the ministry as the official representatives4 ,our ,saviour here assumes those titles mentioned in ch4 i4 #ag1 #ah1 which bespeak his divine personal dignity and voluntary humiliation1 his eternal ,godhead and true manhood1--,god manifest in the flesh1 having by death triumphed over death1 to deliver them who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage4 7,heb4 ii4 #ae47 ,this church was subjected to tribulation1--persecution in name1 substance and person4 ,the members were either of the poorer sort of the citizens of ,smyrna1 or rendered poor by fines1--the spoiling of their goods4--,but thou art rich1 rich in faith1 in good works1 in the gifts and graces of the ,spirit1 the earnest of the heavenly inheritance4--,in this place a colony of ,jews had gained such social influence as to move the populace1 and even the local magistrates1 to offer violence to the servants of ,god4 ,it does not appear that these ,jews were professing ,christians of any creed1 but just such as ,paul often encountered in ,judea and elsewhere4 7,acts xvi4 #ai-bb47 ,the devil instigated the ,jews1 and they the ,gentiles2 and both1 the magistrates1 to silence the testimony of ,christ's witnesses1 by which all were tormented4 ,the design of the devil1 who was a murderer from the beginning1 was to destroy that church2 but ,christ's design was to try her members4 ,only some were to be imprisoned1 and the time of trial would be limited to ten days1--a definite for an indefinite1 but short time4 ,those who resist the truth contradict its advocates1 and blaspheme the holy name of ,god1 though professing to be either ,jews or ,christians1 area synagogue of ,satan4 ,a crown of life is promised to such as proved faithful unto death4 ,they shall not be hurt of the second death2 that is1 eternal death4 7,ch4 xx4 #ad1 #ae47 #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 ,balak 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 ,nicolaitans1 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 ,vs4 #ab-ag4--,to the church in ,pergamos reproofs and threatenings are addressed by him who has the sharp sword4 ,satan had his throne in this place1 whence he assailed the true doctrine and disciples of ,christ by heresy and persecution4 ,in such a great fight of afflictions there was one distinguished1 like ,stephen1 for boldness and fortitude1 who resisted unto blood1 striving against sin4 ,and wherever there is a faithful martyr for ,christ1 who holds fast his name1 and will not deny his faith at the risk of his life1 his divine ,lord will condescend to register his name among that noble company who by faith have obtained a good report4 7,heb4 ,xv4 #b47 ,the doctrine of ,balaam and that of the ,nicolaitans led to gross immoralities in apostolic times as of old in the days of ,moses4 7,num4 xxxi4 #af47 ,and thus it appears1 that old heresies1 which have been condemned1 are afterwards revived under new names1 and patronized by new leaders4 ,in such a case1 we have the authority of ,christ for calling them by the same names of those whose principles they adopt1 and whose example they emulate4 ,it was no breach of charity1 therefore1 by our forefathers to designate those who delated them to the cruel persecutors in ,scotland by the name of ,ziphites1 or to call the archtraitor ,sharp1--a ,judas4 ,the ,lord ,jesus hates the doctrine as well as deeds of ,nicolaitans1 which are subversive of truth and godliness4 ,those who oppose the doctrines of ,balaam and the ,nicolaitans in any age when these are popular1 must expect persecution4 ,but when troubles abound for ,christ's sake1 consolations much more abound by ,christ4 ,this is to eat of the hidden manna4 ,also1 the white stone or pebble1--the token of justification1--will be given to the conqueror in the ,christian conflict4 ,the allusion here is to the mode of procedure in courts of judgment among the ancient ,greeks4 ,white stones were cast for acquittal2 black for condemnation4 ,the manna is hidden1 and so is the white stone1 both signifying the sustaining and consoling evidence of the ,comforter1--the ,holy ,spirit witnessing with the spirit of the persecuted believer1 that he is a child of ,god4 ,it is the same thing as the hundred-fold in this life1 promised by ,christ4 7,matt4 xix4 #bi47 ,it is worthy of notice1 in the condition of this church1 that while among a minority may be found an ,antipas1--faithful martyr for the cause of ,christ1 against those who hold the doctrine of ,balaam and the ,nicolaitans3 the majority are called upon to repent1--evidently for conniving at the destructive errors and immoralities of those seducers4 ,and unless the discipline of the church was employed to purge out these rebels2 the ,master would take the work into his own hand1 and fight against them with the sword of his mouth3 and then such as screened or spared these sinners might expect to partake of their just punishment4 ,rulers in the church must give account for those over whom they watch4 #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 ,notwithstanding1 ,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 7as many as have not this doctrine1 and which have not known the depths of ,satan1 as they speak27 ,i will put upon you none other burden3 #be4 ,but that which ye have already1 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 shivers2 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 ,vs4 #ah-bi4--,the most lengthy epistle is sent to the church in ,thyatira4 ,he who is the ,son of ,god1 a divine person1 possessing the essential attributes of omniscience and immutability1 has more to say to this church than to any of the rest4 ,commending1 as usual1 whatever was commendable1--their works1 charity1 service1 etc42 and the last to be more than the first3 he has1 nevertheless1 a few things against them1--especially suffering that woman ,jezebel to teach4 ,is this woman ,jezebel to be taken in a literal or figurative sense8 ,analogy seems to require a metaphorical sense4 ,if1 in the preceding epistle1 ,balaam is not to be understood literally and personally1 but figuratively and representatively1 so ,jezebel represents an individual1 or rather as that other woman1 7ch4 xvii4 #d47 a faction or sect1 who propagated destructive heresy4 ,jezebel was daughter of ,ethbaal1 ,king of the ,zidonians1 whom ,ahab married contrary to the express law of ,god4 7#a ,kings xvi4 #ca2 ,deut4 vii4 #c47 ,she was a violent persecutor of the ,lord's people1 because she was given to idolatry2 and she was an instigator of all the cruelty perpetrated by that wicked king1 whom ,jezebel his wife stirred up4 ,as ,ahab suffered his wife to control his policy1 giving him the vineyard of ,naboth1 etc41 so it appears1 the rulers in this church are blamed for permitting a woman to teach1 contrary to the law of ,christ4 7#a ,tim4 ii4 #ab47 ,she called herself a prophetess1--why not then require her to show her credentials8 ,permitted to usurp the functions of a public teacher1 she seduced ,christ's servants to join in the abominable rites of the heathen4 ,spiritual fornication1 especially when conducted by female agency1 has always issued in that which is literal4 ,this may be verified from the time of ,noah and ,balaam till the erection of nunneries under the sanction of the man of sin4 ,the distinction here between committing fornication and eating things sacrificed unto idols1 intimates that the adultery is to be taken in a literal sense4 ,time was allowed for repentance1 and she repented not4 ,all this time the rulers were culpable3 therefore the ,lord himself1 as before1 will interpose to rectify such gross sin and scandal4 ,this he would do by visiting these impenitent transgressors with some incurable disease which would issue in certain death4 ,so he did in the church of ,corinth4 7#a ,cor4 xi4 #cj47 ,by this example he would teach all the churches1 that it is he who searcheth the reins and hearts1--demonstrating his divine omniscience4--,but unto you ,i say4 ,where now is to be discovered1 in this address of the ,saviour1 that presiding minister1 or diocesan bishop1 whom the anti-christian prelates affirm our ,lord addresses in all these epistles8 ,and unto the rest in ,thyatira1--still no prelate addressed2 but those laborious and patient ones previously commended1 who had not known the depths of ,satan4 ,those deceivers pretended to instruct their deluded followers in the deep things of ,god2 but ,christ calls them depths of ,satan4 ,it is usual with the devil's factors to delude credulous persons with pretending to teach them deep mysteries1--curious arts4 7,acts xix4 #ah1 #ai47 ,to such as withstood the adversary and his allies1 ,christ would give no additional injunctions to those which they had received4 ,and to animate them to continued fidelity and fortitude in future conflicts with these enemies of all righteousness1 he holds forth an ample reward4 ,he shall share in the honor of his ,master1 conferred on him by his ,father4 ,whatever may be comprehended in this promise1 it can be made good to the victorious ,christian only by ,him who is divine4 ,none else has power over the nations1 but he to whom all power is given in heaven and in earth4 7,matt1 xxviii4 #ah47 ,the morning star may signify ,christ himself1 7ch4 xxii1 #af17 or the first fruits of the ,spirit1 7,rom4 viii4 #bc17 or the full assurance of grace4 7#b ,peter i4 #ai47 ,as before1 what ,christ saith1 the ,spirit saith2 and the instruction1 warning and threatening sent to the church in ,thyatira1 was addressed to all churches and to every human being endowed with an ear to hear4 ,it is assumed in the beginning of the ,apocalypse1 that only some will have sufficient education to read the words of the prophecy of this book2 and such is the condescension of our gracious ,master1 that those who1 by reason of invincible ignorance1 cannot read1 yet may share in the reward promised to such as hear and keep the sayings of this book4 ,and no doubt thousands have received this reward since the begun decline of ,popery1 who were privileged to hear and to know the joyful sound of the gospel proclaimed by the heralds of the ,reformation4 ,in the times of ,luther1 ,calvin1 ,knox1 and others1 who were their compeers and successors1 many were called from darkness to light1 in continental and insular ,europe1 who could not read4 ,all are commanded to search the ,scriptures4 ,now to be able to obey this reasonable command1 either all must be instructed in the knowledge of ,hebrew and ,greek1--the two languages in which the ,bible was originally written1 or the ,bible must be translated into the languages of all nations4 ,but the former supposition is impracticable1 and therefore the latter is dutiful4 ,and after all that has been done1 and is yet to be accomplished1 in translating the sacred writings into the languages of the nations of the earth1 the angels of the churches will be employed by the chief ,shepherd in feeding his flock4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #a4 ,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 ,vs4 #a-f4--;,as hitherto in these epistles we do not discover a presiding minister above an elder1 so neither do we in this one find any hint of a bishop and pastors4 ,all ,christ's bishops are elders1 and all are brethren4 7,acts xx4 #ag1 #bh47 ,prelacy1--that is1 preferring one pastor before another in office1 is expressly prohibited by the church's only ,lawgiver4 7,matt4 xx4 #be1 #bf47 ,the attempts to annul this law of ,christ has caused more sin and suffering to his disciples than any one external agency of the devil4 ,the whole history of the church furnishes the evidence of this4 ,the church in ,sardis is addressed by him who hath the seven spirits of ,god and the seven stars1 who has authority by office to give the quickening influences of the ,spirit to the dead1 and his reviving influences to the dormant2 for revival presupposes life4 ,their works were not perfect before ,god1 however they might appear to men4 ,the majority were in a languishing condition1 had given themselves over to a detestable neutrality in the ,lord's cause4 ,and as the whole body is justly characterized by the major part2 this church is described as dead4 ,be watchful1--remember1--repent4 ,these duties point out the prevailing sins1 namely1 slothfulness1 forgetfulness and security4 ,where these predominate1 things that remain are ready to die4 ,and there is no other remedy but that of applying to the ,seven ,spirits of ,god1 which ,christ is ready to shed abundantly on all who make believing application4 ,christ threatens to come as a thief upon those who do not watch4 ,in similitudes1 we are not to indulge a licentious fancy in our attempts to interpret them4 ,the objects of the thief's visit and that of ,christ are not the point of resemblance2 for the thief cometh not but for to steal1 and to kill1 and to destroy4 ,the point1 and the only point of resemblance1 is the suddenness of the visit4 ,ignorance or neglect of this rule of interpretation has been a fruitful source of error1 especially in expounding ,revelation4 ,in this epistle1 the order hitherto observed by the ,saviour is reversed4 ,what was praiseworthy in other churches was first noticed4 ,here the commendation follows the reproof4 ,thou hast a few names1 etc4 ,a virtuous minority are undefiled in the way4 ,they have nobly withstood the prevailing contamination1 and therefore ,christ will admit them to fellowship and honor4 ,the victor shall be clothed in white raiment1--grace shall be perfected in glory2 and their names1 which were inscribed in the book of life1--the register of the church of the first-born1 shall be confessed by ,christ before his ,father and before his angels1 as having followed the ,lamb1 when others went back like ,orpah4 7,ruth i4 #ae47 ,let those who1 having put their hand to the plough1 are tempted to look back1 consider what the ,spirit saith to the church in ,sardis4 #g4 ,and to the angel of the church in ,philadelphia write3 ,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 has 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 ,god2 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 ,vs4 #g-ac4--,this church1 like the one in ,smyrna1 is without rebuke1 in the midst of similar trials4--,christ's message is prefaced1 as usual1 by some description of himself1 implying his supreme deity and authority4 ,he that is holy1 he that is true1 is more than a creature4 ,as there is none good but one1 that is ,god2 so1 there is none holy as the ,lord1 7,jehovah17 7#a ,sam4 ii4 #b47 ,here is another1 among many plain proofs1 of our ,saviour's proper divinity4 ,his divine authority is held forth in his having the key of ,david1 etc4 ,a key is the symbol of authority1 7,matt4 xvi4 #ai17 and the reference is to that prophecy1 7,isa4 xxii4 #bj-bd17 in which the mediatorial dominion of ,christ is set forth1 by calling ,eliakim to the place of authority in the room of ,shebna4 ,the key of the house of ,david will ,i lay upon his shoulder4 ,it is in virtue of this extensive grant of power from the ,father1 that the ,lord ,christ has a right1 as ,mediator1 to send his ambassadors into all nations1 to call sinners 7rebels7 back to their rightful allegiance2 and also to execute deserved punishment upon all who do harm to his servants4 7,ps4 cv1 #ae47 ,in the exercise of his rightful authority1 he has set before this church an open door of liberty1 of opportunity1 of activity2 that she may put forth her little strength in keeping ,christ's word and confessing his name amidst opposition1 reproach and violence2 for it is obvious1 that when impostors fail to reach their objects by deceit1 they will resort to forcible measures4 ,because this church was unable to purge herself by corrective discipline1--having but a little strength1 therefore ,christ declares his purpose to strip these lying ,jews of their cloak of hypocrisy1 and exhibit them in their true character a synagogue 7church7 of ,satan4 7,james ii4 #b47 ,seeing that in apostolic times there were apostles1 ministers1 churches of the devil1 is it to be supposed that we violate the law of charity1 if in our own degenerate age1 when heresies abound1 when ecclesiastical order is trampled upon1 we venture to apply the language of the ,holy ,spirit to unholy and profane amalgamations8 ,no1 it is part of the special business of ,christ's witnesses to unmask specious hypocrites and warn of danger from false teachers1 7#b ,cor4 xi4 #ac-ae2 ,gal4 i4 #f1 #g17 that their folly may be made manifest to all men4 7#b ,tim4 iii4 #h1 #i2 #b ,peter ii4 #a1 #c47--,the cruel enemy1 who in the day of prosperity boasts of his success1 in the day of adversity becomes the most arrant coward and cringing suppliant1--whether it be ,saul or ,shimei4 7#a ,sam4 xv4 #cj2 #b ,sam4 xix4 #ah47 ,haughty persecutors have been changed to humble suitors for an interest in the prayers of their victims1--to worship before their feet4 ,the word of ,christ's patience may signify any truth or doctrine of the ,bible which is of supernatural revelation4 ,the same idea is suggested by the phrase1 the present truth1--any divine truth which may come to be opposed or denied1 especially as it may bear upon the personal glory of our ,redeemer4 ,love to ,christ is often tested by an enlightened and firm adherence to the truth as it is in ,jesus1 when false apostles will sell it for a mess of pottage4 7,prov4 xxiii4 #bc2 #b ,cor4 xiii4 #h47 ,the first promise here is of a temporal kind1 of protection in time of general danger4 ,the temptation thus predicted may refer to some of those ten persecutions waged by the ,roman emperors against the ,christians1 as that of ,trajan in particular2 but doubtless1 like many other predictions1 it was to have more than one fulfilment4 ,the expression1 all the world does indeed sometimes mean the ,roman empire1 7,luke ii4 #a27 but perhaps it would be rash to affirm1 that it is to be always thus limited4 ,like the kingdom of heaven1--the kingdom of ,god1--phrases which have unquestionably a two-fold signification1 so it will be safer to consider this expression as of a similar kind4 ,all other churches would be exposed to trial1 from which this one would be exempted4 ,the trial might consist of persecution1 or the spreading of heretical principles and wicked practices1 followed by apostacies4 ,at such a time of trial1 a firm adherence to the doctrines which are after godliness1 would be imperative duty1 and the only way to secure the victor's crown4 ,the gracious reward of fidelity here promised is a permanent and honorable place in the heavenly temple1--the temple of ,christ's ,father1 whose name the citizen of the ,new ,jerusalem should bear for ever1 and should be known and recognised as fellow-citizen with the saints4 ,these names may be safely interpreted as importing1 son1 daughter of the ,lord ,almighty1 citizen of ,zion1 ,christian4 ,as the disciples were first called ,christians at ,antioch1 so their gracious ,master will confess their names before his ,father and the holy angels4 7,acts xi4 #bf2 ,rev4 iii4 #e47 #ad4 ,and unto the angel of the church of the ,laodiceans write3 ,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 then1 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 naked4 #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 door 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 ,vs4 #ad-bb4--;,it appears that in ,paul's time a ,christian church had been planted in ,laodicea4 7,col4 ii4 #a2 iv4 #af47 ,this church had the benefit of his ministry as well as that of ,ephesus3 and as both these churches were comparatively near to all the other five1 we may suppose that a man of his zealous1 active and persevering character and habits1 would impart unto them some spiritual gift4 7,rom4 i4 #aa47 ,it is evident that this church had degenerated more than all the others4 ,in her there is nothing to commend4 ,her officers and members are described in their real character by him who is the ,amen1 the faithful and true ,witness1 the beginning of the creation of ,god4 ,each of these titles speaks the divine dignity of ,christ4 ,they are all to be understood in an absolute1 not in a comparative sense4 ,as there is none good 7absolutely so17 but one2 that is1 ,god1 ,matt4 xix4 #ag2 so ,christ only is the ,amen in such sense that he cannot lie as a witness4' ,he speaks that which he has seen with his ,father4 7,john viii4 #ch47 ,jesus is1 moreover1 the ,beginning2 the author1 owner and sovereign ruler of the creation of ,god4 ,this is clearly taught in ,col4 i4 #ae-ah1 where the same person1 who 7in v4 #ah7 is called the beginning1 as here2 is 7in v4 #ag17 said to be before all things2 by whom 7v4 #af17 were all things created1 that are in heaven1 and that are in earth4--,creation is a work proper to ,god only4 ,but our ,redeemer has created all things4 ,now1 according to ,heb4 iii4 #d1 he that built all things is ,god2 therefore he of whom these things are spoken is the ,most ,high ,god4 ,and so said the inspired prophet long ago1 ,for thy ,maker is thine husband4 7,isa4 liv4 #e47 ,in the language of ,jeremiah1 7x4 #aa17--thus do we say to ,arians1 ,socinians1 and other self-styled ,unitarians1--,the gods that have not made the heavens and the earth1 even they shall perish from the earth1 and from under these heavens3 and their blinded votaries1 except they repent1 shall all likewise perish4--,however far the body of this church had declined1 it does not appear that they had yet1 as a community1 gone the length of denying the ,lord that bought them4 ,spiritual pride1 self-sufficiency1 seems to have been the prevailing sin among these degenerate professors4 ,like the ,pharisee1 they would boast of their riches1 the spiritual gifts which they possessed1 by which they flattered themselves that they were not as other men4 ,possibly they might excel in knowledge1 that knowledge which puffeth up2 in utterance1--great swelling words of vanity1 by which they gained both filthy lucre and the admiration of an ignorant and carnal multitude4 ,such is too often the actual condition of ministers and people1 when they are all the while under the power of sin1 and wholly blind to their spiritual destitution4 ,self-deception is fatal2 and it would be just in the ,lord ,jesus to give such persons up to their own hearts' lusts4 ,so he threatens1--,i will spue thee out of my mouth1 as a man's stomach loathes that which is nauseating4 ,the like figure is used by ,isaiah1 7lxv4 #e17 personating his ,lord when describing similar characters3--,these are a smoke in my nose1--intolerably offensive4--,to us the case of this church would appear hopeless4 ,it is not so1 however3 on the contrary1 he assures them that these sharp rebukes proceed from love4 ,as many as ,i love1 ,i rebuke1 and chasten4 7,heb4 xii4 #f-h47 ,and from the counsel which he gives1 as farther evidence of his love1 we learn wherein this church was lacking1--in grace1 justifying righteousness1 and the saving self searching illumination of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,as this church had not the promise of exemption from the coming temptation1 7v4 #aj17 the gold tried in the fire of persecution will be indispensable to preserve any from apostacy1 whereby their cloak of hypocrisy would be removed1 and they be exposed to shame4--,christ stands and knocks4--,if the church refuses him admittance1 yet if but one will hear his voice and open the door1 he will certainly communicate such consolations1--the joy of his salvation1 that it may be said they sup together4 7,song v4 #a47 ,this1 as before1 is the hundred-fold1 promised in this life1 as a foretaste and pledge of heavenly felicity4--,there is added1 a participation in his honor and authority2 for those who suffer with him shall also reign with him4 7#b ,tim4 ii4 #ab47 ,whilst this honour is to all his saints1 it is to be conferred upon them by ,christ4 ,this assertion may seem to contradict what ,christ said to the mother of ,zebedee's sons1 7,matt4 xx4 #bc17--to sit on my right hand1 and on my left1 is not mine to give4--,no1 it is not his to give1--but1 except to them for whom it is prepared of his ,father4 ,then it is his to give1--his right4 ,of the honor and felicity promised to such as fight the good fight of faith1 none can have an adequate conception without actual experience4 7#a ,john iii4 #b47 ,,general ,,observations4 ,although the fundamental doctrine of the ,trinity in ,unity be not expressly taught or asserted in these epistles1 it is nevertheless often and plainly presupposed4 ,each epistle begins and closes with express mention of two divine persons as equally the author4 ,what ,christ says1 the ,spirit says to these churches4 ,but there is a third divine person often mentioned who is called ,god1 and ,father4 7,ch4 ii4 #g1 #ah1 #bg1 etc427 and in the first verse of chapter third1 one speaks who has the seven ,spirits of ,god1 where the ,trinity is included4 ,thus1 while in these epistles this important doctrine of the adorable ,trinity1--a doctrine which lies at the very foundation of a sinner's hope1 is obscurely revealed1 as being clearly discovered in the preceding parts of the ,holy ,scriptures2 the subsequent part of this book of ,revelation is intended1 among other objects1 to demonstrate the distinct subsistence and economical actings of the co-equal and eternal ,three1 in the protection and salvation of the church1 and in the control and moral government of the universe4 ,again1 on the groundless and chimerical assumption of those expositors who view these epistles as prophetical of seven successive periods of the destiny of the church general1 the last estate would be worse than the first1--,laodicea being the worst of all4 ,but this is obviously contrary to the description contained in ch4 xx4 #a-aj1 where the saints are represented as in possession and exercise of all their purchased and social rights4 ,neither does authentic history prove that the church of ,christ was more prosperous under the ten persecutions by the heathen ,roman emperors than in the apostolic age1 as the superior condition of the church in ,smyrna to that of ,ephesus would require4 ,the very contrary is true2 and hence the groundlessness of such interpretation1 however respectable the names of its authors4 ,the object of our ,saviour in all the instructions1 counsels1 warnings1 rebukes and threatenings addressed to these several churches is doubtless the real benefit of his people in after generations2--just as his dealings with the church in ,old ,testament times1 were written for our admonition and learning4 7,rom4 xv4 #d2 #a ,cor4 x4 #aa47 ,moreover1 some persons have inferred from our ,lord's treatment of these churches1 a divine warrant for the existence1 and an imperative ,christian duty for the charitable recognition1 of all the conflicting and antagonistic organizations of our time1 popularly styled ,christian churches4 ,but as the designation1 ,christian churches1 is in the apprehension of some too general1 the term evangelical is used by them as restrictive of the term ,christian4 ,still the question will present itself1--,what constitutes a church evangelical8 ,and this question is still without any definite answer4 ,perhaps no two persons would include in one category the same denominations of professing ,christians4 ,for example1--,is a community to be considered a ,christian church in which the doctrine of ,balaam is taught8 ,does the law of charity require the recognition of an organization as a ,christian church1 in which a ,jezebel would be suffered to teach1 and to seduce the servants of ,christ8 ,is that a ,christian church which denies the supreme deity of ,christ1 and rejects the seals of the covenant of grace1--the only charter of the ,christian church's existence1 on earth8 ,or is that combination to be viewed as a ,christian church which has no regular ministry1 but expressly rejects the pastors and teachers of ,christ's appointment and the morality of the sabbath8 ,these1 and many other questions of similar or analogous import1 will suggest negative answers to all who fear ,god1 respect his authority1 and are free from the bewildering effects of popular error4 ,it ought to be considered that all these seven churches were one church1 as originally constituted1 having the same1--that1 is1 a divine1 scriptural organization4 ,and although in the divine forbearance1 they were still owned by ,christ1 notwithstanding the errors1 heresies and immoralities which had crept into them2 yet it is manifest that he threatens some of them with divorce1 total extinction in case of impenitence4 ,he has indeed fulfilled his awful threats in making them a desolation4 ,is it reasonable to suppose that he would reorganize these1 or recognise others which incorporate the same or the like corruptions in doctrine and practice for tolerating which he has removed their candlestick1 or spued them out of his mouth8 7,absit blasphemia47 ,to say so1 or write so1 does not manifest the charity which rejoiceth not in iniquity1 but rejoiceth in the truth4 ,alas6 the present condition of the church general contains frequent evidences1 that our ,saviour's affectionate counsels1 solemn warnings1 and awful threatenings1 are neither duly pondered nor dutifully regarded4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,with this chapter the prophetical part of the ,apocalypse begins4 ,this is the place where the third division of the book commences1 of which intimation had been given to ,john4--,write 444 the things which shall be hereafter4 7,ch4 i4 #ai47 ,the third is therefore much the largest part of the whole book1 comprising all from the #dth to the #bb;d ch4 ,it is also to be noticed that the fourth and fifth chapters are properly of the nature of an introduction to what follows1 presenting to view1 as it were1 a grand theatre on which are to be exhibited the dramatic characters and events which constitute the outline of history in the church and the world from the apostle's time till the consummation of all things4 ,expositors commonly frame and lay down some rules by which they suppose symbolic language in general1 and the symbols of this book in particular1 may be interpreted4 ,on examination1 however1 it will be discovered that the learned are not agreed either in the nature or number of such rules1 and sometimes an expositor who has exerted his ingenuity most in devising canons of interpretation1 forgets to apply them4 ,all languages1 whether spoken or written1 are more or less metaphorical1 interspersed with what are called figures of speech4 ,it is customary to represent nations and tribes1 whose language abounds in symbols1 as but little advanced in civilization2 and to view oriental nations as more disposed to indulge in tropes and figures than those of the west2 but perhaps this relative estimate of the modes of speech in the eastern and western hemispheres will admit of some modification1 when we consider the gesticulations and similes by which the aborigines of ,america attempt to give expression to their ideas4 ,the word hieroglyphics1 signifying sacred sculpture1 derived from the ancient mode of writing by the priests of ,egypt1 has received conventional currency among the learned1 as descriptive of any writing which is obscure1 hard to be understood4 ,and all who read this book will find some of it dark indeed4 ,the divine ,author intended that it should be so1 7ch4 xiii4 #ah27 yet he calls it emphatically1 a ,revelation4 ,we have already noticed1 that the symbols in this book are taken from the ceremonial law in part1 and part are taken from the works of creation4 ,the heavens and the earth present to our senses a variety of material objects2 some more1 some less calculated to arrest our attention4 ,among these1 the sun1 moon and stars1--earth and sea1 mountains and rivers1 occupy prominent places4 ,to facilitate our knowledge of these1 and prompt reference to any part of them1 we generalize or throw them into groups4 ,thus we speak familiarly of the solar system1 the animal1 vegetable or mineral kingdom4 ,now1 just transfer these systematized objects from the material and physical1 to the moral and spiritual world4 ,then consider what relation any one object bears to the system1 and what influence it has upon the other objects of which it is a part1 and its import may be generally1 satisfactorily and certainly ascertained4 ,thus the same canons or rules which we apply in the interpretation of other writings1 will be equally available in searching the ,scriptures1--never1 never forgetting that it is the ,spirit of ,christ that guides into all truth1 or his own all-comprehensive rule of interpretation1 comparing spiritual things with spiritual4 7#a ,cor4 ii4 #ac47 ,in order to the right observance of the divinely prescribed rule1 comparing spiritual things with spiritual1 we must often refer to the prophecies of the ,old ,testament1--to the second and seventh chapters of ,daniel in particular1 because that prophet1 while the church was captive under the power of literal ,babylon1 was favoured with a discovery of the purpose of ,god1 that a succession of imperial powers should afterwards arise to try the patience and the faith of the saints4 ,as in the case of ,pharaoh1 so in the whole history of the rise1 reign and overthrow of succeeding persecuting powers1 ,jehovah's design was precisely the same1--to make his power known1 and that his name might be declared throughout all the earth4 7,ex4 ix4 #af2 ,rom4 ix4 #ag47 ,in connexion with this1 he would glorify the riches of his grace on the vessels of mercy1 which he had afore prepared unto glory1 by sustaining them in the furnace of trial4 #a4 ,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 said4 ,come up hither1 and ,i will show thee things which must be hereafter4 #b4 ,and immediately ,i was in the ,spirit2 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 ,verses #a-c4--;,after these things1 contained in the three preceding chapters1 the glorious vision of the mediatorial person1 and the writing and sending of the seven epistles2 there seems to have intervened a pause4 ,while ,john was in expectation of farther discoveries of things which were to be thereafter1 behold1 a door was opened in heaven1 the place of ,jehovah's special residence4 ,but as this heaven is sometimes the theatre of war1 7ch4 xii4 #g17 of course it is not to be taken literally4 ,as a symbol it generally signifies organized society1 over which the ,most ,high presides4 ,the door opened afforded the means to ,john of seeing the objects within4 ,the voice as of a trumpet1 which arrested his attention1 was that of ,christ1--the voice of the ,lord1 full of majesty4 7,ps4 xxix4 #d2 ch4 i4 #aj1 #aa47 ,john was in his own apprehension1 like ,paul1 caught up into the third heaven1 that he might behold in glorious succession things which must be hereafter4 ,why must they be8 ,simply because such was the purpose of ,him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will2 who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working2 whose counsel stands1 and who doeth all his pleasure4 7,eph4 i4 #aa47 ,can a rational creature work without a plan8 ,and shall mortal man be more rational than his ,maker8 ,the objects which were presented to ,john are not to be understood as material objects4 ,it was requisite that he should be in the ,spirit1 before he could see them4 ,the exercise of his bodily senses1 the organs of sensation1 must be suspended1 that he might have a perception of the objects presented in vision4 ,as the spirits of just men made perfect in glory1 in a disembodied state1 are still conscious and active2 so are we warranted to conceive of souls yet in the body as being in a state analagous1--falling into a trance4 7,acts x4 #aj47 ,the first object seen by ,john was a throne set in heaven1 the emblem of sovereignty4 ,one sat on the throne1 who cannot be described1 only in an obscure manner by comparison1 being the invisible ,god1 whom no eye hath seen1 nor can see4 ,yet we know with certainty it is the person of the ,father1 because he is in the next chapter plainly distinguished from the ,lamb4 ,seated on the throne1--and in the throne he is greater than the ,mediator4 ,a relation between these divine persons was shadowed forth in ,egypt between ,pharaoh and ,joseph4 7,gen4 xli4 #dj47 ,occupying the throne of the universe1 the ,father sustains the majesty of the ,godhead1 and represents the persons of the adorable ,trinity2 for the idea is equally unscriptural and absurd1 that either person appears or acts 7ad extra7 in absolute or essential character4 7,is4 xlii4 #a2 ,john x4 #ah2 xiv4 #ca47 ,he that sat1 was 444 like a jasper and a sardine stone1--not like any human form1 but in allusion1 perhaps1 to the ,shekinah or visible glory above the mercy-seat in the most holy place1 he appeared in the essential purity or holiness of his nature and awful justice1--one who will by no means clear the guilty4 ,the rainbow is the familiar emblem or token of the covenant4 ,its being round about the throne teaches us1 that ,god in wrath remembers mercy4 ,as green is the color most pleasing to the natural eye1 so is the rainbow of covenant mercy most grateful to the penitent sinner1 contemplated by the eye of faith4 ,god is ever mindful of his covenant4 7,ps4 cxi4 #e47 ,ever since the revelation of mercy to fallen man1 ,god deals with mankind1 not in essential or absolute character1 but by covenant in economical standing4 ,all along since that epoch in the history of this world1 the ,father judgeth no man1 but hath committed all judgment unto the ,son4 ,as yet1 however1 the ,son is not brought upon the stage in the apostle's present view4 ,the ,son has his appropriate place in the vision1 where he will appear as ,mediator4 ,in the conflict to be carried on for twelve hundred and sixty years by the combined powers of earth and hell against the ,lord and his ,anointed1 we have the agencies exhibited in these two chapters only on heaven's side4 ,the opposing hosts will afterwards appear4 #d4 ,and round about the throne were four and twenty seats2 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 lightnings1 and thunderings1 and voices3 and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne1 which are the seven spirits of ,god4 ,verses #d1 #e4--,to ,john's view1 the throne seen from one side would appear to be surrounded by a segment of a circle1 within which were four and twenty seats1 7thrones17 occupied by an equal number of elders4 ,in society divinely organized elders have always been the legal representatives of ,god's covenant society in civil and ecclesiastical relations4 7,exod4 iii4 #af2 ,acts xx4 #ag47 ,these four and twenty elders represent the collective body of ,god's people under the ,old and ,new ,testaments1--the twelve tribes of ,israel and the twelve apostles4 7ch4 vii4 #d2 xxi4 #ab-ad47 ,their white raiment and crowns of gold indicate their legal state and moral purity1--their justification and sanctification1 as also their promotion to honour1 to reign as kings4 7ch1 i4 #f2 v4 #aj47 reign on the earth1 ch1 xx4 #d4 ,allusion is had to the terrific scene at ,sinai by the lightnings1 etc41 when ,moses did exceedingly fear and quake1 importing that ,god1 our ,god1 is a consuming fire to all his impenitent1 especially antichristian1 enemies1 even under the milder economy of the ,new ,testament4 7,heb4 x4 #bh-ca2 ch4 xx4 #aj47 ,the seven lamps of fire are explained to mean the seven spirits of ,god1 in allusion to the golden candlestick in the temple1 7,exod4 xxxvii4 #bc2 ,zech4 iv4 #b17 and signifying the gifts and graces of those who are baptized with the ,holy ,ghost and with fire4 #f4 ,and before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal2 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 glory1 and honor1 and thanks1 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 glory1 and honour1 and power2 for thou hast created all things1 and for thy pleasure they are and were created4 ,vs4 #f-aa4--,the sea of glass before the throne is a symbol taken from the brazen sea in the temple1 in which priests and victims were to be washed4 7,exod4 xxx4 #ah2 #a ,kings vii4 #bc47 ,this sea represents the same thing as the fountain opened1 7,zech4 xiii4 #a17 which denotes the atoning and cleansing blood of ,christ4 7,ch4 vii4 #ad47 ,all who offer spiritual sacrifices1 acceptable to ,god1 must first be washed2 for the ,lord had respect to ,abel first1 and then to his offering1 7,gen4 iv4 #d47--,next1 ,john saw four beasts4 ,the translation here is faulty1 as noticed by many expositors4 ,different words in the original ,greek1--not only different1 but in some respects opposite in signification1 ought not to be rendered by the same ,english word2 for this tends to mislead the unlearned leader4 ,he is thus bewildered instead of being enlightened4 ,there are several beasts besides these1 introduced as instructive symbols in this book4 ,two are mentioned in ch4 xiii4 #a1 #aa1 altogether different from these1--so different as to be antagonistic4 ,instead of beasts1 they should have been called animals or living beings2 for even the phrase living creatures hardly covers or conveys the whole import of the ,greek word4 ,the position of these four animals is worthy of special notice3--in the midst of the throne1 and round about the throne4 ,how can this be8 ,well1 if the seats and the elders occupying them are round about the throne1 in a segment of a circle1 as viewed by ,john1 then it will be readily perceived that the animals seen from the same quarter would appear to him as occupying a space forming a smaller segment of a circle between the elders and the throne4 ,thus we have the relative positions1 7a7 the throne1 7b7 the four animals next to the throne1 and lastly1 7c7 the four and twenty elders4 ,the places occupied by these several parties are pregnant with scriptural instruction1 as may appear when we come to the latter part of ch4 #f4 ,in the mean time1 what do these four animals represent8 ,not the adorable ,trinity1 as some learned men have imagined2 nor holy angels1 as more learned men have supposed and laboured to prove4 ,these animals are worshippers2 7v4 #h17 therefore they are not the ,object of worship4 ,they are culpably blind who mistake the creature for the ,creator4 7,rom4 i4 #be47 ,other expositors have attempted1 with greater plausibility1 but no better success1 to prove these animals to be symbolical of angels4 ,for this purpose1 reference has been made to ,isaiah's vision of the seraphims1 7ch4 vi4 #b17 and also to the four living creatures which appeared in vision to ,ezekiel1 7i4 #e-aj47 ,the identity of ,john's animals and ,ezekiel's living creatures is argued especially from their number1 four1 and their faces being the same4 ,to the thoughtful and unbiased reader it is sufficient to reply1--that ,john's animals acknowledge themselves to have been redeemed by the blood of the ,lamb1 7ch4 v4 #h1 #i17 an expression which is inapplicable to angels4 ,as the four and twenty elders and the four animals comprise the whole company of the redeemed1 as distinguished from the higher and lower orders of ,god's worshippers1 7ch4 v4 #h-ad17 and as the elders represent the whole church1 it would seem to be reasonable to suppose1 that these animals are the symbols of the gospel ministry4 ,and to this agree their functions as exercised in the farther developments of this book1 as we shall see4 ,one plausible objection to this interpretation is grounded on the fact that their faces are the same as those of ,ezekiel's angels1--of an ox1 or young calf1 of a lion1 of a man1 and of an eagle4 ,but each of the cherubims had four faces whereas these animals have but one face each4 ,nor ought it to be thought incongruous that faithful ministers are represented as possessing some of the properties of holy angels1 when we find them called by the same name3 7ch4 i4 #bj27 and also1 when we find the ,master directing them to imitate and emulate holy angels in their services4 7,matt4 vi4 #aj2 ,ps4 ciii4 #bj1 #ba47 ,these animals1 emblematical of the gospel ministry1 are in number four1 answerable to the universality of their mission into the four quarters of the earth1--all the world4 7,matt1 xxviii4 #ai2 ,mark1 xvi4 #ae47 ,so the four winds1 7ch4 vii4 #a17 mean all winds4 ,as the lion1 which is the strongest among beasts1 and turneth not away for any1 is distinguished for courage and magnanimity2 so1 as a symbol1 it represents a ministry of courageous and heroic spirit4 ,luther in continental1 and ,knox in insular ,europe1 may be named as displaying this prominent feature of ministerial character4 ,the calf or young ox1 symbolizes patient continuance in well-doing amidst trials1 such as cruel mockings1 etc4 ,the face as a man indicates sagacity1 ,christian prudence1 together with active sympathy4 ,the flying eagle is emblematical of penetration and discrimination1--ability to teach others1 from a spiritual insight into the divine character and purposes1--an experimental acquaintance with the ,god of glory4 ,all these properties are not to be supposed ordinarily in any one minister1 but as distributed among the ministry at large1--according to the measure of the gift of ,christ1--the ,holy ,spirit dividing to every man severally as he will4 7,eph4 iv4 #g2 #a ,cor4 xii4 #aa47 ,it may be remarked1 that in some cases all these properties may be discerned in great measure in the same individual4 ,in the gifts and grace of the apostle ,paul1 may be discovered the boldness of the lion1 the patience of the ox1 the compassion of the man1 and the soaring flight of the eagle4 ,our covenant ,god endows his servants for the service to which he calls them1 always making good the promise1--,as thy days1 so shall thy strength be4 ,the six wings1 of course1 are expressive of the activity of the ministry1--in season1 out of season1 emulating the heavenly seraphims in serving the same ,lord4 ,they were full of eyes before1 behind1 within4 ,they are to take heed to themselves1 and to the ministry which they have received in the ,lord1 that they fulfil it4 7,col4 iv4 #ag2 #a ,tim4 iv4 #af47 ,they are to regard the operation of ,god's hand in providence1 so as to have understanding of the times1 and know what ,israel ought to do4 7#a ,chron4 xii4 #cb47 ,they are to try the spirits whether they are of ,god2 and after the first and second admonition1 to reject heretics4 7,tit4 iii4 #aj47 ,they are to oversee the flock1 7,acts xx4 #bh27 and to watch for souls1 as they that must give account to the ,master4 7,heb4 xiii4 #ag47 ,and we may say with ,paul1--,who is sufficient for these things8 ,modern prelates1 who arrogate to themselves the exclusive use of the ,scriptural official name ,,bishop1 generally manifest that they are only bishops1 7two-eyed7 and not the many-eyed servants of ,christ1 symbolized by the four animals of our text1 or the overseeing elders charged at ,miletus by the apostle ,paul4 7,acts xx4 #ag47 ,while these men slept1 the enemy sowed tares4--,in direct acts of worship1 these animals1--the ministers1 take the lead1 answerable to another official name1--guides1 in things pertaining to ,god4 7,heb4 xiii4 #g2 ,greek v4 #a47 ,they are1 as well expressed by another phrase1 the sworn expounders of ,god's word1 and authoritative rulers in his house4 ,destitute of legislative power1 which in ecclesiastical affairs pertains to ,christ alone2 they are the authorized administrators of all the laws by which his household is to be governed4 7,heb4 xiii4 #g1 #ag47--,the language of adoration here is the same uttered by the seraphim4 7,isa4 vi4 #c7 ,the holiness of ,god is that adorable character which is most attractive to holy angels and redeemed sinners1 being the principal feature of the divine image reflected by themselves4 7,matt4 xxv4 #ca2 ,jude #ad2 #a ,john iii4 #b47 ,the glorious ,being seen by ,john1 as sitting on a throne1 is the same who was seen by ,isaiah1 7vi4 #a27 and precisely in the same attitude2 but called by different names4 ,by ,isaiah he is denominated the ,lord of ,hosts1--by ,john1 the ,lord ,god ,almighty4 ,the context proves1--especially ch4 v4 #a2 that ,john in vision contemplated ,god in the person of the ,father2 whereas we are assured1 in ,john xii4 #da1 that ,isaiah saw him in the person of the ,son4 ,thus we may understand our ,lord's words addressed to ,philip1 7,john xiv4 #i47 ,he that hath seen me hath seen the father4 7,see ,heb4 i4 #h2 ,col4 i4 #ae47 ,led by the four animals1--the ministry of reconciliation2 the four and twenty elders1 representing all the redeemed of mankind1 fall down before him that sat on the throne in prostrate adoration of that glorious ,being whose eternal power and ,godhead are demonstrated in the volume of creation4 ,we are thus taught that motives to acceptable worship of ,god are primarily to be found in the perfections of his nature as our beneficent ,creator1--perfections possessed by him in essential character1 independently of all his works of creation and redemption4 ,his worthiness of worship is inherent in himself1 but outwardly manifested to intelligent creatures by the work of creation1 of which he is the first ,cause and the last ,end1--the efficient and final ,cause4 ,this doctrine1 understood by the intellect and unbraced in the heart1 would greatly tend to hide pride from man4 7,job xxxiii4 #ag47 ,aside from the doctrine of the cross1 which is still counted foolishness by our modern self-styled philosophers1 psychologists and freethinkers2 there is enough here revealed of this eternal ,one to humble the proud looks and haughty hearts of these enemies of the ,king4 ,without repentance1 he that made them will not have mercy on them2 and he that formed them will show them no favour2 for notwithstanding their pride of superior intellect1 he whose judgment is according to truth1 has pronounced them a people of no understanding4 7,isa4 xxvii4 #aa47 ,it is no disparagement to those in places of highest earthly dignity1 as ,david2 nor to the wisest of all men1 as ,solomon3 to cast their crowns before the throne of this only universal ,monarch2 saying1 ,thou art worthy1 ,o ,lord1 to receive glory and honor and power2 for thou hast created all things1 and for thy pleasure they are and were created2 and let the whole earth be filled with his glory4 7,ps4 lxxii4 #ai47 ,,chapter ,,vi4 #a4 ,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 ,verse #a4--,the dividing of the books of ,scripture into chapters and verses is not by inspiration4 ,fallible men have used their discretion in this respect1 as they still do1 by parceling chapters into sections1 paragraphs1 c4 ,and so1 although we have passed to another chapter1 the vision is the same4 ,the inspired penman had looked upon the great ,king surrounded by part of his retinue4 ,in earnest expectation of farther discoveries1 he beheld in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back side1 7or outside1 as in some copies47 ,the book was sealed with seven seals4 ,this volume was in the form of a roll1 as the word volume signifies4 ,the form of a book is determined by the kind of material on which one writes4 ,this has consisted of great variety in the successive ages of the world4 ,the first of which we have any notice in history is stone4 ,when ,job1 in his affliction1 was sustained by faith in the promised ,redeemer2 and when he would emphasize and transmit an expression of that faith to future generations2 he thought of the nearest expedient familiar to his mind3--,oh that my words were now written4444 that they were graven with an iron pen4444 in the rock forever1 7,job xix4 #bc1 #bd47 ,on the same material the law was written at ,horeb1 7,exod4 xxiv4 #ab47 ,no doubt this was the usual method of recording events in ,egypt in the time of ,joseph1 as the word hieroglyphics or sacred sculpture1 appears to imply4 ,next1 it appears that the inside bark of trees was used for this purpose1 as of birch1 which has a natural tendency to curl or roll together when dry4 ,hence the word library1 and volume1 or rolled bark4 ,the royal archives1 or house of the rolls1 is thus explained1 7,ezra4 vi4 #a47 ,vellum1 or dressed skins of beasts1 appears to have been next used2 then linen and cotton2 and as now put through a chemical process1 these are the material in most common use at the present day4 ,thus contemplating the symbol in the text1 we may trace in our thoughts the gradual advancement of this department of science and the mechanic arts4 ,the second stage of progress had been reached in ,john's time1 from stone to the bark of timber4 ,the book appears to have been of cylindrical form1 but whether in one piece or in seven separate pieces1 revolving on a common axis1 it is not easy nor perhaps important to determine4 ,it is of much greater importance to know that the book is emblematical of the decrees of ,god4 ,this will appear by comparing ,psalm xl4 #g1 where we find the same symbol employed to represent the record of covenant agreement or stipulation between the ,father and the ,son1 and to which our ,saviour appeals as evidence in his case4 7,heb4 x4 #g47 ,while the symbol may be safely considered as involving all the purposes of ,god2 it signifies here more especially the following part of the ,apocalypse1 containing1 as it were1 a transcript from the great original4--,seals are for security and secrecy4 ,both may be included in the case4 ,and indeed their being seven in number--a number of perfection1 would seem to confirm this two-fold meaning4 ,the sealed book1 symbolical of the decrees of ,god1 comprehending all events of all time1 teaches us the doctrine expressed in plain words thus3--,known unto ,god are all his works from the beginning of the world1 7,acts xv4 #ah47 ,the complex symbol also teaches more forcibly than in words1--,my counsel shall stand1 and ,i will do all my pleasure1 7,is1 xlvi4 #aj47 ,some have suggested a little change in the punctuation4 ,instead of placing the comma1 after the word side1 place it after the word within1 the meaning would then be1 that the book was written only on one side1 namely on the side within4 ,we do not accept the suggestion4 ,the reason is sufficient for its rejection1 that the material in the time of the apostle1 was too costly to leave one-half of it blank2 and here our divine ,lord speaks to us of heavenly things through the medium of earthly things with which we are familiar4 #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 ,vs4 #b-c4--,proclamation is made by a strong angel1 the ,almighty ,monarch's herald to the universe1 challenging all creatures to the task of opening the seals4 ,his loud voice reverberates throughout illimitable space1 that all concerned might hear4 ,the challenge is not1 who is able8 but1 who is worthy8--,who is worthy1 by personal dignity1 or distinguished and meritorious services1 to open the book and to loose the seals thereof8 ,no response comes from any quarter to break the solemn silence4 ,the whole creation is mute4 ,who hath known the mind of the ,lord8 or who hath been his counsellor8 ,o the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of ,god6 ,how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out6 7,rom4 xi4 #cc1 #cd47--;,and no man in heaven1 c4 ,the word man is in this place1 as in many others1 an imperfect and inadequate supplement4 ,in some places it is calculated to mislead the unlearned and unstable1 as ,john x4 #bh1 #bi1 7in some copies17 ,heb4 ii4 #i4 ,the former text1 as supplemented by the word man1 contradicts the apostle1 ,rom4 viii4 #ci4 ,the meaning here is obviously that no creature1--angel or man1 was worthy or able to open the book4 ,to holy angels1 devils1 and the dead under the earth1 the purposes of ,god are as inscrutable as they are to us1 until they are revealed4 7,eph4 iii4 #aj2 #a ,pet4 i4 #ab47 #d4 ,and ,i wept much1 because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book1 neither to look thereon4 ,v4 #d4--;,john understood by the symbol which he saw1 that its contents were of deep significance4 ,a sanctified curiosity and anxiety1 more powerful than that of the ,ethiopian eunuch1 7,acts viii4 #cd17 occupied his soul4 ,but the book is sealed and there is no visible interpreter6 7,is4 xxix4 #aa47 ,the beloved disciple is much affected4 ,he has more than once or twice beheld the glory of ,god1 and cannot but earnestly desire to know more of his mind4 ,hope deferred maketh his heart sick4 ,he wept much4 ,his covenant ,god has seen his tears4 ,he will heal him1 7#b ,kings xx4 #e47 #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 ,v4 #e4--;,from a quite unexpected quarter comes a hint6 ,how could ,john anticipate relief from such a source8 ,one of the elders is made the messenger of joyful tidings4 ,as ,aquila and ,priscilla took to them the eloquent ,apollos1 and expounded unto him the way of ,god more perfectly1 7,acts xviii4 #bf17 so one of the elders--one of the humble disciples was the instrument of comfortable instruction to the aged apostle6 ,the prophet ,daniel was similarly affected by a partial exhibition of the same important events2 but his anxiety to know the meaning of the vision1 though allayed1 was not fully gratified1 as that of ,john4 7,dan4 xii4 #h1 #i17 ,go thy way1 ,daniel1 for the words are closed up and sealed4 ,the desire of the best of ,god's people to know his purposes may be sometimes excessive1 as exemplified by the disciples of ,christ1 7,acts i4 #g47 ,it is not for them to know the times and the seasons which the ,father hath put in his own power4 ,so much1 however1 is revealed as may be necessary to their present support and comfort2 and the rest they shall know hereafter1 7,john xiii4 #g47 ,but as the events involved in the secret purpose of ,god1 were concealed from ,daniel2 because not to be evolved till near the time of the end3 so in ,john's time1 when as in ,abraham's case1 the time of the promise drew nigh--the time was approaching when the interests of ,god's people would be greatly affected by these events2 it became needful that the book should be unsealed and its contents made known4 ,the time was at hand4 ,accordingly1 ,john is exhorted by the elder to dry up his tears1 for to the unspeakable joy of himself and of the whole creation1 the announcement is made1--,behold1 the ,lion of the tribe of ,judah1 the ,root of ,david1 hath prevailed to open the book1 and to loose the seven seals thereof4 ,here our attention is called away back to the famous prophecy of dying ,jacob1 7,gen4 xlix4 #i1 #aj17 and also to the subsequent and concurrent declaration of the evangelical prophet1 7,isa4 xi4 #a1 #aj47 ,christ is the ,lion of the tribe of ,judah in reference to his human nature2 for it is evident1 from the inspired tables of his genealogy1 that our ,lord sprang out of ,judah1 7,heb4 vii4 #ad27 and it is no less evident that he is the ,root of ,david1 in respect to his divine nature1 7,john i4 #a1 #c2 ,isa4 ix4 #f2 #a ,cor4 xv4 #dg47 ,the one ,mediator between ,god and men1 partaking of the nature of each party1 is worthy--alone worthy1 by reason of personal dignity1 to open the book4 ,it is also to be noticed that worthiness is not his only qualification4 ,in view of the challenge published1--who is worthy8 the answer is1 this champion hath prevailed6--,isaiah saw him in vision1 victorious over enemies--travelling in the greatness of his strength1 7,isa4 lxiii4 #a47 ,to his personal worthiness is to be added the unrivalled merit of his achievements in conflict with hostile powers1 7,gen4 iii4 #ae2 ,isa4 liii4 #ab2 ,col4 ii4 #ae47 #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 ,v4 #f4--;,in this verse we have the ,lord ,jesus ,christ introduced to the view of ,john and the intelligent universe in his sacerdotal or priestly office1 a lamb1 as it had been slain4 ,in the order of nature and of merit1 his priestly office precedes his prophetical and kingly offices4 ,this is evident from the position which he occupies in relation to the throne and royal retinue4 ,he stands in the attitude of a priest in the midst of the throne and of the four animals1 etc4 ,as seen here1 our ,saviour does not sit on the throne4 ,he appeared in a standing posture4 ,his position was obviously before the throne4 ,as the priestly function required1 he stood nearest to the object of worship1 between the ministers and the throne1--in the inmost circle4 ,there he exhibited the scars received in war2 the wounds made by the sword of divine justice2 7,zech4 xiii4 #g27 the holes in his hands and side by the nails and soldier's spear4 7,john xix4 #cd2 xx4 #bc47 ,this ,lamb slain1--typified by all the spotless lambs offered in sacrifice by divine appointment from the time of ,abel1 had been marvellously restored to life1 as no other victim had ever been4 7,john x4 #ah2 ch4 i4 #ah47 ,the seven horns and seven eyes1 symbolize the power and wisdom of the ,mediator4 ,it pleased the ,father that in him should all fulness dwell4 7,col4 i4 #ai47 ,he giveth not the ,spirit by measure unto him4 7,john iii4 #cd2 ,heb4 i4 #i47 ,christ was privy to all the purposes of his ,father1 7,john v4 #bj17 and the extent of his knowledge is limited in him as ,mediator1 only by the authority and will of the ,father4 ,of that day and that hour 444 knoweth no man 444 neither the ,son4 7,mark xiii4 #cb47 ,the same interesting and important truth is taught by the ,father's holding the book in his hand1 as also in plain words1 7ch4 i4 #a17--the ,revelation of ,jesus ,christ which ,god gave unto him4 ,no man knoweth the ,father but the ,son4 7,matt4 xi4 #bg47 ,in office-capacity the ,lord ,christ is qualified to unfold and execute the decree of ,god4 7,ps4 ii4 #g17 as more fully appears in the following part of the book4 #g4 ,and he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne4 ,v4 #g4--,the ,lord ,jesus approaches his ,father's throne to receive the roll4 ,and with the prophet we may ask1--,who is this that engaged his heart to approach8 7,jer4 xxx4 #ba47--,with all who are honored to surround the throne1 we may joyfully answer in the words of the ,psalmist1--,it is the ,lord1 strong and mighty in battle4 7,ps4 xxiv4 #h47 ,he took the book4--,this action symbolically signified the authoritative commission given by the ,father and received by the ,mediator to proceed in the execution of the divine decree1 and in discharge of his threefold office as prophet1 priest and king1--especially and more formally his prophetical and kingly offices4 #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 odours1 which are the prayers of saints4 ,v4 #h4--,no sooner does the ,lamb take the book1 than all spectators are apprized of the act1 and instantly give expression to their confidence and joy4 ,among all the worshippers before the throne1 the four animals take precedence1 and lead by their own example as before1 7ch4 iv4 #i47 ,they gave glory etc41 to ,god creator1 as in the person of the ,father2 and now in the presence of the ,father's manifested glory1 they prostrate themselves before the ,lamb1 in obedience to the ,father's command1 ,that all men should honor the ,son1 even as they honor the ,father4 7,john v4 #bc47--,the four and twenty elders1--the representatives of all the children of ,god1 cordially join the ministry in these acts of solemn worship4 ,some of the furniture employed in the temple worship1 is here introduced1 to harmonize with the rest of the symbolic scenery4 ,harps and golden vials signify praise and prayer4 ,our modern advocates for instrumental music in ,god's worship1 to be consistent1 must associate with the harps1 the incense-cups and the golden altar3 for all belonged alike to the service of the temple4 ,even in the time when such vessels of the ministry were in use with divine approbation1 the ,psalmist had greater clearness1--more evangelical conceptions of the temporary use of those beggarly elements whereunto many desire again to be in bondage than they seem to have4 7,gal4 iv4 #i47 ,he knew1 even then1 that incense and the evening sacrifice represented spiritual worship4 7,ps4 cxli4 #b47 ,others there are1 who question whether ,christ as ,mediator be the formal object of worship8 ,while they acknowledge his supreme deity as ,god equal with the ,father1 they are in doubt on his assuming human nature1 whether1 as such1 he is the object of worship6 ,such doubts are groundless1 as unanswerably shown in this place1 and in many others1 such as ,john xx4 #bh3 xxi4 #ag2 ,ps4 xlv4 #aa2 xcvii4 #g2 ,heb4 i4 #f4 ,all these worshippers appear to know that the nature of the altar at which they worship determines the kind of oblations to be offered3 namely1--spiritual sacrifices1 acceptable to ,god by ,jesus ,christ4 7#a ,pet4 ii4 #e47 #i4 ,and they sung a new song1 saying1 ,thou art worthy to take the book1 and to open the seals thereof3 for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to ,god by thy blood out of every kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 and nation2 #aj ,and hast made us unto our ,god kings and priests1 and we shall reign on the earth4 ,vs4 #i1 #aj4--,they sung a new song4 ,they all agreed in the matter1 as well as in the divine object of worship4 ,now will ,i sing to my well beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard4 7,isa4 v4 #a47 ,agreed as to the object and matter of the song none is silent in ,immanuel's praise1--no select choir1 not one who worships by proxy4 ,such belong to a different fellowship4 ,this is the song of the ,lamb1 which joined to the song of ,moses1 constitutes the whole of the high praises of the ,lord1 leaving no place for the vapid1 empty1 bombastic1 amorous and heretical effusions1 of uninspired men1 whether of sound or corrupt minds4--,the burden of the song is the same as the ,song of ,songs and the forty-fifth ,psalm1--,christ crucified1--,christ glorified1 the praises of him who hath called them from darkness into his marvellous light4 ,the key-note among them all is the work of redemption4 ,thou hast redeemed us to ,god by thy blood1--us1 and not others in the same condition4 ,others may talk of a ransom that does not redeem3 but these dwell with emphasis upon the price and power that brought them out of every kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 and nation4 ,this happy and joyful company never conceived the idea that1 in order at once to vindicate ,jehovah's moral government and give the most impressive demonstration of his opposition to sin1 he subjected his beloved ,son to untold sufferings1 which should be equally available by all his enemies1 but specially intended for none in particular6 ,they never imagined that their adorable ,creator was under a natural necessity of seeking the greatest good of the greatest number1 that he might thereby escape the just imputation of partiality4 ,such impious conceptions imply distributive injustice on the part of ,god1 when he spared not the angels that sinned1 but cast them down to hell4 7#b ,pet4 ii4 #d47 ,neither man's chief end nor ,god's is the happiness of creatures1--no1 neither in creation nor redemption1 as is clear to unsophisticated reason1 and plainly determined by the ,spirit of ,god4 7,see ch4 iv4 #aa2 ,isa4 xliii4 #g1 #ba2 ,eph4 i4 #ab47 ,the manifestation of his own perfections1--his own glory1 is the highest and ultimate end of ,jehovah in all his purposes and works4 ,the ,lord hath made all things for himself4 7,prov4 xvi4 #d2 ,rom4 xi4 #cf47 ,now1 if the ,lamb has redeemed the whole human family1 as some affirm2 then it will follow that all must be saved1 or ,christ died in vain1 in reference to them that are lost3 and besides1 the ,judge of all the earth would be chargeable with exercising distributive injustice1 in exacting double payment1 first from the ,surety1 and then from the sinner6 ,that be far from ,god4 ,he is just and having salvation1--a just ,god and a ,saviour4 7,zech4 ix4 #i2 ,isa4 xlv4 #ba47 ,as there can be no liberty without law1 so there can be no mercy without justice1 though there may be justice without mercy4 7,james i4 #be2 ii4 #ac47 ,this worshipping company1 the representatives of the universal church1 ascribe their redemption to the blood of ,christ4 ,it is their declared faith that pardon is grounded on atonement1 that without shedding of blood is no remission4 7,heb4 ix4 #bb2 ,lev4 xvii4 #aa2 ch4 i4 #e47 ,they believe1 moreover1 that as the obedience of ,christ unto death1 his doing and dying1 is an adequate satisfaction to law and justice2 so by compact between the ,father and the ,son1 his penal sufferings avail the believing sinner for pardon4 ,thus it is1 that if we confess our sins1 he 7,god the ,father17 is faithful and just to forgive us our sins4 7#a ,john i4 #i47 ,this doctrine the apostle1 as the mouth of the whole church1 had already avowed3 7ch4 i4 #e1 #f27 and now again we have it repeated and incorporated in the song of praise4 ,thus1 while ,christ crucified is to the ,jews a stumbling block1 and to the ,greeks foolishness2 to them who are saved this humbling doctrine is the power of ,god and the wisdom of ,god4 7#a ,cor4 i4 #bd1 #be47 ,god's glory and the saints' honor and felicity equally spring from the slaying of the ,lamb4 ,these good things the blood of ,abel's sacrifice spake in type soon after the fall3 and here we have the same things proclaimed as the faith of all believers4 7,heb4 xi4 #a47 ,by this blood they are consecrated a royal priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices2 and there is a period in the world's eventful history1 when they shall reign on the earth4 ,of the nature of this reign there are two views entertained4 ,that of the ,millenarians1 under the supposed corporeal presence of ,christ1 which is too gross1 after the manner of carnal ,jews3 the other too refined and remote1 after the manner of carnal ,christians1 who will not have this man to reign over them1--except in the church4 ,such ,christians come very near the views and sentiment of those who exclaimed1--,not this man1 but ,barabbas4 7,john xviii4 #dj47 ,of the nature of ,christ's royal dominion we will have occasion to treat in other parts of the ,apocalypse2 but we take occasion to remark1 that his kingly office is formally and meritoriously founded on the efficacy of his sacrifice3 ,thou art worthy1 for thou wast slain4--,that the saints shall reign in glory in company with their ,saviour is a precious scripture truth2 but it is not the truth taught in the words1--we shall reign on the earth4 ,this is not the place to enter on a full discussion of the doctrine here avowed2 yet the following may be adduced as part of the warrant of this doctrine4 7,dan4 vii4 #bg2 ,rev4 xx4 #d47 #aa4 ,and ,i beheld1 and ,i heard the voice of many angels round about the throne1 and the beasts1 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 honour1 and glory1 and blessing4 ,vs4 #aa1 #ab4--;,here we have the concurrence of holy angels1 as seen by ,john in vision1 with all the redeemed in acts of solemn worship offered directly to the ,lamb4--,many angels1 how many8 ,some divines have actually attempted1 by arithmetical rules1 to compute the number6 ,such employment may amuse1 but it cannot edify4 ,the definite here mentioned for indefinite numbers1 may be easily computed2 7as in ,dan4 vii4 #aj2 ,ps4 lxviii4 #ag27 but still we would labor in vain to find out the account2 for we are expressly told that they are innumerable4 7,heb4 xii4 #bb47 ,like the ransomed children of ,adam1 they are a great multitude which no man can number4 7ch4 vii4 #i47 ,why then attempt that which the ,holy ,spirit has pronounced impossible8 ,vain man would be wise4 ,it is of much more consequence for us to contemplate their position1 relations and employments4 ,their position is round about the throne1 beholding the ,lamb as it had been slain4 ,the law of their creation could not reveal to them this object of adoration4 ,that they may know their duty to the ,mediatorial ,person as their moral ,head1 it is requisite that they be directed by a new revelation4 ,accordingly1 we find a new commandment issued from ,god the ,father expressly to them4 7,ps4 xcvii4 #g2 ,heb4 i4 #f47 ,worship him1 all ye gods2 that is1 ,let all the angels of ,god worship him4 ,by the development of the eternal counsels of ,god in his dealings with the church1 these principalities and powers in heavenly places1 discover with adoring wonder more and more of the manifold wisdom of ,god4 ,they stoop down1 as it were1 to look into this mysterious economy1 7,eph4 iii4 #aj1 #aa2 #a ,pet4 i4 #ab47 ,they are humbly but intensely desirous to discover still more of the hidden wisdom which ,god ordained before the world unto the glory of their fellow worshippers4 7#a ,cor4 ii4 #g47 ,such is their position4--,they are related to the ,lamb as his subjects by the ,father's grant and command4 ,he 7,jesus7 is gone into heaven 444 angels 444 being made subject unto him4 7#a ,pet4 iii4 #bb47 ,they are also related to the elder and animals1 the members and ministers of the church4 ,said one of them to ,john1--,i am thy fellow-servant4 7ch4 xix4 #aj47 ,angels are not ashamed to call them fellow-servants1 whom the ,lord ,jesus is not ashamed to call his brethren4 7,heb4 ii4 #aa47 ,as the four animals are nearer the throne than the elders1 so are the elders nearer the throne than the angels4 ,these are ranged1 in ,john's view1 in the outside segment of the circle4 ,all the redeemed1 ministry and membership1 are nearer of kin to the ,lamb than angels are4 ,he took not on him the nature of angels1 but he took on him the seed of ,abraham4 7,heb4 ii4 #af47 ,all believers are members of his body1 of his flesh and of his bones4 7,eph4 v4 #cj47 ,he has highly advanced human nature1 by taking it into real and indissoluble union with his divine person4 ,this is the special ground of nearness and intimacy between ,christ and his brethren4 ,and ,o1 how ought we to emulate holy angels in adoring this precious ,redeemer6 ,he loved the church and gave himself for it1 7,eph4 v4 #be17 and he loved and gave himself for every member of the church4 7,gal4 ii4 #bj47 ,the employments of this innumerable company of angels1 besides ministering for them who shall be heirs of salvation1 7,heb4 i4 #ad27 consist much in admiring contemplations of the glory of the ,lamb slain1 and in ascriptions of praise to him who is worthy to receive power1 etc4 ,in this they cordially harmonize with the redeemed1 whose delightful exercise is to show forth the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light3 7#a ,pet4 ii4 #i37 and all the honor1 thus ascribed to the ,mediator by both classes of worshippers1 is intended to terminate ultimately on the person of ,god the ,father4 7,phil4 ii4 #i-aa47 ,the ,father hath committed all judgment unto the ,son1 that all men1 yes1 and all angels1 should honor the ,son1 even as they honor the ,father4 7,john v4 #bb1 #bc47 #ac ,and every creature which is in heaven1 and on the earth1 and under the earth1 and such are in the sea1 and all that are in them1 heard ,i saying1 ,blessing1 and honour1 and glory1 and power1 be unto him that sitteth upon the throne1 and unto the ,lamb1 for ever and ever1 #ad4 ,and the four beasts said1 ,amen4 ,and the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever4 ,vs4 #ac1ad4--;,in addition to angels and men1 we have here enumerated every creature in the whole vast universe1 co-operating in the worship of the two divine ,persons as associated in concerting and executing the plan of redemption4 ,thus the host of heaven and all inferior creatures according to their several capacities unite in ascribing blessing1 and honor1 and glory1 and power1 unto him that sitteth upon the throne1 and unto the ,lamb for ever and ever4 ,and we may say with ,nehemiah1--,they are both exalted above all blessing and praise4 7,neh4 ix4 #e47 ,fallen angels and reprobate men are excluded1 from the nature of the case1 and by the unalterable laws of the moral government of the ,most ,high1 from any participation in this service4 7,ps4 cx4 #a2 #a ,cor4 xv4 #bd1 #be2 ,luke xix4 #bg47--;,can any one who denies the supreme deity of the ,lord ,jesus1 or who refuses to worship him1 ever join the society of these worshippers8 ,or1 supposing the possibility of their admission1 could they be otherwise than miserable8 ,o the blasphemy of them who say they are ,jews6--,this is one of the sublime doxologies framed by the ,holy ,spirit1 for the use of all creatures on special occasions1 but not to be abused by vain repetitions as by ,papists and ,prelates4 ,the like specimens of the high praises of the ,lord we have in ,ps4 lxix4 #cd4--;,as the three ranks of worshippers here presented in vision to ,john1 beautifully harmonize in holy exercises1 each in its appropriate sphere2 so the animals and elders1--the rulers and ruled of the church1 take precedence of all others in acts of solemn worship1 and also close the solemn service1 saying1--,amen4 ,the sealed book being delivered by the ,father into the possession of the ,mediator1 the whole creation awaits with confidence and joy the development of the counsels of ,god1 as they may affect the destinies of his redeemed people4 ,the ,lamb has prevailed to open the book1 and his established character is sufficient guarantee for success in accomplishing the responsible work assigned him by his ,father4 ,this feeling of confidence is expressed by the worshippers1 not only by the matter of their praise1 but also by the closing word1 amen2 which word is expressive of their desires and assurance to be heard4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 #a4 ,and ,i saw when the ,lamb opened one of the seals2 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 ,vs4 #a1 #b4--,the apostle saw when the ,lamb proceeded to disclose the contents of the book by breaking the seals in regular succession4 ,it is not requisite to suppose that each of the seals covers an exactly equal part of the roll4 ,these parts may be quite different in quantity or length4 ,it is obvious1 however1 that upon the breaking of any one seal1 that part of the roll which the seal was intended to cover1 would be disclosed to a spectator's view1--the whole of such part and no more4 ,we shall find as we advance that the several parts of this book are in fact very different in extent4 ,when the seventh and last seal is opened1 the whole contents of the book must of course be disclosed3 and it will appear that the last of the seals contained a much greater part of the roll than any of the others4 ,to a superficial reader this may be apparent from the circumstance that within the compass of this short chapter1 six of the seals exhibit their contents4 ,by the most learned and sober divines the first six seals are considered as disclosing the events which transpired from the time of the apostle ,john till the overthrow of pagan idolatry in the ,roman empire and the accession of ,constantine4 ,let us consider the contents of these seals in order3 ,upon the opening of one of the seals1 the first of course1 one of the four animals with a voice like thunder1 said1 ,come and see4 ,this was the animal like a lion1 emblematical of those bold and dauntless servants of ,christ who took their life in their hand and went every where preaching the word1 7,acts viii4 #d47 ,many expositors1 of secular notions and affinities1 imagine that some one of the ,roman emperors is to be understood as represented by him who rides on the white horse1--,vespasian1 ,titus1 or ,trajan4 ,to name such figments is enough to confute them in the mind of such as have spiritual discernment4 ,white is not the divinely chosen symbol of bloody warriors or persecutors4 ,it is most frequently the emblem of purity1 legal or moral4 7,matt4 xvii4 #b2 ,rev4 iii4 #d1 #e47 ,white horse may represent the gospel1 the ,covenant of ,grace or the church4 ,in this chariot1 7,song iii4 #i17 or upon this horse1 as it were1 ,christ1 the captain of salvation in apostolic times1 went forth conquering1 and to conquer4 ,much opposition from ,jews and ,gentiles was raised against his gospel1 especially upon his exaltation to his mediatorial throne3 but the opening of this seal discloses the ,father's purpose to bear out his ,son in extending his rightful conquests4 7,isa4 xlii4 #d47 ,the ,lord gave the word2 great was the company of those that published it4 7,ps4 lxviii4 #aa47 ,the bow and the crown as symbols1 combine the military and regal character of ,christ1 indicating his victories and succeeding exaltation4 ,he shall wound the heads over the large earth2 therefore shall he lift up the head4 7,ps4 cx4 #f47 ,he is the ,prince of peace1 and the primary object of his mission by the ,father is1 to establish truth and meekness and righteousness in the earth4 ,yet he is a ,lamb1 but a ,lamb that makes war2 and in righteousness he doth judge and make war4 7ch4 xix4 #aa47 ,in this last cited text we have an irrefragable proof of the correctness of our interpretation of the symbols under the first seal4 ,the rider's name is1 ,the ,word of ,god1 7v4 #ac47 #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 red2 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 ,v4 #c1d4--,the opening of the second seal furnishes occasion for the second animal to cry1 ,come and see4 ,it is the customary business of faithful ministers to invite the disciples of ,christ to a contemplation of his providential procedure4 ,come1 behold the works of the ,lord4 7,ps4 xlvi4 #h47 ,this is the call of the ministry represented by the symbol of a calf or young ox4 ,patient continuance in well doing is the special duty of ,christ's servants in times of suffering4 ,and such seems to be the import of the emblem1 the red horse4 ,by the horse1 singly considered1 we are to understand a dispensation of providence4 ,so we are to view it as a symbol in ,zech4 i4 #h2 vi4 #a-h4 ,the prophet said1 ,o1 my ,lord1 what are these8444 ,and the man answered1--,these are they whom the ,lord hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth4 ,we speak familiarly of a dispensation of the gospel1--the white horse4 ,our attention is now called to a red horse1--fiery1 as the word imports4 ,the character of the dispensation is thus indicated as bloody4 ,wars should prevail so as to take peace from the earth4 ,they should kill one another4 ,the instrument of slaughter is seen1--a great sword4 ,mutual slaughter does not seem to harmonize with the idea of persecution1 by which the saints only are killed all the day long4 ,history records that insurrections1 battles1 massacres and devastations of an extraordinary kind took place in the first half of the second century1 by which more than half a million of the ,jews perished by the hand of the pagans2 and a still greater number on the opposite side were slain by the ,jews4 ,thus the two parties who rivalled each other in opposing the gospel and the progress of ,christ's kingdom1 were made by him the instruments of their mutual destruction4 ,for he it is who directs the movements and course of providence1 the red horse4 ,behold what desolations he hath made in the earth6 ,in this text1 says an eminent expositor1 earth signifies the ,roman empire4 444 ,daniel1 444 whose sealed prophecy is explained by the opening of the ,apocalyptical seals1 denominates the ,roman empire1 'the fourth kingdom upon earth4' ,we humbly suggest1 that this does not render the ,roman empire synonymous with earth1 any more than the ,chaldean1 ,persian1 or ,grecian4 ,and indeed the monarchs of those empires put forth as extensive claims to universal empire as ever the ,cesars did4 ,the word earth is to be interpreted always by the context4 ,like the term world1 it may sometimes signify the ,roman empire1 as ,luke ii4 #a4 ,but in other cases even within the compass of the ,apocalypse1 it is not to be so understood without manifest confusion1 as in ch4 xvi4 #a1 #b4 ,the contents of all the vials are there said to be poured out upon the earth2 but earth is afterwards the special object of the first only4 ,it follows that this term cannot be uniformly and safely in this book interpreted as identical with and limited by the ,roman empire4 ,the importance of accuracy here may become more apparent in our future progress4 #e4 ,and when he had opened the third seal1 ,i heard the third beast say1 ,come and see4 ,and ,i beheld1 and1 lo1 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 ,vs4 #d-f4--,the third of the four animals calls attention to the disclosures made by breaking the third seal4 ,hie had a face as a man1 7ch4 iv4 #g17 indicating1 as already said1 active sympathy1 affectionate counsel and seasonable exhortation in calamitous times4 ,christian ministers need the tongue of the learned to speak a word in season to him that is weary1 when the judgments of ,god are abroad in the earth2 for some of these press1 most sensibly1 on the poor4 ,such is the character of the dispensation symbolized by the black horse4 ,scarcity of bread is the judgment represented here by the combined symbols4 ,our skin was black like an oven1 because of the terrible famine4 7,lam4 v4 #aj2 ,zech4 vi4 #b47--,the rider had a pair of balances in his hand4 ,the word translated balances1 literally rendered1 signifies a yoke1--pair1--couple4--,in popular use1 it came to signify an instrument for weighing commodities1 from the counterpoising 7double7 scales4 ,this symbol indicated famine1--that people should eat bread by weight and with care2 7,ezek4 iv4 #af27 and this is confirmed by the voice in the midst of the four animals3--,a measure of wheat for a penny1 etc4 ,the quantity of food1 and the price1 as here announced1 would seem to the ,english reader to express plenty and cheapness4 ,but when it is understood that the measure of wheat was the ordinary allowance for a laboring man1 and a penny the usual wages for one day2 a little more than a quart1 for about fifteen cents3 it may be asked1 ,how could the laboring man procure food and clothing for himself1 his wife and children8 ,it is said that three times the quantity of barley could be had for the same money2 but being a coarser and less nutritious grain1 it would reach but little farther in sustaining a family4 ,famine usually falls heaviest on the middle and lower classes of society4 ,even in such times the rich fare sumptuously every day4 ,accordingly1 the oil and the wine1--some of the staple productions of ,canaan1--are exempted from the providential blight sent upon the necessaries of life4 7,gen4 xliii4 #aa47 ,according to history1 from the year #ach1 till near the end of the second century1 a general scarcity of provisions was felt1 notwithstanding all the care and foresight of emperors and their ministers to anticipate the scourge4 ,the ,pharaohs on the throne had no ,joseph to lay up in store in the years of plenty4 ,but when our ,new ,testament ,joseph would thus fight against the persecutors of his saints by the judgment of famine2 he gave previous intimation here to his disciples of the approaching calamity1 as his manner is to his own4 7,luke xxi4 #bj-bb47 #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 horse2 and his name that sat on him was death1 and hell followed with him3 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 ,vs4 #g1 #h4--;,it is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting1 according to the judgment of the wisest of mere men2 7,eccl4 vii4 #b17 and so we are invited here by a spiritually-minded ministry1--like a flying eagle4 ,a scene of lamentation1 mourning and woe1 is disclosed at the opening of the fourth seal4--,all the symbols betoken augmented severity in the judgments4 ,there is pestilence added to the sword and famine4 ,the pale horse1 or livid green1 is the emblem of pestilence4 ,the ,mediator conducts the destroying angel to fulfil the will of ,god4 ,before ,him went the pestilence2 and by a combination of awful symbols1 the king of terrors1--death1 is represented as slaying his victims1 and hell followed with him1 satiated with his prey4 ,sword1 hunger1 death and beasts of the earth1 were commissioned to lay waste the fourth part of the then known world4 ,if we are to interpret the beasts of the earth literally1 then we may easily perceive how the depopulation produced by the other calamities would make way for their increase and destructive ravages4 ,but if we understand these beasts as symbolizing the persecuting powers2 then adding these to all the other destructive agencies1--especially to the pale horse1 the chief symbol in the group2 we may readily perceive the force of the combined emblems1 a concentrating1 as it were1 of all destroying agencies4 ,historians inform us1 that a pestilence arising from ,ethiopia1 went through all the provinces of ,rome1 and wasted them for fifteen years4 ,this1 added to the sword of war and persecution1 which lasted sixty years1 according to some interpreters1 or from #baa to #bgj1 would seem to exhaust the events symbolized by the series of the seals1 except the seventh1 so far at least as the sufferings of the church are concerned4 ,for under the fifth and sixth seals1 as will appear1 nothing of a calamitous nature befalls the righteous4 #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 them 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 fellow-servants also1 and their brethren1 that should be killed as they were1 should be fulfilled4 ,vs4 #i-aa4--;,at the opening of the fifth seal1 none of the four animals calls attention to its contents4 ,this fact may indicate that no new development of providence is intended1 but rather the effects of the preceding three1 produced upon the church and saints of ,god2 as the sixth discloses the penalty inflicted on his and their enemies4 ,john saw the souls of them that were slain4--,souls are visible only in vision1 7ch4 xx4 #d47 ,these souls were not slain1 but they were the souls of them1 the persons1 that were slain4 7,matt4 x4 #bh47 ,the enemy could kill the body only1 an essential part of the human person1 although the chief aim was to kill the soul4 ,the ground of their suffering was the same1 as that of ,john1 7ch4 i4 #i47 ,and from the first of this honoured class1--,abel1 mentioned in the ,bible1 to the last1--,antipas2 the cause is the same1 and the distinguished name is the same4 ,they are martyrs for the word of ,god1 and for the testimony which they held4 ,and however tenaciously a person may hold other principles1 even though he should die for them1 he is not a martyr4 ,the aphorism is true1--,it is not suffering for religion1 but the cause that makes the martyr1--suffering unto death from love to the truth as it is in ,jesus4 ,these souls were under the altar1 in allusion still to the outward means of grace under the ,old ,testament economy4 ,it is not very material1 perhaps1 whether we understand the altar for sacrifice or that for incense1 the comfortable doctrines1 often taught in the ,scriptures1 are here illustrated4 ,first1 ,that the redemption of the sinner is by the atoning sacrifice of ,christ4 ,second1 ,that after death1--especially by martyrdom1 the soul is safe under the altar1--in fellowship with the ,saviour4 ,third1 ,that the soul1 made perfect in holiness1 retains a deep conviction1 that vengeance belongs to ,god1 7ch4 xviii4 #bj2 xix4 #a-c47 ,fourth1 ,that the spirits of just men made perfect1 both desire and need instruction relative to the future evolution of the divine purposes4 ,adoring the infinite perfections of ,god1 acknowledging his holiness and acquiescing in his faithfulness2 they cannot but desire a farther display of his vindictive and distributive justice1 as indispensable to the manifestation of the divine glory1 the vindication of the claims of the divine government1 the asserting of their injured rights1 and the completing of their eternal felicity4 ,accordingly1 we find their earnest plea admitted4 ,it was said unto them1 that they should rest4--,their repose can never be disturbed4 ,the white robes in which they are arrayed1 are not spun out of their own bowels1 like the spider's web1 either by their services or sufferings2 but they are the well known emblems of the imputed righteousness of their ,redeemer1--fine linen clean and white1 the only righteousness of saints1 7ch4 xix4 #h74 ,persecution did not terminate under the preceding seals4 ,others1 their fellow-servants and brethren1 should be killed as they were4 ,the honorable roll of martyrs was not yet completed4 ,the little season is a very indefinite period in our mode of computation4 ,but with the ,lord1 one day is as a thousand years1--7#b ,pet4 iii4 #h47 ,this season seems to comprehend the whole period of persecution4 ,now1 as we shall see1 the ,roman empire1 whether pagan or ,christian1 is still a ravenous beast1--devouring ,jacob4 ,the policy of ,rome pagan was to dictate the state religion4 ,the idol gods of the conquered provinces were generally adopted and enrolled among those of the ,pantheon4 ,there was a niche for any and every god but ,jacob's ,god4 ,as he would permit no rival1 7,exod4 xx4 #b1 #bc2 ,is4 xlii4 #h27 so the populace would have none of ,him1 7,acts xvi4 #ai-ba47 ,such we will find to be the policy of ,rome ,christian4 ,there is no communion between light and darkness4 #ab4 ,and ,i beheld when he had opened the sixth seal1 and1 lo1 there was a great earthquake3 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 wind3 #ad4 ,and the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together2 and every mountain and island were moved out of their places2 #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 bond-man1 and every free-man1 hid themselves in the dens1 and in the rocks of the mountains3 #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 ,lamb3 #ag4 ,for the great day of his wrath is come1 and who shall be able to stand8 ,vs4 #ab-ag4--,the sixth seal is opened1 like the rest1 by the hand of the ,mediator1 and here his right hand teacheth terrible things4 ,by terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us1 ,o ,god of our salvation4 7,ps4 lxv4 #e47 ,the awful scene disclosed would seem to be a beginning of answer to the importunate cry of the souls under the altar1 as in the foregoing vision4 ,many expositors since the time of ,cyprian in the third century1 have understood this seal as disclosing the scene of the last judgment4 ,no doubt the symbols here employed are suited to that event2 but the series of seals1 trumpets and vials1 not to speak of events still more remote1 wholly precludes such an interpretation4 ,all the symbols under the sixth seal betoken revolution4 ,such is their established and well known import in other parts of ,scripture4 ,the earthquake is more than a shaking of the earth4 ,it is a concussion of the heavens also4 ,as ,haggai is interpreted by ,paul1 we learn the civil and ecclesiastical change of the ,jewish polity by the shaking of the heavens and the earth4 7,hag4 ii4 #f2 ,heb4 xii4 #bf1 #bg47 ,the day of final judgment is so often referred to as certain1 that no special prediction was needed to assure us of that event4 ,indeed1 the description of the day of judgment is commonly employed by the prophets to represent revolutions among the nations4 ,so it is in reference to the overthrow of ,babylon1 7,is4 xiii4 #ac47--of ,egypt1 7,ezek4 xxxii4 #g1 #h17 of ,jerusalem1 7,matt4 xxiv4 #g1 #bi47 ,the sun1 moon and stars are emblems of civil officers1 supreme and subordinate1 as well as of military commanders4 ,their consternation and despair1 now that they are cast down from their exalted position1 as heavenly luminaries darkened and hurled from their orbits1 betray their apprehension of deserved and inevitable wrath4 ,indeed we may view the last three verses of this chapter1 as exegetical or explanatory of the preceding three4 ,the whole frame of imperial power underwent a change which is commonly called a revolution4 ,and the grandeur of the complex symbols1 borrowed from the closing scene of time1 was never more appropriately employed by the ,spirit of prophecy1 than in the present instance1 to portray the total overthrow of pagan power1 idolatry and tyranny4 ,the most conspicuous instrument in the ,mediator's hand by which this great revolution was effected1 is well known in history as ,constantine the ,great4 ,the great lights of the heathen world1 the powers civil and ecclesiastical1 were not eclipsed1 but extinguished1 heathen priests and augurs were extirpated and idolatrous temples were closed4 ,christianity was professed by the emperor himself1 and his authority exerted for its recognition and diffusion throughout his dominions4 ,thus did the ,god of ,israel avenge his own elect1 who cried to him night and day from under the altar2 and thus did he afford unto them a season of rest4 ,constantine1 however1 was more of a politician than divine4 ,to the student of history he will appear in many respects a striking prototype of ,william ,prince of ,orange1 who on a less extended scale answers as an antitype in the latter part of the seventeenth century4 ,neither of them exemplified in their lives the power of godliness4 ,like ,charles the ,second1 they did not consider primitive apostolic ,christianity a religion for a gentleman4 ,constantine combined in his character the properties of the lion and the fox4 ,he was crafty and ambitious4 ,usurping the prerogatives of ,zion's ,king1 he assumed a blasphemous supremacy over the church1 and proceeded to model her external polity after the example of the empire4 ,among the ,christian ministry1 he found mercenary spirits who pandered to his ambition1--having his person in admiration because of advantage4 ,advancing these to positions of opulence and splendor1 he could certainly rely upon them to support him in his schemes of aggrandizement4 ,thus the mystery of iniquity1 whose working ,paul discovered in his time1 was nurtured to its full development in ,heaven's appointed time4 7#b ,thess4 ii4 #g1 etc47 ,if on such occasions mighty kings and valiant generals are stricken with dismay1 what shall be the terror of all the impenitent enemies of the ,lord and his ,anointed when the heavens and the earth shall pass away and leave them without these imaginary hiding places from the wrath of the ,lamb6 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,the scenes portrayed by varied symbols in this chapter1 are by some considered as a continuation of the sixth seal4 ,we think they may with more propriety be viewed as relating to the events under the four which precede2 while they are obviously preparatory to the opening of the last seal in the next chapter4 #a4 ,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 ,v4 #a4 ,the four angels represent the instruments of providence4 ,the four corners of the earth intend all nations of the world1 as then known in geography4 7,ch4 xx4 #h1 #i47 ,the holding of the winds is emblematical of the tranquillity consequent upon the accession of ,constantine to the imperial throne1--the temporary cessation of desolating wars and persecutions1--the rest for which the martyrs prayed4 ,thou calledst in trouble1 and ,i delivered thee4 7,ps4 lxxxi4 #g47 #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 ,vs4 #b1 #c4--;,another angel 444 having the seal of the living ,god1 can be none other but the ,lord ,christ4 ,his people are sealed unto the day of redemption with that ,holy ,spirit of promise1 or promised ,holy ,spirit4 7#b ,cor4 i4 #bb2 ,eph4 i4 #ac74 ,he came from the east4 ,there the ,son of righteousness arose upon a dark world1 and his beams enlightened the kingdoms of ,europe1 in which multitudes were effectually called during this tranquil period1 7ch4 xiv4 #a74 ,this angel1 as having sovereign authority over earth and sea1 and from whom the four angels had their commission1 now commands them not to hurt the earth and the sea1 till ,he and the ministers1--the instruments of his grace1--had sealed the servants of ,god4 ,this sealing1 while symbolizing baptism1 signifies especially the saving work of the eternal ,spirit1 by which its subjects are to be1 and actually are1 preserved from apostacy in future and trying times4 ,we shall meet with them again1 7ch4 xiv4 #a47 ,the favour shown by ,constantine to ,christian ministers and converts1 induced multitudes to make a profession of ,christianity1 and of course filled the church with hypocrites4 ,the flattery of those in power has often proved as detrimental to the church's spiritual prosperity as their frowns4 7,dan4 xi4 #cb47 ,still1 the special design of this sealing seems to be the preservation of a chosen remnant1--the witnesses1 during the period of the trumpets1 when ,antichrist should be fully organized4 #d4 ,and ,i heard the number of them which were sealed3 and there were sealed a hundred and forty and four thousand1 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 ,nephthalim 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 ,vs4 #d-h4--,the number sealed was a hundred forty and four thousand2 of each tribe twelve thousand4 ,these numbers are not to be taken literally1 but comparatively1 as contradistinguished from another company1 7v4 #i47 ,neither do we suppose1 with many expositors1 that ,jews by nation are here exclusively intended4 ,at the time referred to1 in the fifth century1 the middle wall of partition had been long removed4 7,eph4 ii4 #ad47 ,jews and ,gentiles were all one in ,christ ,jesus4 7,gal4 iii4 #bh47 ,there is no ground to suppose that exactly the same number would be sealed of every tribe4 ,besides1 all the original tribes are not named4 ,dan is not among them1 and ,judah is first in order in ,reuben's place4 ,the gates of the heavenly ,jerusalem are inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of ,israel1 7ch4 xxii4 #ab47 ,in a word1 this sealed company is composed of ,jews and ,gentiles1 representing the whole number of true believers1 who were enabled by grace to hold fast their profession in trying times1 and who experienced more special protection in perilous times4 7,ezek4 ix4 #d-f47 #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 honour1 and power1 and might1 be unto our ,god for ever and ever4 ,amen4 ,vs4 #i-ab4--,the great multitude1 which no man could number1 are evidently distinguished from the number sealed4 ,they are collected from all the nations known at that time4 ,they stood before the throne and before the ,lamb1 as accepted worshippers2 ascribing salvation1 not to their own merit1 but to the free grace of ,god the ,father1 and the oblation and intercession of the ,lamb4 ,they are now in a triumphant state1 as indicated by the palms in their hands1 the usual emblems of victory4 ,white robes bespeak their justification4 ,all the angels in heaven1 signify their hearty assent to the praises of the redeemed by saying1 ,amen4 ,then in an attitude of profoundest reverence1 they celebrate the praises of ,god in strains proper1 though not peculiar to themselves4 ,as in ch4 v4 #aa1 the angels in this place are disposed and arranged in the outer circle of all the intelligent worshippers4 ,redeemed sinners stand nearest to the throne1 in virtue of their union to ,christ1 while holy angels1 without envy1 contemplate1 with rapturous emotions1 the displays of the manifold wisdom of ,god in his dealings with the church4 7,eph4 iii4 #aj47 ,thus we may learn to do the will of ,god on earth1 as it is done by the angels in heaven4 #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 temple2 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 ,lamb1 which is in the midst of the throne1 shall feed them1 and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters2 and ,god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes4 ,vs4 #ac-ag4--,one of the elders asks ,john1--not for information1 but to engage his attention1--,what are these1 444 and whence came they8 ,ministers may often receive instruction from the members of the church4 ,this elder answers his own questions as the angel did to the prophet1 7,zech4 iv4 #e1 #f47 ,these are the great multitude1--probably the same whose souls ,john saw at the opening of the fifth seal1 but now appearing in a new aspect3 for it is evident that they had been engaged in war4 ,this appears by the palms of victory4 ,they had been in great tribulation prior to the peaceful reign of ,constantine1 by ,satan's temptations1 the spoiling of their goods1 imprisonment of their persons1 and the sacrifice of their lives1--not loving their lives unto the death4 ,all these tribulations1 however1 could not separate them from the love of ,god4 7,rom4 viii4 #cg-ci47 ,they had washed their robes1--not in penitential tears1 their own martyr-blood1 their doing or suffering in the cause of ,christ2 but their robes were made white in the blood of the ,lamb1 who was made of ,god unto them 444 justification and sanctification4 7#a ,cor4 i4 #cj47 ,could the human mind conceive the idea of rendering linen garments white by washing them in blood8 ,never1 unless as suggested by the doctrine of ,christ crucified1 whose blood cleanseth from all sin4 7#a ,john i4 #g47 ,therefore are they before the throne of ,god1--without fault before his throne1 7ch4 xiv4 #e47 ,delivered from the tempestuous storms of war1 and the scorching heat of persecution2 they are safe in the haven of eternal rest4 ,not only are they for ever freed from the sensation of hunger or thirst2 but they shall drink of the living fountains of waters1 proceeding from the throne of ,god and of the ,lamb1 7ch4 xxii4 #a74 ,in thy presence is fulness of joy2 at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore4 7,ps4 xvi4 #aa47 ,while this company1 brought out of great tribulation1 to which they had been subjected in the centuries before the time of ,constantine1 are represented as in possession of eternal blessedness1 the other company of the sealed ones1 are by this mark furnished with the gifts and graces of the ,holy ,spirit1 to enter the lists with the ,dragon in a much more trying and prolonged contest4 ,the latter company1 although preceding the other1 in the order of symbolic revelation2 do really in the order of time1 succeed them in continuation of the struggle with the powers of darkness4 ,and here we make the general remark1 ,that nearly throughout the ,apocalypse the two parties whom we may call the powers of darkness and the children of light1 often change their relative positions1 and assume different aspects4 ,and in this1 there is nothing new1 as appears1 #b ,cor4 xi4 #ad1 #ae2 vi4 #h1 #i4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,hitherto our observations have been brief1 because interpreters are very generally agreed in their views of the first series1 the seals1 in this interesting book of prophecy4 ,the first six seals1 covering the time of heathen ,rome's opposition to ,christianity1 and before the ,devil succeeded in enlisting the nominal church of ,christ in his interest1 do not therefore furnish occasion for much controversy among expositors4 ,besides1 the seventh seal covers much more time than all the others4 ,the first six refer to pagan ,rome1 and constitute the first period1 properly styled the ,,period ,,of ,,the ,,seals4 ,the seventh seal1 introducing the trumpets1 is the second period1 called the ,,period ,,of ,,the ,,trumpets4 ,in attempting to unfold their mystical import1 greater amplification will be indispensable4 #a4 ,and when he had opened the seventh seal1 there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour4 ,v4 #a4--;,heaven is the ordinary symbol of organized society1 whether civil or ecclesiastical or both4 ,silence in heaven for half an hour1 indicates public tranquillity1 together with anxious and mute expectation of coming and alarming events4 ,half an hour1 a definite for an indefinite duration1 as usual1 imports that the repose hitherto enjoyed1 shall shortly terminate4 ,the respite which the saints enjoyed during the period succeeding the revolution indicated by the opening of the sixth seal1 soon came to an end4 #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 ,vs4 #b-d4--,seven angels appear to ,john as ministers standing before ,god1 ready to execute his commands4 ,to them were given seven trumpets4 ,here1 as all along hitherto1 there is allusion to the former dispensation4 ,under the ,old ,testament1 trumpets were constructed by divine direction and to be used for diverse purposes4 ,of the manifold uses of this instrument1 that which is here chiefly intended is1 to sound an alarm4 7,joel ii4 #a2 #a ,cor4 xiv4 #h74 ,whilst all is suspense1 and before the silence is broken by the sounding of the first trumpet1 the worship of ,god is exemplified after the usual manner4 ,an angel1 by his official place and work easily distinguished from those having the trumpets1 holds in his hand a golden censer that with much incense he might render acceptable the prayers of all saints4 ,as the angel who had the seal of the living ,god1 is distinguished from those that held the winds1 7ch4 vii4 #a27 so is he here1 from those that had the trumpets4 ,here he appears as the ,great ,high ,priest over the house of ,god2 and as the whole multitude of the people were praying without1 at the time of incense2 7,luke i4 #aj27 so the service of ,god is thus emblematically represented as conducted according to divine appointment4 ,this ,angel therefore is ,christ himself4 ,no man cometh unto the ,father but by him4 ,he is the only ,advocate with the ,father2 and through him we have access by one ,spirit unto the ,father4 7,eph4 ii4 #ah47 ,may we not inquire1 without presumption1 a little into the nature or purport of the prayers of all saints at this time of ominous silence8 ,and what could so likely be the burden of their petitions as that of the cry of the souls under the altar1 namely1 the destruction of the ,roman empire8 ,surely this has been the prayer of ,god's persecuted servants in all ages3--,pour out thy fury upon the heathen1 etc4 7,jer4 x4 #be2 ,ps4 lxxix4 #f74 ,however inconsistent with ,christian charity superficial ,christians may deem the law of retaliation2 we shall find it often urged on our attention as exemplified in this book4 ,it is absolutely essential to the divine government4 #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 thunderings and lightnings and an earthquake4 ,v4 #e--,the ,lord ,jesus1 in carrying out the designs of the divine mind1 and executing the commission which he received from the ,father as ,mediator1 appears in various characters4 ,whilst as a priest he intercedes for his people1 and by the incense from the golden censer renders their prayers acceptable before ,god2 as a king he answers their prayers by terrible things in righteousness4 7,ps4 lxv4 #e74 ,this work of vengeance is vividly signified by scattering coals of fire on the earth4 ,from the very same altar1 whence the glorious ,angel of the ,covenant had received fire to consume the incense1 he next takes coals1 the symbol of his wrath1 and scatters them into the earth4 ,these burning coals of juniper produce voices1 and thunderings1 and lightnings1 and an earthquake4 ,o ,god1 thou art terrible out of thy holy places4 7,ps4 lxviii4 #ce2 lxxvi4 #ab74 ,the ,lord our ,god is a jealous ,god4 ,our merciful ,saviour once put a strange and startling question to his disciples3--,suppose ye that ,i am come to give peace on earth8 ,i tell you1 ,nay4--,for ends worthy of himself1 the only wise ,god has unchangeably decreed that offences must needs come1 7,matt1 xviii4 #g27 and there must be also heresies among professing ,christians4 7#a ,cor4 xi4 #ai474 ,however1 in the administration of providence1 judgment without mercy awaits every nation to which the gospel is sent in vain4 ,the voices1 thunderings1 etc41 consequent upon the scattering of the coals1 portended the calamities which would be inflicted upon men for their opposition to the gospel and cruel treatment of the saints1 in answer to their prayers through the intercession of ,christ4 #f4 ,and the seven angels1 which had the seven trumpets1 prepared themselves to sound4 ,v4 #f4--,the seven angels now prepare themselves to sound4 ,the first alarm1 of course1 will put an end to the silence4 ,it should be noted that while each seal1 when broken1 disclosed so much of the roll of the book as was concealed by it2 the seventh leaves no part unrevealed4 ,the whole contents are laid open4 ,it is otherwise with the trumpets4 ,the reverberations of one may not have ceased when the next begins to sound4 ,thus1 several may be partly cotemporary4 ,again1 it may be questioned whether mankind are to be considered in civil or ecclesiastical organization as the formal object of the judgments indicated by the trumpets4 ,some expositors view the one1 and some the other1 as the object1 and the contention has been sharp among them4 ,we humbly suggest that neither is the formal object without the other1 simply because the same individuals constitute the complex moral person4 ,the correctness of this view is largely illustrated and abundantly confirmed in the subsequent part of the ,apocalypse4 ,provinces1 nations1 empires1 are no farther worthy of notice in prophecy than as they affect the destiny of the church and illustrate the immutable principles of the moral government of ,god4 ,he is known by the judgments which he executeth1 and nations must be taught that the heavens do rule4 7,dan4 iv4 #bf47 ,although the church and the state are1 by divine institution1 distinct1 not united2 they are nevertheless co-ordinate1 and always exert a reciprocal influence for good or for evil4 ,it has been the policy of ,satan to confound this distinction2 and alas6 with too much success in the apprehension of many4 ,there are not wanting divines who boldly assert1 that even among the ,jews1 under the ,old ,testament1--the church was the state1 and the state was the church6 ,we may have occasion to notice hereafter1 that this gross error and antichristian dogma1 is yet entertained in relation to divinely organized society under the present ,new ,testament economy6 ,the voices1 thunderings and earthquakes resulting from the scattering of the coals1--are the harbingers and precursors of coming calamities upon ,christendom at the sounding of the trumpets4 ,and these may be emblematical of the contentions1 strife and divisions which accompanied the rise and prevalence of the heresy of ,arius and the apostacy of the emperor ,julian1 during the time of comparative public tranquillity from ,constantine to ,theodosius4 ,the church and the state1 as one complex system1 we have considered as the object of the judgments to be inflicted under the trumpets4 ,these had1 in fact1 become incorporated1 if not identified1 under the reign of ,constantine and his imperial successors4 ,but assuming the correctness of the phraseology of secular historians and ,christian expositors1 when in a popular sense they speak of the ,roman empire as the object of penal inflictions2 we by no means agree with the latter class of writers1 when they limit the empire to the geographical boundaries as it existed at the time of this prediction4 ,this mistake1 if not detected here1 will materially affect and control our views of the whole subsequent part of the ,apocalypse4 ,who would not discover the impropriety and absurdity of treating of events now transpiring within the empire of the ,united ,states1 as if falling out within the limits of the original thirteen as they existed in #aggf8 ,but the ,roman empire yet exists1 and we have sufficient evidence that it will continue till the time of the sounding of the seventh trumpet1 7ch4 xi4 #ae47 ,political bias has prevailed with one class of expositors to exempt the ,british empire from the stroke of ,god's wrath1 symbolized by both the trumpets and vials4 ,others1 from similar predilections1 would exempt the ,united ,states and ,british ,provinces from these plagues4 ,whilst a third class1 giving fall scope to the hallucinations of mere imagination1 aver their conviction that republican ,america is the special and doomed object of all these plagues6--,hence1 the necessity of caution1 sobriety1 reverence for divine authority1 reliance on the teaching of the ,holy ,spirit1 whom the ,saviour has promised to his humble disciples to guide them into all truth1 and to show them things to come4 7,john xvi4 #ac47 ,that the student of prophecy1--especially of the ,apocalypse1 may realize the fulfilment of this promise1 it is indispensably necessary that he be absolutely untrammeled by all antichristian politics4 ,such cases are very rare1 7ch4 xiii4 #c47 ,during the reign of ,constantine1 that monarch had transferred the capital of the empire from the city of seven hills to another locality and founded another metropolis1 which as the future seat of imperial rule1 and to immortalize himself1 he called after his own name1 ,constantinople4 ,this ambitious enterprise itself virtually divided the empire1 preparing the way for its total dismemberment by the trumpets4 ,and now the seven angels prepared themselves to sound1 for all things are ready4 ,the interceding ,angel at the golden altar has prevailed to obtain a period of tranquillity whilst preparatory steps are in progress towards the next series of events2 but that time shall be no longer1 or respite from impending judgments1 is significantly intimated by the symbolical ,angel casting his golden censer from his hand1 and hurling it into the earth4 ,then without farther delay1 #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 ,v4 #g4--,the first angel sounded4 ,the object of this judgment is the earth1 the population of the empire in general4 ,the judgment itself is1 hail and fire mingled with blood1--desolating wars1 like successive storms of hail mingled with lightning1 hailstones and coals of fire4 7,ps4 xviii4 #ab47 ,the effect is1 a consumption of a third part of the trees and grass1 people in high and low degrees4 ,green trees and grass are the ornaments and products1 of a land3 and when the earth is an emblem of nations and dominions1 trees and grass may represent persons of higher and lower rank4 ,the careful student of the ,apocalypse will discover a striking analogy between the effects of the trumpets and vials as the latter are presented in the sixteenth chapter4 ,this first trumpet therefore produces an effect upon the social order of ,christendom1 which will continue till the pouring out of the first vial4 ,as the ,roman empire in its twofold division is the general object of all the trumpets2 so the first four are directed towards the western1 and the next two against the eastern member4 ,the infidel historian ,gibbon has unwittingly recorded the fulfilment of these predictions1 as ,josephus has done those of our ,lord respecting the destruction of ,jerusalem4 ,unconscious that he was bearing testimony to the truth of prophecy1 ,gibbon used with his classic pen the very allegorical language of the inspired apostle4 ,respecting the incursion of the barbarous ,goths1 as led by ,alaric their chief into the fertile plains of southern ,europe1 he describes their alarming descent as a dark cloud1 which having collected along the coasts of the ,baltic1 burst in thunder upon the banks of the upper ,danube4 ,he who directed ,balaam and ,caiaphas to utter predictions1 doubtless could direct ,josephus and ,gibbon to attest the truth of prophecy2 and this may be one of the many ways in which he makes the wrath of man to praise him4--,the ,goths1 the ,scythians and ,huns1 first under ,alaric and afterwards under ,attila1 those savage warriors from the northern regions1 invaded the provinces of the ,roman empire in both sections1 carrying all before them like an irresistible tornado1--with fire and sword utterly destroying cities1 temples1 princes1 priests1 old and young1 male and female1--thus burning up trees1 and green grass4 #h4 ,and the second angel sounded1 and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea2 and the third part of the sea became blood3 #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 ,vs4 #h1 #i4--,the second angel sounded4 ,the object of this judgment1 is the sea4 ,as a great collection of waters1 this symbol is explained1 7ch4 xvii4 #ae47 ,peoples1 and multitudes1 and nations1 and tongues1 indicate the population in an agitated and disorganized or revolutionary condition4 ,the judgment is a burning mountain1 a tremendous object1--consuming and being itself consumed4 ,the mountain is a symbol of earthly power civil or military1 and sometimes ecclesiastical4--,who art thou1 ,o great mountain8 7,zech4 iv4 #g47 ,the ,almighty says to the king of ,babylon1--,behold1 ,i am against thee1 ,o destroying mountain 444 ,i will roll thee down from the rocks1 and will make thee a burnt mountain4 7,jer4 li4 #be2 ,ps4 xlviii4 #b47 ,the consequence of this judgment is1 the third part of the sea became blood1 the fish perished1 and the shipping was destroyed4 ,similar language1 illustrating these figurative expressions1 had been used by the prophets to represent divine judgments denounced against ,egyptian power4 7,ezek4 xxix4 #c1 etc47 ,in the eighth verse is contained the explanation of the symbolic language1--,behold ,i will bring a sword upon thee1 and cut off man and beast from thee4 ,history verifies this part of the ,apocalyptic prediction4 ,only two years after the death of that northern scourge of ,god1 ,attila1 who boasted that the grass never grew where his horse had trod2 ,genseric set sail from the burning shores of ,africa2 and1 like a burning mountain launched into the sea1 accompanied by a vast army of barbarous ,vandals1 suddenly landed his fleet at the mouth of the river ,tiber4 ,disregarding the distinctions of rank1 age or sex1 these licentious and brutal plunderers subjected their helpless victims to every species of indignity and cruelty4 ,hence the hostility to arts and science1 the tokens of refined civilization1--indiscriminate devastation of life and property perpetrated by the savage warriors1 has given rise to the word ,vandalism4 #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 ,vs4 #aj1 #aa4--,the object of the third trumpet is the waters as before1--the population of the empire1 but not in collective form as a sea2 rather in a state of separation or disconnected1 as rivers and fountains4 ,some apply this symbol of a falling star to ,genseric1 but this is incongruous4 ,on the contrary1 he was a victorious prince1--a rising star4 ,it is more consonant to the truth of history and the chronological series of prophecy1 to apply this symbol to the downfall of ,momyllus the last of the ,roman emperors1 who was deposed by ,odoacer king of the ,heruli1 called in derision ,augustulus1--the diminutive ,augustus4 ,doubtless the allusion here is to the king of ,babylon3--,how art thou fallen from heaven1 ,o ,lucifer1 7day-star17 son of the morning6 ,how art thou cut down to the ground1 which didst weaken the nations6 7,isa4 xiv4 #ab47 ,a star may indeed signify either a civil or ecclesiastical officer1 but the scope and context determine all these judgments to the enemies of the church1 and those of her illustrious ,head4 ,it is the vengeance of his temple4 ,we have already found a star the emblem of a gospel minister1 and we shall hereafter find it employed in that sense2 but it does not seem to refer in the present connexion to any apostate4 ,the name of this star1--,wormwood1 embittering the waters1 is a lively emblem of the miseries experienced by the people1 in the use of the remaining temporal comforts which the preceding calamities had left4 #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 ,v4 #ab4--,the design of all the trumpets is to point out the utter destruction of the ,roman empire1--,daniel's kingdom of iron4 7,dan4 ii4 #dj47 ,for although from the time of ,constantine it assumed the ,christian name1 it nevertheless continued to be a beast4 ,of this we shall have cumulative evidence as we progress4 ,the first trumpet began to demolish the fabric of antichristian power2 and by the fourth the western division was overthrown4 ,for although the northern barbarians under the first1 the southern ,vandals under the second1 and the successors of both1 prevailed to bring down the last of the ,caesars1 yet the ancient frame of government still subsisted4 ,the political heaven1 though shaken1 was not yet wholly removed1 while the ,senate1 ,consuls and other official dignitaries continued to shine as political luminaries in the firmament of power4 ,but as the last of the ,caesars fell from power in the year #dgf1 so the last vestige of imperial dominion in the west was removed in #eff1 when ,rome1 the queen of the nations1 was by the emperor of the east reduced to the humble condition of a tributary dukedom4 ,most of the saints had their residence at this time in the nations of western ,europe and northern ,africa1 where they were grievously afflicted by the ,arian1 ,pelagian and other heresies2 as also exposed to persecution by the civil powers1 whom those heresiarchs moved to oppress the orthodox3 consequently1 the righteous judgments of ,god fall first upon that member of the empire4 ,the eastern section1 however1 is destined to become the special object of the judgments indicated by the succeeding trumpets4 ,however interpreters differ in details when explaining the effects produced by the sounding of the first four trumpets1 they very generally harmonize in the application of them to the western section of the ,roman empire4 ,the luminaries of heaven are darkened1 or fall1 or are extinguished1 while the earth1 the sea and the rivers are correspondently affected4 ,now1 these are the well known allegorical representations of divine judicial visitations of guilty communities1 as we find in the prophetic writings4 ,see1 for example1 the case of ,babylon1 the beauty of the ,chaldees' excellency 7,isa4 xiii4 #a1 #aj27 also ,egypt1--7,ezek4 xxxii4 #g1 #h47 #ac4 ,and ,i beheld1 and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven1 saying with a loud voice1 ,woe1 woe1 woe1 to the inhabitants of the earth1 by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels1 which are yet to sound6 ,v4 #ac4--;,before the fifth angel sounds1 a note of warning is given by the ministry1 of another angel distinct from the seven with the trumpets4 ,he pronounces a woe thrice repeated1 upon the inhabitants of the earth1 indicating that heavier judgments and of longer duration are about to be inflicted4 ,this announcement was intended to excite attention and awful expectation4 ,this angel's message of heavy tidings may be viewed in quite interesting contract with that of a subsequent angel1--flying through the midst of heaven1 7ch4 xiv4 #f47 ,how different1 yet harmonious1 is the ministry of those heavenly messengers6 ,the first four trumpets1 as we have seen1 demolished the western division of the ,roman empire4 ,about the middle of the sixth century this work was brought to completion4 ,here1 for greater clearness1 we may be allowed to anticipate by digressing a little4 ,assuming now1 what shall afterwards appear to be correct1 that the ,roman empire is ,daniel's fourth universal monarchy1 and ,paul's let1 or hinderance1 to the revealing of the ,man of ,sin2 since the first four trumpets have dismembered that great power1 revealing the ten toes1--ten horns1 or kingdoms2 we would expect now to hear of the destruction of that ,son of perdition4 ,but it is not so4 ,that is to be effected by the vials1 7ch4 xvi47 ,as the general and grand design of the ,apocalypse is to illustrate the divine government1 exhibiting the moral world as affecting1 or affected by the ,christian religion1 it seemed good to the ,divine ,author that the destinies of the eastern section of the ,roman empire yet standing1 where many of his saints reside1 shall come under review4 ,ecclesiastical history treats familiarly of a ,greek1 as well as a ,latin church and empire4 ,as the trumpets cover the whole time from the opening of the sixth seal till the final overthrow of the whole fourth monarchy2 7,dan4 vii4 #bf2 ,rev4 xi4 #ae17 it follows that the eastern section must be the object of a part of them4 ,accordingly1 the remaining part of the second period1--the ,period of the ,trumpets1 includes the first two of the three1 emphatically and significantly styled woe-trumpets4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 #a4 ,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 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 earth2 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 us 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 scorpions2 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 ,vs4 #a-aa4--,the scene of the events announced by the sounding of the first woe-trumpet1 is the eastern ,roman empire4 ,a variety of symbols is here employed to represent the judgment to be inflicted4 ,the principal agents and events are1--a star1 locusts1 ,apollyon their king1 their depredations1 the time of their continuance4 ,neither ,boniface ,,iii4 nor ,mahomet answers to the symbol falling star4 ,allowing that a star1 as a symbol1 may represent a person in either civil or ecclesiastical office1 no successful aspirants to places of power1 as both of these were1 can be here understood4 ,obviously degradation and not elevation is intended4 ,either dethronement of a prince or apostacy of a theological dignitary must be intended4 ,no character in history at the time referred to1 so well agrees to the symbol of a fallen star as the monk ,sergius1 who is known to have been the coadjutor of ,mahomet4 ,he had been a monk of the ,christian sect called ,nestorians from ,nestorius their leader4 ,this monk ,sergius had been excommunicated for heresy and immorality4 ,he was glad to serve the devil as dictator to ,mahomet in composing the ,koran1 which bears internal evidence of having been written by one who was acquainted with the ,sacred ,scriptures4 ,when this degraded man had finished his task1 he was put to death by his master1 lest he should betray the imposture4 ,he opened the bottomless pit1 from which issued a smoke darkening the whole face of the heavens4 ,the pit is hell1 whence came the smoke1--the diabolical system of delusion4 ,from the same place comes the character afterwards to appear under the aspect of a beast1 7ch4 xi4 #g47 ,locusts constituted one of the plagues of ,egypt1 and they are the emblem of a destroying army4 7,exod4 x4 #ad-ai2 ,joel i4 #d-f47 ,and this is their import here4 ,they represent the deluded and destructive followers of ,mahomet1 who in vast multitudes laid waste the nations of western ,asia1 southern ,europe1 and northern ,africa4 ,the ,saracens1 originating in ,arabia1 the national locality of the literal locusts1 in great multitudes like clouds1 laid waste the fairest and most populous portions of the earth for a succession of ages4 ,these symbolic locusts have also the property of scorpions1 a poisonous reptile1 resembling in some degree a lizard combined with a lobster1 armed with a sting in the end of its tail4 ,wicked and impenitent men are compared to scorpions4 7,ezek4 ii4 #f47 ,but these locusts are under restraint4 ,they are permitted to hurt only those men which have not the seal of ,god in their foreheads4 ,the time of their continuance is five months1 of thirty days each1 making #aej years1--a day for a year4 7,ezek4 iv4 #f47 ,in the year #fjf1 ,mahomet began his imposture by retiring to the cave of ,hera4 ,in #fab he appeared publicly as the apostle of his new religion at the head of his deluded followers4 ,between #fab and #gfb1 he and the warlike chiefs who succeeded him1 overran with terrible destruction1 ,syria1 ,persia1 ,india1 ,egypt and ,spain4 ,although the ,saracenic empire continued for a longer time1 yet from this time it lost the disorderly ,locust character and because a more settled commonwealth4 ,in the year #gfb1 the city of ,bagdad was built by one of the caliphs1 who called it the city of peace4 ,this put a stop to the devastations of the locusts1 when the empire began to decline4 ,it was foretold1 however1 that during the time of successful war by these cruel invaders1 they would inflict such miseries upon their wretched victims1 that they would earnestly but vainly desire death to put an end to their exquisite torments4 ,it is farther said that these locusts resembled horses1 as indeed they do1 especially in their heads4 ,the ,arabians excelled in horsemanship1 and their chief force lay in cavalry4 ,the crowns upon their heads may refer to the turbans worn by the ,arabians as part of their national costume2 or to the kingdoms which they subdued4 ,flowing hair is also characteristic of these people4 ,their teeth like those of lions indicated their strength and fury to destroy4 ,breast-plates of iron1--defensive armour1 indicates self-protection by the most effectual public measures4 ,the sound of their wings may denote the fury of their assaults1 and the rapidity of their conquests4 ,but the deadly stings in their tails were their most fatal instruments of torture1 symbolizing the poison of their abominable and ruinous religion4 ,their king is ,abaddon or ,apollyon1 the destroyer3 for so is his name by interpretation1 both in ,hebrew and ,greek4 ,he is from the bottomless pit1--from hell1 the vicegerent of the devil4 ,mahomet in person1 and in the person of his official successors1 will alone answer to this duplicate symbol4 ,this is1 without a rational shadow of ground for controversy1 the ,great ,eastern ,antichrist1 sufficiently distinguished from the ,western4 ,the western combination against real ,christianity never attained to power by successful conquest of the nations2 but on the contrary by chicanery1 insidious policy1 flattery of princes and priestcraft4 ,this enemy is described with sufficient accuracy and peculiar precision in the subsequent part of the ,apocalypse4 ,prophecy has a determinate meaning2 and we are not at liberty to give loose reins to our imagination3 otherwise we shall bewilder1 rather than satisfy the devout and earnest inquirer4 #ab4 ,one woe is past3 and1 behold1 there come two woes more hereafter4 ,v4 #ab4--;,before the time of the sixth trumpet1 intimation is given that some pause shall intervene prior to the judgments which are to follow3--,one woe is past4--,the object of the first woe is the nominally ,christian ,roman empire1 which still stands in its ,eastern section2 and is to be totally demolished by the second woe-trumpet3 for the ,western section1 recovering from the effects of the first four trumpets1 is the object of the third and last woe4 ,the man of ,sin1--the little horn of ,daniel1 is actuating the ten horns to scatter ,judah1 etc41 during the time of the ,mahometan conquests in the ,east2 by which the whole ,roman empire is ripening for the harvest of the vials of wrath4 #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 thousand2 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 fire1 and smoke1 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 ,vs4 #ac-ai4--;,at the sounding of the sixth trumpet1 a voice comes from the four horns of the golden altar1 the immediate presence of the ,almighty4 ,this indicates punishment to be inflicted upon men for corrupting the gospel1 similar to the judgment of fire from the golden censer1 7ch4 viii4 #e47 ,the effects of the first woe may be supposed to reach from the early part of the seventh century to the latter part of the thirteenth1--the period of ,arabian locusts4 ,during the latter part of this time1 the ,turks were held in check by the ,crusaders1 who strove to wrest the ,holy ,land from the infidels4 ,the four angels are the four ,turkish ,sultanies4 ,the river ,euphrates is to be taken in this place literally1 as designating the geographical locality of these combined powers1 which were the instruments employed by the enthroned ,mediator1 to demolish the remaining part of the ,roman empire1--the third part of men4 ,the time occupied in this barbarous work of slaughter is an hour1 a day1 a month and a year1 about equal to #cia years2 or from the year #abha to #afgb4 ,the ,western empire had been overthrown by the first four trumpets1 the ,eastern nearly ruined under the fifth2 and under the sixth it was finally subverted4 ,the numbers which the ,turks brought into the field are here said to be two hundred thousand thousand1--a definite for an indefinite number as usual1 a vast army4 ,and historians tell us that they were1 in fact1 from four to seven hundred thousand1 and a large proportion of them cavalry4 ,from the year #afgb1 one of their own historians dates the ,decay of the ,othman empire6 ,since that date1 the ,turkish power is well known to have been straitened by the ,russian empire4 ,these eastern warriors and their horses are described by their military costume and their arms4 ,fire is red1 jacinth blue1 and brimstone yellow1--the chosen colors of the ,ottoman warriors1 their military uniform4 ,the heads of their horses as the heads of lions1 denote strength1 fierceness and cruelty4 ,fire1 smoke and brimstone issuing out of their mouths1 may be supposed to indicate the employment of gunpowder1 first invented about that time1 as an element of destruction4 ,the commander at the siege of ,constantinople is said to have employed cannon1 some of which were of such caliber as to send stones of three hundred pounds weight6 ,thus their power was in their mouth3 but like the locusts1 they had in their tails power to do hurt1--the deadly poison of the ,koran4 ,the ,turks left behind them wherever they went1 as the ,saracens had done before1 the poisonous and ruinous religion of ,mahomet1 more durable and injurious to men than all their bloody conquests4 ,by this abominable system of delusion1 the remains of the ,greek church in the ,eastern division of the ,roman empire1 were almost extirpated2 ,christianity was nearly extinguished in that part of the world where the gospel had shone brightly1 and there ,mahometanism continues till the present day4 ,such has been the desolating effect of the sixth1--the second woe trumpet4 ,thus the ,judge of all the earth punishes impenitent communities4 ,besides the positive effects of the second wo1 we have intimation of some that are negative in the close of this chapter4 #bj4 ,and the rest of the men1 which were not killed by these plagues1 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 wood2 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 ,vs4 #bj1 #ba4--,the rest of the men that were not killed by these plagues1 or morally destroyed by becoming ,mahometans1 by the foregoing calamities1 were not brought to repentance of their evil deeds4 ,the population of the ,western ,latin empire and nominal ,christian church1 still persisted in their idolatries and immoralities4 ,both individually and as associated1 they openly violated both tables of the moral law4 ,it is evident from these two verses1 that the sins enumerated in them were the procuring causes of the divine judgments symbolized by the trumpets1--the two woe-trumpets1 all the trumpets1--yes1 including the seventh and the last4 ,professing ,christians both in the ,greek and ,latin churches1 after all the plagues inflicted by the angels of the past six trumpets1 continue to this day in the practice of worshipping demons1 angels and saints1 for which they can produce no better arguments than their ,pagan predecessors whom the ,lord charges with worshipping devils here and elsewhere4 7#a ,cor4 x4 #bj2 ,ps4 cvi4 #cg47 ,in their stupid worship of senseless images1 consecration of places1 etc41 who cannot perceive the identity of modern ,papists and prelates with those portrayed by the pen of inspiration in the passage before us8 ,the horrible murders1 massacres and bloody persecutions of the saints1 are verified in authentic history4 ,papal bulls1 imperial and royal edicts1 issued against heretics1 answer to the second part of this awful picture4 ,then follow sorceries1 plainly pointing out pretended revelations1 false miracles1 etc4 ,to these are to be added fornications1 corporeal and spiritual1 in a mass of superstitions added to1 or supplanting divine ordinances2 together with vows of celibacy1 monkeries and nunneries1--followed by public license of brothels4 ,and finally1--thefts4 ,by these are to be understood the illegal exactions and oppressive impositions1 by which the nations of ,christendom have been plundered of their revenues to enrich the lordly hierarchy of apostate ,christendom4 ,this state of things still continuing after the sixth angel sounds his trumpet1 and no evidence of repentance2 who can doubt that the same community is yet to be visited with the third woe8 ,surely the ,lord may justly still say1--,for three transgressions1 and for four1 7of ,antichrist17 ,i will not turn away the punishment thereof4 ,the eastern church1 in which the first corruptions prevailed1 was punished by the first woe of the ,saracens2 and this not producing repentance1 her ruin was completed by the second wo of the ,ottomans4 ,so1 when ,god judges1 he will overcome2 therefore the western church1 still persisting in her abominations1 without repentance1 shall be destroyed by the third woe4 ,let not the pious reader suppose that by these penal inflictions on churches1 the church of ,christ is to perish4 ,no1 no4 ,but1 on the contrary1 their overthrow is subservient to her preservation4 ,this also will appear with increasing evidence as we proceed with our meditations on this instructive book4 ,in the mean time it may be well to remark here1 at the close of those woes which developed the rise and progress of ,mahometanism1 that the creed of this religious sect is substantially the same as that of those ,christians called ,socinians4 ,both presumptuously and arrogantly claim to be the worshippers of the one ,god1--commonly called ,unitarians4 ,this is one of the depths of ,satan4 ,all who worship1 as well as believe in1 three co-equal ,divine ,persons1 ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,ghost1 believe in1 and worship one ,god1 and in this sense are ,unitarians4--the only scriptural ,unitarians4 ,whosoever denieth the ,son1 the same hath not the ,father4 7,john ii4 #bc47 ,and the same is true of such who have not so much as heard whether there be any ,holy ,ghost4 7,acts xix4 #b47 ,he is ,antichrist that denieth the ,father and the ,son1--a deceiver and an ,antichrist4 ,it is doubtless in view of these soul-ruining heresies1 that the beloved disciple tendered the caution1--,little children1 keep yourselves from idols4 7#a ,john v4 #ba47 ,we would expect the tenth chapter to begin with the sounding of the seventh trumpet2 but we find it is not so4 ,indeed1 we shall not find any direct intimation of the work of the seventh angel till we come to the fourteenth verse of the eleventh chapter4 ,the sixth trumpet continues to reverberate throughout ,christendom for centuries2 and during the intermediate time1 our attention is called to another scene1 which the ,lord ,jesus deemed necessary as preparatory4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,this chapter and the greater part of the next1 from the first to the fourteenth verse inclusive1 is of the nature of a parenthesis2 for the fifteenth verse of the #aath chapter evidently connects the narrative or series of events with the ninth chapter4 ,the ninth chapter closes with an intimation of impenitence on the part of those who had been punished by the plagues of the preceding trumpets4 ,then it follows1 as we have seen1 that they are to be still farther visited by the infliction of the closing judgment symbolized by the seventh trumpet4 ,the immediate design1 therefore1 of interrupting the natural order of the narrative is to place before us the actual condition of society when the seventh trumpet sounds4 #a4 ,and ,i saw another mighty angel come down from heaven1 clothed with a cloud2 and a rainbow was upon his head1 and his face 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 ,vs4 #a-c4--,the majestic description of this ,angel agrees to no creature4 ,it is proper to ,god-man only4 ,it is partly the same display of the ,mediator's glory which we had in ch1 i4 #ae4 ,especially is this the case as to his face1 his feet and his voice4 ,the rainbow is still the sign of the everlasting covenant4 ,in wrath he remembers mercy4 ,this book differs from the sealed book as a part from the whole1 or a codicil from the will to which it is appended4 ,also1 it is distinguished from the former as being little and open4 ,they do therefore greatly err here1 who would make this little book comprehend all the remaining part of the ,apocalypse1 which would make it larger than the sealed book4 ,the little book is open1 because it is part of the large one1 from which the last seal had been removed by the ,mediator4 ,but another reason why the little book is represented as being open1 is the fact that the most of the events to which it refers1 had transpired prior to the sounding of the seventh trumpet4 ,that trumpet had been without its appropriate object1 as presented in any preceding part of the prophecy4 ,to present that object is the special design of the little book4 ,all the events predicted in this book of ,revelation are not successive in the order of time1 but some are coincident2 and the inspired writer of the ,apocalypse1 on several occasions goes back1 as we shall see1 in order to explain at greater length1 what had been but briefly and obscurely narrated4 ,the angel set his feet upon the world1 as his footstool2 by which position is emblematically signified his sovereign dominion over sea and earth4 ,and this is agreeable to his own plain teaching in the days of his public ministry3--,all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth4 7,matt4 xxviii4 #ah47 ,he trod upon the billows of the ocean literally in the state of his humiliation1 giving thereby evidence of his power over the mystical waters1--the tumults of the people4 ,during the popular commotions signified by the trumpets1 he said to the raging passions of men and their towering ambition1 as to the waves of the sea1-- ,hitherto shall ye come1 and no further2 and here shall your proud waves be stayed4 ,he maketh the storm a calm1 so that the waves thereof are still2 and whether the nations of ,christendom are at war or in peaceful tranquillity1 he reigns over them as their rightful sovereign2--his right foot on the sea1 and his left on the earth4 ,in possession of universal dominion1 he speaks with authority1 as when a lion roareth4 ,although a lamb slain1 the victim for our sins2 he is also the ,lion of the tribe of ,judah1 ruling over his own people1 restraining and conquering his own and their enemies4 ,the seven thunders1 etc41 give a premonition of tremendous judgments1 the import of which is to be sealed up until it be demonstrated to all the world by the seventh trumpet and vial4 #d4 ,and when the seven thunders had uttered their voices1 ,i was about to write3 and ,i heard a voice from heaven1 saying unto me1 ,seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered1 and write them not4 #e4 ,and the angel1 which ,i saw stand upon the sea1 and upon the earth1 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 sea1 and the things which are therein1 that there should be time no longer4 #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 ,vs4 #d-g4--,the attitude assumed by the ,angel of the covenant is very impressive1 instructive and exemplary3--his hand lifted up to heaven4 ,this is the external attitude of solemnity most becoming the jurant when performing the act of religious worship1 the oath4 ,abraham1 in the presence of the king of ,sodom1 used the same form1 appealing to the ,lord1 the ,most ,high ,god1 possessor of heaven and earth4 7,gen4 xiv4 #bb47 ,kissing the book has no example in all the ,bible2 hence it is unquestionably of heathen1 and so of idolatrous origin and tendency4 ,no ,christian can thus symbolize with heathens1 without so far having fellowship with devils as really as in eating in their temples4 7#a ,cor4 x4 #ba47 ,the matter of the ,angel's oath is1--that there should be time no longer4 ,here it is humbly suggested that our excellent translators are faulty as in ch4 iv4 #f1 already noticed4 ,neither the original ,greek text1 nor the coherence of the symbolic narrative1 will sustain or justify the version4 ,john1 like all pious people1 when he heard the lion's voice1 followed by the seven thunders1 was filled with solemn awe1 anticipating the coming dissolution of all things4 ,it was not the only instance of his weakness and misapprehension1 7ch4 xix4 #aj27 nor is this infirmity peculiar to the apostle ,john2 for we find other disciples mistaking the times and the seasons which the ,father hath put in his own power4 7#b ,thess4 ii4 #a-c47 ,these ,thessalonians had misapprehended the language of ,paul in his first epistle to them1 when speaking of the end of the world4 7#a ,thess4 iv4 #ae-ag47 ,to relieve the anxieties of the ,thessalonians1 relative to the apprehended and sudden coming of the ,lord1 ,paul wrote again to correct their mistake2 so it may be supposed that the ,angel interposed this solemn assurance to his servant ,john1 for the like purpose1 of allaying his forebodings4 ,the words in the original1 literally translated1 stand thus3 ,that the time shall not be yet4 ,that is1 the time of the end1 as we read in ,daniel xii4 #i1 shall not be1 till the seventh trumpet begins to sound4 ,the phrase1--time of the end1 may signify either the final overthrow of antichristian power1 or the end of the world1 because of the resemblance between the two events4 ,the plain and certain meaning1 then1 of the ,angel's oath is1 that the mystery of ,god shall be finished only by the work of the seventh angel4 ,what this mystery is1 we will discover in the following chapters4 ,indeed1 it had been long before declared to the prophets1 but still accompanied with comparative obscurity suitable to their time2 for the word declared1 is expressive of glad tidings1 being the same in origin and significance as that which we translate1--gospel1 good news4 ,accordingly1 our ,saviour directs his disciples1 in view of his appearing either to overthrow the ,roman power1 or to judge the world1 in the following words of cheer3 ,and when these things begin to come to pass1 then look up1 and lift up your heads2 for your redemption draweth nigh4 7,luke xxi4 #bh47 ,to the prophet ,daniel the same event was attested with like solemnity4 7,dan4 xii4 #g47 ,this is the period to which the suffering saints of ,god have been long looking forward with believing and joyful hope4 ,as ,abraham rejoiced to see ,christ's day of appearing in our nature1 and by faith saw and it and was glad2 so the covenanted seed of the father of the faithful1 in the light of prophecy1 and by like precious faith1 are favored with a view of the certain downfall of mystical ,babylon4 #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 honey2 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 ,vs4 #h-aa4--;,john is next directed by a voice from heaven1 or by divine authority1--to take and eat the open book4 ,there is obvious allusion to a similar transaction in ,ezekiel iii1 #a-c4 ,the prophet was a captive by the river of ,chebar in ,babylon1 under the dominion of the first beast of ,daniel1 as ,john was in ,patmos under that of the fourth2 and both were favoured and employed by the glorious ,head of the church in an eminent part of their ministry4 ,the word is not bound when ministers are in confinement4 ,the eating of the book represents the intellectual apprehension of the things which it contained4 ,thy words were found and ,i did eat them17,jer4 xv4 #af47 ,a speculative knowledge of the word of ,god1 and especially of those parts that are prophetical1 will afford pleasure to the human intellect1 even though the mind be unsanctified4 7,matt4 xiii4 #bj1 #ba47 ,but when the prophet gets a farther insight into the contents as containing lamentations1 and mourning and woe1 like ,ezekiel's roll2--the pleasure is converted into pain4 ,a foresight of the sorrows and sufferings of ,christ's witnesses causes grief to the ,christian's sensitive heart4 ,he weeps with them that weep1 by the spontaneous sympathies of a common and renewed nature4 ,sweet in the mouth as honey1 but in the belly bitter as wormwood and gall4 ,upon the apostle's digesting the little book1 the ,angel interprets the symbolic action by the plain and extensive commission1--,thou must prophesy again before many peoples1 and nations1 and tongues1 and kings4 ,this commission did not terminate with the ministry of the apostle1 although he may be truly said to prophesy by the ,apocalypse to all nations till the end of the world4 ,this is equally true1 however1 of all the inspired penmen of the ,holy ,scriptures4 7,psalm xlv4 #ag47 ,but ,john is to be considered here as the official representative of a living and faithful ministry1 on whom devolves the indispensable obligation to open and apply these sacred predictions to the commonwealth of nations1 however constituted authorities may be affected by them4 ,and1 indeed1 these messages will prove unwelcome to the immoral powers of the earth1 as in the days of old4 7#a ,kings xviii4 #ag47 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,the narrative of prophetic events was broken off at the end of the ninth chapter4 ,the tenth chapter and the greater part of this1 from the beginning to the thirteenth verse inclusive1 present appearances and actions quite foreign to the events which follow the sounding of the trumpets4 ,why is this1 the thoughtful student of the ,apocalypse will naturally ask8 ,why is the regular series of the trumpets suspended8 ,when the sixth trumpet1--the second woe1--has effected its objects1 we naturally expect the seventh trumpet to sound2 yet we are held in suspense till we come to the fourteenth verse of this chapter4 ,hitherto we have met with no similar interruption4 ,let us take a retrospective view3--,the seven epistles to the churches followed each other in regular succession4 ,the seals1 in like manner1 followed successively2 and this is true of the vials1 7ch4 xvi47 ,we have seen that the object of the trumpets was the ,roman empire1 the fourth beast of ,daniel's prophecy4 ,the same is the object of the judgments symbolized by the vials4 ,the final subversion and utter destruction of that beastly power1 was plainly revealed in the ,babylonian monarch's dream4 7,dan4 ii4 #dd47 ,and the same event was afterwards exhibited in vision to ,daniel1 7ch4 vii4 #aa1 #bf47 ,now the first four trumpets had demolished imperial power in the western or ,latin section2 and the next two1 by the ,saracenic locusts and the ,euphratean horsemen had subverted the eastern or ,greek section4 ,rome and ,constantinople were the capitals of the respective sections or members of the one empire4 ,under the first four trumpets1 by the ,northern barbarians2 and under the first two woes1 by the ,mahometans1 both sections of the empire were overthrown4 ,the question now presses upon our attention1 ,where shall we find an object for the tremendous judgment to be inflicted by the third and last woe8 ,this question requires a solution4 ,it demands it2 and he who succeeds in the application of history to solve this apparent enigma in the ,apocalypse1 will be able to attain to a satisfactory1 a certain1 understanding of much that is yet to most readers as if the sealed book were to this day in the right hand of ,him that sitteth on the throne4 ,let us humbly attempt to solve this difficulty4 ,daniel's fourth beast1 the ,roman empire1 is to be contemplated in diverse aspects1 as the varied symbols obviously require4 ,all know that ,nebuchadnezzar's image is the same as ,daniel's four beasts2 therefore the same thing is presented in different forms or aspects4 ,of course we are to view that object as presented4 ,we have seen that under the sixth seal1 7ch4 vi4 #ab-ag17 the ,roman empire underwent a revolution2 that is1 it was destroyed as to its ,pagan form4 ,the empire became ,christian under ,constantine4 ,history proves that ,christianity degenerated under the reign of that monarch and his successors4 ,heresy1 idolatry and persecutions characterize the subsequent history of the empire4 ,then follow the judgments of the trumpets to vindicate the divine government1 and alleviate from time to time the sufferings of true ,christians4 ,while the two woe-trumpets are demolishing the fabric of idolatry and despotism in the east1 the deadly wound is healed in the west1 which had been inflicted by the first four trumpets4 ,ten horns are developed upon the beast's head1 and another little horn1 by all of which the saints suffer1 as had been predicted by ,daniel1 7ch4 vii4 #bd17 and of which we had intimation after the judgment of the second woe or sixth trumpet1 7ch4 ix4 #bj1 #ba47 ,all the plagues1 which had been inflicted upon the people of ,christendom under this trumpet left them still impenitent1--worshipping devils1 etc4 ,surely we may now see where the object of the third woe is to be found1--namely in the same ,roman empire1 now become antichristian more than ever before4 ,to describe this antichristian combination and present the unholy confederacy against the ,lord and his ,anointed1 and so to justify the ways of ,god2 it was necessary to digress from the narrative of the trumpets4 ,we now proceed with our observations on the eleventh chapter4 #a4 ,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 ,vs4 #a1 #b4--,this chapter1 7vs4 #a-ac17 gives the contents of the little book delivered to the apostle2 as in the tenth chapter4 ,it contains a brief description and prospective history of the true church of ,christ for a period of #abfj years4 ,her conflicts with ,daniel's fourth beast are here epitomized4 ,as the scene is laid in the temple and ministry all along in the ,apocalypse1 so there is probably a special allusion here to ,ezekiel's vision1 7ch4 xl4 #e47 ,at all times the ,christian church is to be organized1 and all her ordinances to be administered by divine rule4 ,accordingly we have here presented the actual condition of ,christendom during the whole time mentioned above4 ,the command to ,john from the ,angel1 is to be understood as from the ,lord ,jesus1 ,zion's only king to the gospel ministry4 ,long before the time of the transactions here predicted1 the apostle ,john had gone the way of all the earth4 ,the work here enjoined was to be performed by his legitimate successors4 ,the reed is the symbol of the word of ,god4 ,it is of the same import as ,zechariah's measuring line4 7ch4 ii4 #a17 and to be used for the same purpose--to measure ,jerusalem1 the temple2 for both are emblematical of the church of ,god4 ,the temple1 altar and worshippers1 are emblems of the church1 her doctrines1 worship and membership1 tried by the ,scriptures--the reed4 ,there are ,gentiles who worship in the outer court1 treading under foot both it and the city4 ,these are formal1 immoral1 idolatrous professors of ,christianity4 ,they are rejected by ,god as reprobate1 and by his command to be cast out from the fellowship of his people1--authoritatively excommunicated by those to whom ,jesus ,christ has given the key of discipline4 ,here then1 at the disclosing of the contents of the little open book1 it is manifest that ,john goes back from the sixth trumpet in the seventeenth century1 when the ,eastern section of the ,roman empire was subverted1 by the ,othmans1 and gives us another view of society in ,christendom cotemporaneously with the trumpets4 ,it follows necessarily that the little book does not rank1 as some imagine1 under any one trumpet2 much less does it comprehend all the remaining chapters of the ,apocalypse1 as others vainly suppose4 ,this matter will receive increasing confirmation as we advance4 ,those who worship within the temple and those who worship without1 are evidently distinguished from each other4 ,they differ in character tested by the word of ,god1 in fellowship1 as authoritatively separated according to the rule of the same word3 for whereas the gentile worshippers are so numerous as to crowd both the outer court and the city1 the measured worshippers are all included within the confines of the temple1 7,song iv4 #ab47 ,measuring is equivalent to the sealing of the servants of ,god in the seventh chapter2 and imports that they are secured from the sins and plagues of their time4 ,the period of the apostacy from ,god is fixed to forty and two months4 ,according to ,jewish mode of reckoning1 a day for a year1 7,num4 xiv4 #cd2 ,dan4 ix4 #bd17 the whole period is #abfj years4 ,each month has thirty days4 ,multiply forty-two by thirty1 and we have #abfj4 ,the same period of time1--not merely an equal period1 is otherwise expressed by the prophet ,daniel thus3 time1 times1 and a half4 7ch4 xii4 #g47 ,that is1 #cfj1 the number of days in the ,jewish year3 times1 or #gbj1 the days in two years2 and half a time1 or #ahj1 the days in half a year4 ,now1 add these three numbers1 #cfj1 #gbj1 #ahj2 and the sum is #abfj4 ,now see ,daniel iv4 #be1 where the word times means years1 and then a child may calculate these mystical numbers4 #c4 ,and ,i will give power unto my two witnesses1 and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days1 clothed in sackcloth4 ,v4 #c4--,while the nominal church1 the outer court and the holy city1 would be trodden under foot1 and the most eminent places would be filled with idolaters1 infidels1 hypocrites1 and mercenary spirits1 and true ,christians grievously oppressed1 the ,lord would preserve a faithful few from defiling themselves with the prevailing abominations4 ,these he claims and owns as his peculiar treasure1--my witnesses4 ,these have found that it was good for them to draw near to ,god1 when the multitude treacherously departed from him4 ,the ,lord ,christ promises to sustain them in the midst of all their tribulations4 ,the duration of their special work is the very same as that of the treading of the holy city1 a thousand two hundred and three score days1--#abfj years4 ,in attempting to fix the beginning of this period1 ,daniel and ,john must be compared2 both treat of the same events and dates1 and this gives definiteness to the interpretation4 ,daniel fixes these events to the fourth monarchy after it had been broken in pieces1 and the ten horns had arisen3 7ch4 vii4 #bc-be27 so that we have both the geography and chronology determined by the prophets themselves4 ,hence it follows that we must date the beginning of the #abfj years after the first four trumpets2 for by these the western ,roman empire was dismembered or broken1 that the ten horns might appear4 ,then the little horn of ,daniel arose after and among them1 7ch4 vii4 #bj1 #bd47 ,all reliable expositors agree that the little horn is the papacy or the ,romish church4 ,this little horn is the special enemy of the saints of the ,most ,high1 and they are to be given into his hand4 7,dan4 vii4 #be47 ,the first four trumpets subverted the ,roman empire in the west in the latter part of the sixth century4 ,this event made way for the bishop of ,rome1 in process of time1 to acquire a great accession of ecclesiastical power4 ,the civil and ecclesiastical rulers1 equally unscrupulous and aspiring1 were at this period on terms of comparative intimacy1 and occasionally disposed to reciprocate good offices4 ,phocas1 having waded through the blood of the citizens to supreme civil power1 in order to secure his position1 declared ,boniface ,,iii41 bishop of ,rome1 head of the universal church4 ,this impious public act took place in the year #fjf4 ,the pope became also a temporal prince in #gef4 ,now we cannot know with certainty which of these events1 nor indeed whether either of them1 marks the period in time when the #abfj years began4 ,hence we must remain at uncertainty as to the exact time when this most interesting period will end4 ,of all transactions recorded in history1 however1 that between ,phocas and ,boniface appears most like giving the saints into the hand of the little horn4 ,at this juncture in particular1 church and state conspire1 as never before1 to resist the authority of ,jesus ,christ the ,mediator4 ,paul's man of sin has been revealed in his time4 7#b ,thess4 ii4 #f47 ,paganism has been abolished by formal edict throughout the ,roman empire1 and ,christianity established as the recognised religion of the commonwealth4 ,that which letted1--hindered1 that is1 the pagan idolatry of the civil state1 is taken out of the way2 and nominal ,christianity takes its place4 ,this combination or alliance between church and state will be more clearly made known in the succeeding chapters of this book4 ,mean while it is the immediate design of the little open book1 to give an epitome or outline of this unholy confederacy in the first thirteen verses of this chapter4 ,the treading under foot of the holy city by the ,gentiles1 furnishes occasion for the witnesses to appear publicly against them4 ,these pretended ,christians1 but real hypocrites1 as will appear with increasing evidence as we proceed1 have usurped the rights of ,messiah's crown1 and grievously oppressed his real disciples4 ,against these outrages on the prerogatives of ,christ and the rights of man1 these witnesses lift their solemn protest4 ,their distinctive name1 witnesses1 is familiar to every one who searches the ,scriptures4 7,isa4 xliii4 #aj2 ,acts i4 #h47 ,but witnesses who love not their lives unto the death are distinguished by the name of martyrs4 7,rev4 ii4 #ac2 ,acts xxii4 #bj47 ,god has had his witnesses in all ages since the fall of ,adam1 in defence of truth and holiness against error and ungodliness2 but the specific work these witnesses is to oppose the corruption of his two ordinances of church and state during the specified period of #abfj years4 ,the existence of this complex system of civil and ecclesiastical tyranny and heresy1 in the holy purpose and sovereign providence of ,god1 calls for the public and uncompromising opposition of the two witnesses4 ,we shall discover the two parties in more visible conflict hereafter2 and tracing the struggle to its issue1 we shall find1 that like the more general and lasting warfare between the seed of the woman and that of the serpent1 7,gen4 iii4 #ae17 it is a war of extermination4 ,these witnesses are distinguished as a part from the whole4 ,all witnesses are not martyrs1 but these are such1 7v4 #g1 ch4 xx4 #d47 ,and here we are constrained to dissent from the opinion of some expositors1 for whose sentiments we entertain profound respect4 ,these two witnesses are supposed by these eminent interpreters to differ as much from the #add1jjj sealed ones1 7ch4 vii4 #d17 as ,elijah differed from the #gjjj in ,israel in his time2 whereas1 we think the #add1jjj and the two1 are the same identical company4 7,see chapters vii4 #d-h3 xiv4 #a2 xx4 #d47 ,it is evident that they are the same party1--and the whole of the party1 who are honored to reign with ,christ a thousand years1 7ch4 xx4 #d47 ,they are two in number1 because one witness is not sufficient in law1 to establish any matter in controversy4 7,num4 xxxv4 #cj2 #b ,cor4 xiii4 #a47 ,they are a small number compared with their opponents1 7ch4 xiii4 #c47 ,again1 they are few1 but sufficient to confront and confute their two opponents1 7ch4 xiii4 #a1 #aa47 ,and1 finally1 they are two1 that they may be assimilated to their predecessors4 #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 prophecy2 and have power over waters to turn them to blood1 and to smite the earth with all plagues1 as often as they will4 ,vs4 #d-f4--,these are the two olive trees1 and the two candlesticks1 answerable to ,joshua and ,zerubbabel1 the representatives of a gospel ministry and a scriptural magistracy in their day1 as seen by the prophet ,zechariah1 7ch4 iv4 #ad47 ,the official administrators of the divine ordinances of church and state1 require the oil of divine grace to qualify them for the discharge of their responsible duties to ,god and man4 7#a ,tim4 i4 #b2 ,titus i4 #d2 ,ps4 lxxii4 #a47 ,thus were those public servants of ,god and of his people qualified who stood before the ,god of the earth1 as ,moses and ,aaron in ,egypt1 ,elijah and ,elisha in ,israel1 to whom there is obvious allusion in the special work of these witnesses4 7#b ,kings i4 #aj2 #a ,kings xvii4 #a2 ,exod4 vii4 #ag47 ,fire proceedeth out of their mouth1 when from the scriptures they denounce just judgments upon the impenitent enemies of him whom they represent4 ,they smite the earth with all plagues1 when1 in answer to their prayers1 vengeance comes upon antichristian communities4 7,luke xviii4 #g1 #h47 ,they turn waters into blood1 when through their effective agency1 the votaries of ,antichrist are made the instruments of mutual destruction4 ,and all this is made more clear in the symbolic vials1 7ch4 #af47 ,these witnesses prophesy1 not as being inspired1 but because they1--and they only1 apply existing predictions to their appropriate objects1 so far as they receive light from ,him who is the light of the world4 ,they are clothed in sack-cloth1 because they sigh and cry for all the abominations of their time1--subjected to oppression1 and excluded from kings' palaces1--places of worldly honor1 power and emolument4 ,but the question is of great importance1 and1 to themselves in particular1 of absorbing interest1--,how shall these witnesses be identified among mankind8 ,for however few1 humble1 despised and persecuted1 even unto death2 strange as it may seem1 there are not wanting many to put forth a claim to be identified with them6 ,assuming that these mystic witnesses are individual persons1 the ,papists say1 they are ,enoch and ,elijah1 hereafter to appear on earth6 ,by ,protestants1 ,john ,huss and ,jerome4--,luther and ,calvin1 have been selected4 ,others suppose the ,old and ,new ,testaments1 with many other vague and groundless conjectures4 ,the witnesses die2 but the two prophets named were translated that they should not see death3 and the thought is preposterous that they should be brought again from their glorious state of immortality and subjected to an ignominious death4 ,john ,huss and ,jerome of ,prague did not prophesy #abfj years1 nor have we the shadow of a ground to believe that any of the human race shall ever prolong their days on earth to the age of ,methuselah4 ,the two ,testaments cannot die1 for the word of ,god liveth and abideth for ever4 7#a ,pet4 i4 #bc47 ,but it would be tedious and unprofitable to confute the various chimeras which on this question have been entertained in the minds equally of the learned and the illiterate4 ,the like fanciful and diversified opinions have been1 and still are1 prevalent in relation to what constitutes the ,antichrist4 7#a ,john ii4 #bb47 ,now1 it is evident1 even on a cursory perusal of the ,apocalypse2 that the witnesses and their opponents are the principal parties symbolized in the whole series of the seals1 trumpets and vials4 ,how then can any one attain to a rational understanding of the manifold details1 who remains willingly ignorant of the principal characters in this grandest of all tragico-dramas1 presented to man's view on the stage of ,jehovah's moral empire1 to be contemplated for the whole period of #abfj years8 ,the prevailing ignorance1 bewilderment and error1 in the minds of most spectators of these moving scenes1 we are warranted to expect4 7,dan4 xii4 #aj47 ,for the present we define the witnesses and ,antichrist concisely thus3--,the ,witnesses are a competent number of ,christians1 who for #abfj years1 insist upon the application of ,god's word to church and state2 and who testify against all communities who rebel against the ,lord ,christ4 ,such communities1 in visible organization1 constitute ,,the ,,antichrist1 as will more fully appear in the thirteenth and seventeenth chapters1 where the two prominent parties are more formally presented4 ,let us never lose sight of the fact1 that these witnesses cease not to prophesy1--to apply the scriptures1 especially the prophetical parts of them1 during the whole period of #abfj years2 that is1 while they live4 ,authentic history supplies abundant evidence that such has been their special work all along since the rise of the antichristian enemy4 ,that enemy is but obscurely mentioned1--not described in the little book1 the contents of which we have1 as already said1 in this chapter1 7vs4 #a-ac47 ,the character and achievements of the witnesses may be found in the familiar histories of the ,culdees and ,lollards of ,britain1 the ,waldenses of ,piedmont1 the ,bohemian ,brethren2 together with the more recent and successful reformers on the continent of ,europe and in the ,british ,isles4 ,is it unnecessary to mention the names of those men of renown1--,zwingle1 ,luther1 ,calvin1 ,knox1 ,henderson1 etc41--men mighty in words and in deeds1 whose influence on the great family of nations1 their very enemies have reluctantly attested8 ,the testimony of an enemy has ever been deemed weighty4 ,the following is appropriate and decisive from the polished pen of the historian of the ,decline and ,fall of the ,roman ,empire3 ,the visible assemblies of the ,paulicians1 or ,albigeois1 were extirpated by fire and sword2 and the bleeding remnant escaped by flight1 concealment1 or catholic conformity4 ,but the invincible spirit which they had kindled still lived and breathed in the western world4--,in the state1 in the church1 and even in the cloister1 a latent succession was preserved of the disciples of ,st4 ,paul1 who protested against the tyranny of ,rome1 embraced the ,bible as the rule of faith1 and purified their creed from all the visions of the ,gnostic theology4 ,the struggles of ,wickliff in ,england1 and of ,huss in ,bohemia1 were premature and ineffectual3 but the names of ,zuinglius1 ,luther and ,calvin1 are pronounced with gratitude as the deliverers of nations4#b ,ever since the time of those eminent witnesses1 the same testimony has been maintained4 ,it is not yet finished1 the witnesses are yet alive1 and the term of #abfj years is not expired4 #g4 ,and when they shall have finished their testimony1 the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit1 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 people1 and kindreds1 and tongues1 and nations1 shall see their dead bodies three days and a 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 ,vs4 #g-aj4--;,in these verses we have described the death of the witnesses1 as also the agent mentioned1 by whom the fatal stroke is given4 ,as future occasion will occur for identifying this bloody tyrant1 ascertaining with precision his diabolical origin1 here only hinted1 his crimes and his awful doom1 it is premature to amplify in this place4 ,if the witnesses cannot be identified1 neither can the time of their death be ascertained4 ,we find indeed among expositors as many vague notions relative to the time and the nature of their death as in relation to their identity4 ,these notions are unworthy of notice2 for however they might amuse1 they cannot edify4 ,four questions are suggested by these verses4--,by whom2 in what manner1 when1 and where are the witnesses slain8 ,the first question is explicitly answered in the sacred text4 ,the beast1 of hellish origin1 kills them4 ,but it will afterwards appear that the beast is instigated to this relentless cruelty by another agent of the devil4 ,again1 as to the kind of death1 we may in good measure learn this from the kind of life4 ,now it is obvious that to give testimony1 or prophesy during the allotted time1 constitutes their life4 ,they live1 that they may prophesy4 ,hence it is usual to speak of silencing1 as equivalent to slaying these witnesses4 ,but this is not strictly correct4 ,why8 ,because they have been hitherto killed all the day long4 7,ps4 xliv4 #bb2 ,rom4 viii4 #cf47 ,doubtless defection and apostacy do always accompany persecution2 and thus the testimony of such is silenced4 ,but the enemy in this case is drunken with the blood of these witnesses2 and this phrase must be understood literally4 ,moreover1 the enemy gets blood to drink1 because of shedding blood4 7ch4 xvi4 #f2 xvii4 #f47 ,the death of the witnesses is therefore a literal death1 of course it will be also moral1--they will cease to prophesy4 ,some have supposed the three years1 or days and a half1 during which the witnesses lie dead are the same as the #abfj days or years2 because if these three and a half days be considered as prophetical1 and reduced to literal days1 they will amount exactly to #abfj4 ,such an interpretation1 however1 is preposterous2 simply because according to this hypothesis1 they never lived at all6--,the absurdity is evident4 ,having ascertained the nature of the death to which the witnesses are appointed by the ,lord of life1 we now inquire as to the time of this mournful event4 ,the text informs us that their death is connected with the finishing of their testimony4 ,however the original may be translated1--when they shall have finished1--when they shall be finishing1--or about to finish1 affects not the question as to time4 ,while they live1 their work is to prophesy1 and their testimony is not completed4 ,like their ,master1 to whose example they are conformed1 their life and testimony are finished together4 ,these facts1 briefly and obscurely hinted here1 will be more satisfactorily presented in the next1 but especially in the twentieth chapter1 7vs4 #a-d47 ,but inasmuch as many1 if not most interpreters1 have expressed the opinion that the witnesses are already slain1 the following arguments in the negative are submitted to the reader4 ,the #abfj years are not yet terminated1 during which1--the whole of which time1--the witnesses are to prophesy1 7v4 #c47 ,their testimony is yet continued1 and sensibly felt by the wicked4 ,they still more or less torment them that dwell on the earth1 7v4 #aj47 ,beyond the usual reproach attached to their names and their work1 there has been no general reviling and deriding of them throughout ,christendom1 to render their memory infamous1 7v4 #i47--,no opprobrious epithets such as1 ,these deceivers said1 while they were yet alive1 7,matt1 xxvii4 #fc17 that so they might be conformed to their ,lord in his death4 ,nor1 lastly1 have they that dwell upon the earth exulted as yet over these hated individuals1 as no longer hurtful to kings and provinces1--although there have been1 often1 partial but premature rejoicings by a part of the enemy4 ,but although from time to time1 some of them1 have fallen1 to try them1 and to purge1 and to make them white as predicted1 7,dan4 xi4 #ce27 yet the time of making merry1 sending gifts1--is not yet come4 ,while we believe1 on the grounds adduced1--and much more might have been cited from the context1--that the death of the witnesses is to be understood literally1 we do not suppose that every individual will be personally put to death4 ,no1 but as in the time of ,elijah's banishment1 or of our ,saviour's lying in the grave1 there will be no public body or individual standard-bearer1 to bear testimony against the enemies of ,jesus ,christ1 or boldly to assert and press his royal claims upon church and state4 ,in prospect of this dark time1--darker than the dark ages1 we may ask with ,joshua1--,what wilt thou do unto thy great name8 ,but though the witnesses die1 the ,faithful ,witness lives1 7ch4 i4 #ah47 ,the place1 where the witnesses lie dead is pointed out by three places well known in sacred history1 ,egypt1 ,sodom and ,jerusalem4 ,but these are to be understood mystically4 ,the place resembles ,egypt for idolatry and cruelty to the people of ,god2 it is like ,sodom for literal and spiritual pollution2 and ,jerusalem1 where our ,lord was crucified afresh and put to open shame in the persons of his slain witnesses4 ,it follows of course1--that place is to be utterly destroyed2 having committed the crimes and contracted the guilt of all those unpardonable criminals4 7,ps4 lxxiv4 #ac1 #ad2 ,ezek4 xxxi4 #ah2 ,isa4 xiii4 #ai2 ,luke xxi4 #bj47 ,for similar reasons1 ,babylon is afterwards mentioned repeatedly as the place of this tragic event1 this unpardonable crime1--the slaying of the witnesses1 7ch4 xviii4 #bd47 ,it is to be specially noted here1 that in ascertaining the place of the death of these distinguished servants of ,christ1 our attention is directed by the ,holy ,spirit to a street of the city4 ,at present it is assumed that streets of the city and horns of the beast substantially harmonize as symbols4 ,now look over the streets of the great city3 contemplate the horns of the beast3 ascertain which is most guilty of persecution4 ,in estimating the relative degree of guilt1 the degree of heavenly light against which the criminal has rebelled is to be taken into the account4 7,john xv4 #bb2 ,matt4 xi4 #bd47 ,in view of these scriptural principles1 and the actual condition of ,christendom as portrayed in authentic history1 would the conjecture seem presumptuous1 should we venture to designate--,great ,britain8 ,there1 for centuries1 the witnesses have been most numerous1 active1 and pointed1 in testifying against encroachments on the crown-rights of ,messiah4 ,there also1 lordly prelates1 in close alliance with a blasphemous horn of the beast1 have often vied with the sworn vassals of the man of sin1 in murdering the saints of ,god4 ,therefore it is no great thing if1 throwing off the mask of ,protestantism1 ,english prelacy1 combining with ,romish ,jesuitism1 should make common cause with undisguised infidelity1 in slaying the witnesses against their heaven-daring rebellion4 ,the signs of the present time1 7#ahgj17 render our conjecture not improbable4 ,we give it only as a conjecture2 for in reference to events yet future1--as we believe that of the death of the witnesses to be1--we may not presume to prophesy4--,three days and a half is the limited period of their degradation2 and this is three natural years and a half3 for the word days must be taken in the same sense as in v4 #c2 otherwise we fall into an inextricable labyrinth of endless confusion4 ,from all which it appears that the triumphing of the wicked is short4 ,if while the wicked is in power1 and we wait upon ,god4 we are called to join trembling with our mirth2 the pleasing prospect of the speedy and joyful resurrection of these slain1 may inspire us with a lively hope1 and warrant us to join mirth with our trembling4 #aa4 ,and after three days and a half1 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 heaven1 saying unto them1 ,come up hither4 ,and they ascended up to heaven in a cloud2 and their enemies beheld them4 ,vs4 #aa1 #ab4--;,in these two verses1 as in the preceding1 the thoughtful reader will discern a beautiful allusion in the history of these witnesses1 to the death and life of our blessed ,master4 ,for if they have been planted together in the likeness of his death1 they shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection4 ,yes1 they have communion with him in death and life1--in grace and glory4 ,nothing can separate them from the love of ,god which is in ,christ ,jesus their ,lord4 ,the ,spirit of life from ,god entered into them4 ,that is1 ,god will speedily raise up successors1 who1 maintaining the very same principles1 will be gloriously successful in putting down all rule and authority and power1 that had been in hostility to their ,lord4 7#a ,cor4 xv4 #bd1 #be4 ,see ,ezek4 xxxvii4 #aa-ad47 ,this is the first resurrection1 to be explained by the inspired penman more fully hereafter1 7ch4 xx4 #e47--;,as ,saul feared ,david1 and ,herod ,john ,baptist1 because they were just men and holy2 so were the wicked afraid when these witnesses arose2 and1 like ,shimei1 they justly dread the due reward of their deeds4 ,at the time referred to1 the haters of the ,lord will feign submission4--,the great voice from heaven inviting the witnesses to ascend1 and their actual ascent1 is another allusion to ,christ's exaltation4 ,as when he was taken up1 a cloud received him2 so here1 they ascended up to heaven in a cloud4 ,it has often been the cry of the antichristian multitude1--,the voice of the people is the voice of ,god4 ,this cry has been iterated and reiterated1 in centuries past1 like that of the ,ephesian worshippers of ,diana2 that thereby the testimony of the witnesses might be counteracted and silenced4 ,it has been only too often successful4 ,but where did flattering demagogues and haughty despots find the sentiment8 ,they found it engraved on the moral constitution of man by our beneficent ,creator4 ,they found it also transcribed on the pages of objective revelation1--the ,bible4 ,but1 like other moral and scriptural principles1 it has been perverted and misapplied by the perverse ingenuity of wicked men4--,this voice from heaven is indeed the people's voice3 and it is legitimate1 as coming from the people1 because it is first the voice of ,god4 ,the heaven here mentioned is the seat of civil power1--the ordinance of man4 7#a ,pet4 ii4 #ac47 ,in the times here contemplated1--millennial times1--the rights of men will be respected1 predicated upon the rights of ,god1 and flowing from them as inseparable4 ,in settling the point of title to civil sovereignty1 or the eligibility of any candidate for civil office1 the principle enunciated by ,hushai the ,archite will be found to be alone reliable3--,whom the ,lord and this people choose4 7#b ,sam4 xvi4 #ah47 ,only let the ,lord have the first choice of candidates for office in both church and state1 and society will be prosperous and happy4 7,acts i4 #bc1 #bd2 vi4 #e47 ,the great voice of the #abth verse1 comes from heaven1 as the great voices of the #aeth verse1 announcing the millennium4 #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 ,v4 #ac4--,the same hour that the witnesses mark by their resurrection1--contemporaneously with that joyful event1 is a great earthquake1--a revolution1 7ch4 vi4 #ab47 ,the tenth part of the city fell4 ,the city1--,sodom4 ,tenth part of the city1--a street1 equivalent to horn4 ,some one of the ten kingdoms will secede from the antichristian confederacy1 or imperial dominion2 and the remnant1--the other nine1 dreading the ,mediator's vengeance1 will reluctantly but speedily submit4 7,see ch4 vi4 #af1 #ag47--;,in the earthquake were slain of men 7names1 titles17 seven thousand4 ,by names of men to be slain1--that is1 abolished in reorganized society1 we are to understand those names of blasphemy mentioned1 7ch4 xiii4 #a17 hereafter to be explained4 ,we have now taken a very cursory view of the contents of the little open book4 ,its place is between the termination of the fourth1 and the sounding of the seventh trumpet4 ,in other words1 it gives an outline of the contest between the witnesses and ,antichrist during #abfj years1--events running parallel in time1 at least in part1 with the first two woe-trumpets2 for it obviously anticipates also1 the effects of the third and last woe4 ,this may be as suitable a place as any other1 before proceeding to a consideration of the seventh trumpet1 to direct attention to the method which ,infinite ,wisdom has chosen1 by which to reveal to mankind the purposes of ,god in prophecy4 ,he who alone knows the end from the beginning1--who from ancient times has declared the things that are not yet done1 has told us plainly1--,i have multiplied visions1 and used similitudes1 by the ministry 7hand17 of the prophets4 7,hosea xii4 #aj47 ,now since ,god has multiplied visions1 we ought not to think it strange if the same important events in providence be predicted by several1 or by many of the prophets2 or that one and the same important event be foretold at sundry times and in diverse manners by the same prophet4 ,how often1 and by how many prophets was the dispersion of the ,jews foretold6--the downfall of ancient cities1 ,babylon1 ,nineveh1 ,tyre6--,need we refer to the language of our ,lord1 addressed to his disciples on the way to ,emmaus8--,and beginning at ,moses1 and all the prophets1 he expounded unto them in all the ,scriptures the things concerning himself4 7,luke xxiv4 #bg47 ,we may be sure that the things concerning ,christ and the interests of his kingdom in this world1 are the theme of inspired prophets in the ,new ,testament as well as in the old4 ,agreeably to these views1 we find ,nebuchadnezzar's dream and ,daniel's visions relate to the same objects and events4 ,what was more obscurely revealed in the monarch's dream1 is rendered more intelligible by various symbols in ,daniel's first vision4 7,dan4 ii4 #cf-de2 vii4 #ag-bg47 ,but in the next1 the eighth chapter1 ,daniel is favored with still clearer information relative to what he had already seen in vision2 and in the eleventh chapter1 his attention is called to the most obscure1 but most interesting parts of his former visions2 and1 after all1 the vision is sealed1 so that he sees not the end of these things4 7ch4 xii4 #h1 #i47 ,i heard1 but ,i understood not1 7#a ,pet4 i4 #aj1 #aa47 ,in this book1 styled ,apocalypse1 or ,revelation1 we are told in the first verse1 that the ,lord ,christ signified1--made known by signs1 to his servant ,john the things that were to come to pass4 ,we have thus far seen that the customary method has been pursued in using signs1 symbols or emblems4 ,henceforth we will find multiplied visions employed1 more clearly to illustrate events which have already passed under review1 but of which we could see little more than a profile3--men1 as trees walking4 #ad4 ,the second woe is past2 and1 behold1 the third woe cometh quickly4 #ae4 ,and the seventh angel sounded3 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 forever and ever4 ,vs4 #ad1 #ae4--,the third wo cometh quickly1--the time elapsing since the end of the second1 is not to be so long as that intervening between the first two woes4--,the first wo is thought to have begun about the year #fab1 and continuing by the ,saracenic conquests about #aej years1 to have terminated in #gfb4 ,the second woe-trumpet1 it is alleged1 sounded about #abha1 and continuing for #cia years1--the period of the ravages by the ,euphratean horsemen1 ended about #afgb4 ,the destructive influence1 however1 of these two judgments1 may be considered as reaching to the time of the third woe1 the one which is to demolish the whole antichristian fabric4 ,many eminent expositors1#c in the early part of the present century1 while the first ,napoleon was waging successful war with the other powers of ,europe1 expressed their belief with much confidence1 that the seventh angel had begun to sound4 ,they were evidently mistaken4 ,christendom will not fail to hear the voice of the third woe4 ,it may be so that an individual may not be conscious of having an interest inconsistent with fidelity to the ,scriptures1 while political bias may in fact so influence sentiments1 as to render conviction less dependent upon evidence than upon his wishes4 ,and we doubt not that misapprehensions and misinterpretation of the other scriptures1 are to be attributed to this cause1 insensibly influencing the minds and hearts of learned and godly men1 as well as in their expositions of the ,apocalypse4 ,indeed the misapplying of ,god's word1 precept and prophecy1 to political and ecclesiastical organizations1 has been the principal means of combining and continuing the antichristian apostacy4 ,thus it is precisely1 that the great adversary has been successful1 as an angel of light4 ,the little book has been shown to contain such extensive and important events as to justify the solemnity accompanying its delivery to the apostle4--,he now resumes the subject which had been interrupted at the close of the ninth chapter4--,the great voices in heaven represent the expressions of joy by the saints on hearing the voice of the last of the trumpets1 as assuring them of the happy change in the moral condition of the world1 which they had been warranted to expect by ,god's servants the prophets from the days of old1 7ch4 x4 #g47 ,the great1 the universal change consists in this3--,the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our ,lord and of his ,christ4 ,the ,english supplement1--the kingdoms1 is justified and required1 equally by the sense and the laws of syntax3 and he is a deceiver1 if a scholar1 who insists upon any other1 to supply the ellipsis4 ,indeed1 the omission of similar supplements1 has occasioned needless obscurity to the unlearned in other parts of this book4 7,see chs4 xix4 #aj2 xxii4 #i47 ,the greatest of all revolutions consists in restoring church and state to their scriptural foundation1--transferring both from allegiance to the god of this world1 7,matt4 iv4 #h2 ,luke iv4 #e1 #f27 to their rightful owner1--the ,lord and his ,anointed4 7,ps4 ii4 #b1 #h47 ,when this desirable epoch arrives1 for which the persecuted witnesses have long and fervently prayed1 7ch4 vi4 #aj17 gospel ministers and ,christian magistrates will seek to do the will1 and aim at the glory of ,god4--,it is painful and pitiable to hear learned and pious men often pray1--,that the kingdoms of this world may soon become the kingdom of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ4 ,this is to ask amiss1--to miss the promise2 for no such promise is on record4 ,the groundless conception confounds the revealed distinctions in the ,godhead1--the ,father with the ,mediator2 and it would subvert ,jehovah's moral empire1 annihilating the eternal principle of representative identification6 ,but those good men mean not so1 neither do their hearts think so4 ,they ought1 however1 to be more careful and diligent in searching the ,scriptures4--,if the scriptural significance of this joyful announcement in heaven were better understood by gospel ministers generally1 a chief barrier would be removed1 which now obstructs the advent of the millennium4 ,would they but cease1 their hearers might more readily cease1 to wonder after the beast4 ,but we may not anticipate4 ,he1 7,christ17 shall reign for ever and ever4 ,when the seventh trumpet1 the third woe1 shall have accomplished its object1 in the utter destruction of immoral power1 and the #abfj years shall have come to an end1 no other successful combination shall ever again be permitted to assail and harass the city of the ,lord3--of his government there shall be no end4 7,dan4 vii4 #bg47 ,all dominions shall serve and obey him4 ,the final enterprise of ,gog and ,magog shall not succeed1 7ch1 xx4 #g-i47 #af4 ,and the four and twenty elders1 which sat before ,god1 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 shouldst give reward unto thy servants the prophets1 and to the saints1 and them that fear thy name1 small and great2 and shouldst destroy them which destroy the earth4 ,vs4 #af-ah4--,these verses give us a glimpse of the times following the last woe till the end of the world4 ,the elders1 the representatives1--not of the ministry1 as prelates dream1 but of the collective body of ,god's people1 now that they are emancipated from a longer and more cruel bondage than that of their fathers in the literal ,egypt1 give thanks to ,god for the display of his great power in their deliverance4 ,many times had he made bare his holy arm in past ages on behalf of his people3 but this is in their eyes the most signal display of his power4 ,thou hast taken to thee thy great power4--,he now exercises his power over the nations1 which was his before2 their anger in the time of their rebellion is now repressed1--,messiah's wrath is come1 heavier wrath than that which fell upon ,rome pagan3 7ch4 vi4 #af1 #ag47 ,then follows an intimation of the final judgment1 and suitable rewards4 ,our curiosity is excited here1 but not gratified2 but while left in suspense1 we may1 with ,daniel and the virgin ,mary1--keep these things in our heart4 7,dan4 vii4 #bh2 ,luke ii4 #ai47 ,farther light will be given1 7ch4 xx4 #aa-ac47 #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 ,v4 #ai4--,the inspired books of the ,bible were divided into chapters1 verses and other parts1 for the convenience of reference4 ,but those who performed this useful service were imperfect like ourselves1 and therefore we are at liberty to differ from them in our arrangement4 ,now it seems evident that the #ahth verse closes this chapter with a concise account of the ending of the last woe4 ,but the last woe reaches to the final consummation of all things as we have already seen3 it follows that the nineteenth verse must introduce a new subject4 ,similar mistakes may be seen in numerous instances elsewhere in our ,bibles4 ,but although a new vision is presented in the twelfth chapter1 the two principal parties delineated in the eleventh1 engage the apostle's attention4 ,and as preparatory to future scenes1 the temple of ,god was opened in heaven4 ,out of ,zion1 the perfection of beauty1 ,god hath shined4 ,before the following scene of warfare1 ,john is favored with a view of the ark of the testament1--a symbol of the covenant of grace1 which shall continue to be administered in the worst of times2 and the opposition to which1 in its external dispensation1 is emblematically set forth by lightnings1--as well as the tokens of ,jehovah's presence and avenging judgments3 for these awful symbols1 taken from fearful convulsions in nature1 are usually indicative of the tremendous judgments of ,god4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 #a4 ,and there appeared a great wonder in heaven3 a woman clothed with the sun1 and the moon under her feet1 and upon her head a crown of twelve stars2 #b4 ,and she1 being with child1 cried1 travailing in birth1 and pained to be delivered4 ,vs4 #a1 #b4--,the ,apocalypse1 besides the three parts into which it is divided by its divine ,author1 7noticed in ch4 i4 #ai17 is also susceptible of division into two parts4 ,with the eleventh chapter terminates the abridged prospective history of the church and of the world1 emblematically represented under the seals and trumpets4 ,the seventh seal1 when opened1 disclosed all the contents of the sealed book1 and also introduced the seven trumpets4 ,but we have followed the series of the trumpets in order1 to the end of the world1--interrupted only by the isolated history of the little book2 which1 treating of events which were matter of history under the first two woe-trumpets1 could not be sealed4 ,now at the twelfth chapter1 without regard to the seventh1 or any other of the trumpets in particular1 we are furnished with a second and enlarged edition1 as it were1 of the most important parts of the first edition4 ,we have observed before1 that this is the manner of the prophets on a large scale1 especially in predicting the sufferings of ,christ1 and the glory that should follow4 ,so it is with ,john and ,paul4 ,what the latter only hints at1 when writing to ,timothy1 7#a ,tim4 iv4 #a-c17 he enlarges upon in addressing the ,thessalonians4 7#b ,thess4 ii4 #c-ab47 ,the theme is the same as treated by these two apostles2 and this coincidence will in due time be more manifest4 ,next to ,christ personal1 the prophets have been interested in the destiny of ,christ mystical4 ,three different views of this twelfth chapter have been taken by the more sober and learned expositors4 ,one considers it as referring to the ,roman empire in its heathen state1 prior to the time of ,constantine4 ,another understands the first part of this chapter1--7vs4 #a-f17--;as relating to ,rome pagan1 and the rest of the chapter to antichristian ,rome4 ,a third conceives that the whole of it applies to apostate imperial ,rome only4 ,the last is doubtless the correct view4 ,as the sealed book and the little open book1 must be supposed to contain all the prophetical part of the ,apocalypse2 and as the whole of the little book is comprised in the eleventh chapter1 7vs4 #a--ac17 this twelfth chapter must belong to the sealed book4 ,being a continuance of the history under the seventh seal1 although it may agree in time with some of the trumpets1 it cannot go back to a period prior to the seventh seal4 ,but under the sixth seal1 paganism was abolished in the ,roman empire2 therefore this chapter refers to the antichristian empire4 ,moreover1 as the little book was introductory to the seventh trumpet1 designating the object of the third woe1 so this chapter and the next two1 are wholly occupied in describing the object of the vials1 7ch4 #af47 ,we ought to bear in mind continually1 that the seals1 trumpets and vials1 are introduced as symbols1 to delineate one character1 the impenitent enemy of ,god and of his saints4 ,but this enemy beguiles through his subtlety1 changing his aspects and instruments1 the more successfully to assail the city of the ,lord4 ,it is therefore the design of the ,holy ,spirit in these three chapters to present the foe in his most prominent features1 that the two witnesses may be able to identify the enemy1 be apprized of their danger1 and intelligently choose their commander1--the ,captain of salvation4 ,there appeared a great wonder in heaven4 ,the word wonder in this verse1 and also in verse third1 simply means a sign or symbol2 and the whole structure of the book requires that it be so translated4--,woman is here the true church of ,god4 ,here most expositors fail to explain the symbol heaven4 ,others say heaven symbolizes the church4 ,then we have two churches1--a church within a church6 ,this is unquestionably the only correct view of the matter4 ,during most1 if not the whole period of the #abfj years1 the witnesses are so blended with1 or overshadowed by the church catholic or general1 that few are able1 and fewer still disposed1 to distinguish the one from the other4 ,all through the ,bible the church is spoken of as a female4 ,she is the daughter of ,zion1--the bride1 the ,lamb's wife4 ,any body politic is spoken of in the sacred writings in the same style4 ,the daughter of ,babylon1 of ,tyre1 or even of ,egypt1--,these are familiar figures4 ,this woman is clothed with the sun4 ,she has put on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 7,rom4 xiii4 #ad47 ,he is the ,lord her righteousness4 7,jer4 xxiii4 #f47 ,the moon under her feet1 may represent the beggarly elements of the ,mosaic ritual1 sublunary things1 or the ordinances which derive all their light from the ,sun of righteousness4 ,the twelve stars are the doctrine of the apostles1 or rather the apostles' legitimate successors2 their legitimacy tested by their doctrine and order in opposition to the imaginary historical line of papistical and prelatic succession4 ,a faithful gospel ministry are ever her stars and her crown1 7ch4 i4 #bj47 ,the true apostolic church1 thus scripturally constituted1 7ch4 xi4 #a17 becomes the joyful mother of a holy seed4 7,ps4 cxiii4 #i2 ,gal4 iv4 #bf1 #bg47 #c4 ,and there appeared another wonder in heaven1 and1 behold1 a great red dragon1 having seven heads1 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 ,vs4 #c-f4--,the next sign in heaven1 exciting the apostle's admiration1 was a great red dragon1 having seven heads and ten horns1--,the dragon is fully described1 v4 #i1 leaving no place1 or even pretence for conjecture4 ,he is known from the day that he beguiled ,eve in the garden of ,eden4 ,that old serpent still intrudes among the saints1 in the garden of the ,lord4 7,job i4 #f2 ,john vi4 #gj2 xiii4 #bg47 ,as the devil possessed the serpent to deceive the mother of mankind1 so1 with the same malevolent design1 he possessed himself of the whole political and ecclesiastical power of the ,roman empire1 thereby to deceive and destroy the seed of the woman1 all true believers4 ,his color is red1 denoting his character as cruel and blood-thirsty4 ,sir ,isaac ,newton considers the dragon as symbolical of the ,greek ,christian empire of ,constantinople4 ,scott thinks this symbol represents the pagan ,roman empire2 while others suppose the ,british government to answer the symbol1 because of the scarlet costume of her officers and soldiers6 ,thus1 inspired symbols may mean any thing suggested to the imaginations of men1 not by the text or context1 but by their respective and conflicting political prejudices4 ,surely1 if the red color signify any thing besides cruelty1 it may be discerned with equal clearness in the scarlet cloaks of ,pope and ,cardinals4 ,as heaven is to be taken in an ecclesiastical sense1 so are the stars1 7ch4 i4 #bj1--7 the angels of the churches1 ministers of the gospel4--,as the ,saracenic locusts and the ,euphratean horses had stings and hurtful power in their tails1 7ch4 ix4 #aj1 #ai27 so it is with this dragon4 ,the destructive influence of ,mahometan delusion and papal idolatry1 operated as a fatal poison in the souls of men4 ,the judgments of the past woes left many still in a state of impenitence1 7ch4 ix4 #bj1 #ba47 ,the leaders of this people caused them to err1 by inculcating submission to existing corrupt civil power4 ,the little horn of ,daniel1 as first rendered visible in the person of the brutal ,phocas1 began to be addressed in language of most fulsome and degrading flattery1 which seems to be copied till the present time4 ,that we may see how mercenary and aspiring ecclesiastics paid court to civil despots from the commencement of the famous #abfj years1 let the following instance serve for a sample4 ,addressing the monster ,phocas1 ,pope ,gregory1 as the mouth of the clergy and laity1#d uses this language3 ,we rejoice that the benignity of your piety767 has reached the pinnacle of imperial power4 ,let the heavens he glad and the earth rejoice4--,now let us hear the character of ,phocas from the pen of an infidel3--,ignorant of letters1 of laws1 and even of arms1 he indulged in the supreme rank a more ample privilege of lust and drunkenness4--,the punishment of the victims of his tyranny was imbittered by the refinements of cruelty3 their eyes were pierced1 their tongues were torn from the root1 their hands and feet were amputated3 some expired under the lash1 others in the flames1 others again were transfixed with arrows3 and a simple speedy death was mercy which they could rarely obtain4#e ,thus the dragon's power was in his mouth1 issuing bloody edicts to slay the innocent2 while his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven1 and did cast them to the earth4 ,they prostituted their ministry to sustain the policy of the beast4 ,the ancient and honorable1 he is the head2 and the prophet that teacheth lies1 he is the tail4 7,is4 ix4 #ae47 ,thus it is that pastors1 fond of show and ambitious of worldly distinction1 attach themselves to the train of earthly thrones and dignities1 and so constitute and perpetuate the antichristian confederacy against the woman--the true church4 ,during the first six hundred years of the ,christian era the woman had been travailing to bring forth a holy progeny4 ,all this time the dragon's eyes are privily set against the poor4 7,ps4 x4 #h47 ,the allusion is here to the cruel edict of ,pharaoh 7,exod4 i4 #af2 ,acts vii4 #ai47 ,the great city where the witnesses are slain is spiritually called ,egypt4 7ch4 xi4 #h47 ,by a like form of speech1 ,pharaoh is called the great dragon1 7,ezek4 xxix4 #c2 ,is4 li4 #i47 ,it should be noted1 that the ,roman empire1 the beast1 in all its heads and horns is actuated by the devil1--before as well as after its dismemberment1 from the time of ,romulus its founder1 till its overthrow by the third woe4 ,at the time referred to in the text1 when the empire has assumed the livery of heaven1--professedly in the interest of ,christ1 then it is that the devil bestirs himself4 ,like his prototype1 he dreads the growth and power of the woman's offspring4 ,under pagan ,rome's persecutions1 the more ,god's people were afflicted1 the more they multiplied and grew4 ,now the adversary shapes his policy accordingly4--,come on1 let us deal wisely with them1 lest they multiply4--,his avowed object is1 to devour the child as soon as it is born1--by persecution to prevent ministers from laboring to convert sinners to ,god2 and to destroy all who as new-born babes1 desire the sincere milk of the word4--,the woman had still strength to bring forth4--,she brought forth a man child1 who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron4--,with united voice papists and prelates declare1 this child can be no other than ,constantine the first ,christian emperor4 ,the very fact that this interpretation comes from such a source1 may well suggest suspicion as to its correctness4 ,two considerations demonstrate the error of this prelatic interpretation1 besides the fact that it is prelatic4 ,constantine had gone the way of all the earth some hundreds of years before the birth of this child4 ,and again1 the eternal ,father never made the promise to ,constantine or any other earthly monarch1 to which the apostle ,john here refers4 7,ps4 ii4 #h1 #i47 ,this promise is obviously made to the ,lord ,christ4 ,but it is objected by those learned expositors1--much like the ,pharisees1 7,john vii4 #eb17--,search and look1 for out of ,galilee ariseth no prophet4 ,so reason these men4 ,they haughtily and confidently object thus3--,christ is the son of the ,jewish church1 but this child is the son of the ,christian church4 ,this argument destroys the unity of the church of ,god1 which is one under all changes of dispensation of his gracious covenant4 7,rom4 xi4 #af-bd2 ,eph4 ii4 #bj47 ,the ,messiah is here represented as in the beginning of the war with the same enemy2--the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head4 ,still may the church of ,god joyfully declare1--,unto us a ,child is born1 unto us a ,son is given4 7,is4 ix4 #f47 ,this masculine son1 however1 is not to be understood of ,christ personal1 but of ,christ mystical1--of those who are with him called1 and chosen1 and faithful2 whom he is not ashamed to call his brethren4 7ch4 xvii4 #ad2 ,heb4 ii4 #aa47 ,the sealed company1 7ch4 vii4 #d17 the two witnesses2 7xi4 #c71 the #add thousand1 7xiv4 #a17 are the manchild4 ,as many rulers constitute but one angel1 7chs4 ii4 and iii417 so the two witnesses are one manly ,son4 ,the ,lord ,jesus was alone in the work of redemption2 but he allows his faithful disciples to share in the honor of his victories1 7ch4 ii4 #bf1 #bg2 ,ps4 cxlix4 #i47 ,from the devouring jaws of the dragon1 as it were1 the child is caught up unto ,god1 and to his throne4 ,the leaders in church and state supposed that they had made sure of the ,saviour1 when they had sealed the stone and set a watch4 ,so thought the enemies of the witnesses while their dead bodies lay unburied4--,he that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh3 the ,lord shall have them in derision4 ,the ,anointed of the ,father1 the ,head of the church1 and ,prince of the kings of the earth1 as the representative of his people1 in defiance of the serpent1 is caught up to the throne of ,god1 7,eph4 ii4 #f27 while the church flies to her appointed place in the wilderness during the #abfj years4 ,at the beginning of that gloomy period the woman fled4 ,this flight is not mentioned by anticipation1 as some suppose2 for the wilderness condition of the woman1 and the sackcloth of the witnesses1 are emblematical of the same depressed state of the church1 and during the same time4 ,the witnesses prophesy during the whole period of the #abfj years2 and the woman is fed in the wilderness during the same time4 ,her flight1 sojourn in the wilderness1 and feeding there1 are allusions to the history of ,elijah as before1 7ch4 xi4 #f47 when he fled for his life from the wrath of ,jezebel4 7#a ,kings xix4 #a-d47 ,jezebel has been already introduced as an enemy to the church1 7ch4 ii4 #bj47 ,there may be allusion also to the miraculous subsistence of the church in the wilderness1 till the cup of the ,amorites should be full4 ,during the time of the conflict1 to be described in the rest of this chapter1 the woman is in a place of safety4 ,in the worst of times there are places of safety provided for ,god's children4 7,isa4 xxvi4 #bj47 #g4 ,and there was war in heaven3 ,michael and his angels fought against the dragon2 and the dragon fought1 and his angels4 #h4 ,and prevailed not2 neither was their place found any more in heaven1 #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 ,christ2 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 ,vs4 #g-aa4--;,in this part of the chapter we have three attacks of the dragon upon the friends of true religion4 ,the first is the war in heaven1 7vs4 #g-ab47 ,the second persecution on the earth1 7vs4 #ab-af47 ,the third is mentioned in verse #agth3 and these three contests cover the whole period of the #abfj years4 ,the first war is waged in heaven4 ,the allusion is obviously to the rebellion of angels1 for which they were cast down from heaven1 7#b ,pet4 ii4 #d47 ,the contest is the same in principle as the first war2 but it is conducted in a different form and place4 ,heaven here1 is the church general1 and the serpent acts by the authority of the empire4 ,the woman having fled into the wilderness1 the dragon's power becomes so great in the symbolical heaven1 that he aims at the entire destruction of true religion in the world4 ,the advocates of the true religion at this time were the ,waldenses1 called by their adversaries in derision ,leonists and ,cathari1--citizens of ,lyons in ,france2 and ,puritans1 a term of reproach heaped upon their successors till the present day4 ,these people were deemed the most dangerous enemies to the church of ,rome4 ,yet the reasons for their condemnation by the inquisitors1 are their full vindication in the judgment of impartial men4 ,they are three1--,this is the oldest sect2 for some say it hath endured1--from the time of the apostles4 ,it is more general2 for there is no country in which this sect is not4 ,because when all other sects beget horror in the hearers1 this of the ,leonists hath a great show of piety3 they live justly before men1 and believe all things rightly concerning ,god2 only they blaspheme the church of ,rome and the clergy4 ,while the beast by its horns1 instigated by an apostate church1 and both by the dragon1 was making havoc of the church1 represented by the ,puritans3 there were some even in the ,romish cloisters whose hearts ,god had touched1 and who occasionally espoused the cause of a virtuous minority at the hazard of life4 ,this war in heaven1 conducted with various success by ,bernard1 ,peter ,waldo1 ,john ,wickliffe and others on the ,european continent and in ,britain1 may be pronounced by ,gibbon premature and ineffectual2 but the ,captain of salvation and his heroic followers1 will give a different verdict4 ,these noble confessors and martyrs1 under the conduct of ,michael our prince1 began the struggle with the dragon1 although the war did not come to its height till the early part of the #afth century4 ,then it was that ,michael and his angels fought against the dragon1 and the dragon fought and his angels4 ,both parties became more visible in the symbolic heaven before the eyes of all ,christendom4 ,michael1 7who is like ,god87 is the well known description of ,jesus ,christ4 7,phil4 ii4 #f2 ,heb4 i4 #c47 ,to ,daniel1 while contemplating this same contest1 he was made known as the great ,prince1 that standeth for the children of ,god's people1 and long before ,daniel's time1 had contended with the devil4 7,jude v4 #i47 ,christ and ,belial are therefore the two opposing leaders of the armies4 ,in other words1 ,christ mystical and the devil incarnate are the belligerents2 and we know that greater is he that is in the saints1 than he that is in the world4 7#a ,john iv4 #d47 ,the result of the war is not doubtful4 ,the whole power of ,rome1 civil and ecclesiastical1--emperors1 kings1 princes1 pope1 cardinals and prelates1 were baffled2 and this too1 whether in the use of the sword of the ,spirit1--polemic theses1--or of the material sword1 in literal warfare4 ,when the ,lord ,jesus mustered the hosts to the battle1 he furnished them with the whole armour of ,god to stand in the evil way4 ,when ,zuingle1 ,luther1 ,calvin1 ,knox1 their compeers and successors1 were obliged to wrestle with the hosts of ,antichrist1--against principalities1 against powers1 against the rulers of the darkness of this world1 against spiritual wickedness in high places1 7wicked spirits in heavenly places17 they found it both lawful and necessary1--having no sword1 to buy one4 7,luke xxii4 #cf47 ,the dragon and his angels were defeated and routed1--,they prevailed not1--he was cast out into the earth1 and his angels were cast out with him4 ,the thunders of the ,vatican thenceforth lost their wonted power to terrify4 ,ever since1 they are but brutum fulmen1--vox1 et praeterea nihel1--harmless thunder1--unmeaning voice4 ,papal curses1 though annually launched against all heretics1 tend only to amuse the popular mind1 not to reach or disturb the individual conscience4 ,for centuries the dragon has been unable to rouse any one horn of the beast to deeds of blood4 ,it is usual for the victors to give outward expression to their joy4 ,the voice of them that shout for mastery1 has been heard since the days of ,moses4 7,exod4 xxxii4 #ah47 ,accordingly1 these conquerors congratulate one another on their recent victory1 but their joy terminates on the proper object4 ,the kingdom of their ,god and the power of his ,christ constitute their theme4 ,his right hand and his holy arm have gotten him the victory4 ,the devil accused ,job before ,god4 ,his accusations in that instance were prosecuted through ,job's friends and his wife4 7,job ii4 #d1 #e1 #i1 #aa47--,so it was in the experience of the reformers4 ,they were loaded with infamy by their persecutors2 and while they were depressed1 ,god himself seemed to give sentence against them4 ,this was the wormwood and the gall in the cup of their affliction1 as it was in holy ,job's experience3 but in due time ,god brought forth their righteousness as the light1 and their judgment as the noonday4 ,their good conversation put to silence the ignorance of foolish men4 ,the power of the ,lord's ,christ was made manifest through the instrumentality of his servants1 by producing conviction in many hearts that the cause for which they suffered was from ,god1 and thus prevailing with such to join in their fellowship4 ,the hearts of kings and princes of the earth were touched from on high2 so that they braved the combinations of imperial and papal power1 while extending the shield of their protection to the followers of the ,lamb4 ,frederick the ,wise1 and especially ,john his brother1 electors of ,saxony in ,luther's time1 were notable bulwarks of defence to the sufferers1 against the bloody edicts of ,charles fifth1 emperor of ,germany4 ,the good regent in ,scotland and others extended effectual protection to ,knox1 his coadjutors and followers in the cause of reformation4 ,when the seven thunders uttered their voices1 ,john was about to write1 7ch4 x4 #d47 ,he was about to proclaim a final victory6 ,he was too sanguine4 ,the time was not yet4 ,just so in the case of his legitimate successors in the work of the ,lord4 ,confident in the power and faithfulness of ,michael their ,prince1 confident in the righteousness of their cause1 fondly hoping that at this time their ,master is about to restore again the kingdom to ,israel1 they prematurely exclaim1--,now is come salvation4--,in reaping the first fruits of victory1 they anticipate the harvest of final and absolute conquest1 7ch4 xiv4 #h47 ,indeed1 the salvation of ,god and the power of his ,christ1 were experienced by great multitudes during the time of this contest4 ,the saints experienced times of refreshing from the presence of the ,lord4 ,then followed a work of grace1 both on the continent of ,europe and in the ,british ,isles2 ,christians entering into solemn covenant bonds with ,god and with one another1 whereby the kingdom of ,god was rendered more visible among mankind than in the dark ages4 ,the weapons1 with which the saints overcame the dragon1 were not carnal1 but mighty4 ,these1 we are told1 were the blood of the ,lamb1 and the word of their testimony4 ,they believed and they taught in opposition to the popular doctrine of good works and penances1 that the righteousness which the law of ,god requires of a sinner1 is provided by a ,surety2 that the blood of ,christ alone cleanses believers from the guilt of sin1 and thus justifies them in the sight of ,god4 ,no man ever used stronger language than ,luther in denouncing the supposed efficacy of works1 or in asserting the sovereignty of free grace1 in the justification of a sinner4 ,indeed it was the deep impression which the doctrine of justification made upon the hearts of men1 and the firm hold which faith took of it1 that enabled and constrained them to forsake the ,romish church and to seek and erect a separate fellowship4 ,this was with them the word of ,christ's patience4 ,other doctrines of grace were1 of course1 connected with this of justification in the apprehension of the ,reformers1 but it was the central one4 ,and thus we may learn1 that any doctrine of the ,bible1 when generally opposed1 may lawfully become a point of testimony2 and when openly opposed and practically denied1 it may become a warrantable and imperative ground of separation4 ,in all such cases1--and history supplies multitudes of them1--the declining majority are truly the schismatics and separatists4 ,the malicious1 the indolent and credulous1 however1 in all ages have joined in the cry of schism as attaching to the virtuous minority4 ,many of the combatants fell in the conflict1 resisting unto blood1 striving against sin4 ,they loved not their lives unto the death4 ,they could give no stronger evidence of love to ,christ and truth4 ,their faithful contendings constituted their testimony4 ,this testimony is called in the #agth verse1 the testimony of ,jesus ,christ4 ,does this mean that it belongs to ,christ8 or that it treats of him8 ,the language may probably be taken in either sense1 or as embracing both4 ,it is ,christ's testimony1 as he is the faithful and true ,witness1 who before ,pontius ,pilate witnessed a good confession2 or it may be understood as bearing upon ,christ in his person1 offices and work4 ,in either sense his faithful disciples enjoy intimate communion with himself1 sharing the honour of his victories1 7v4 #e47 ,therefore let the heavens rejoice in prospect of final victory1 7ch4 xviii4 #bj47 #ab4 ,therefore rejoice1 ye heavens1 and ye that dwell in them4 ,woe to the inhabiters of the earth1 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 into the earth1 he persecuted the woman1 which brought forth the manchild4 ,vs4 #ab1 #ac4--;,here is a note of warning4 ,the dragon1 though ejected from the symbolic heaven1 the seat of imperial and ecclesiastic power1 is not yet bound with the great chain1 7ch4 xx4 #a1 #b47 ,his late defeat has only incensed his rage1 as a bear robbed of her whelps4 ,but the special reason assigned for his great wrath is1 because he knoweth that he hath but a short time4 ,how does the devil come to this knowledge8 ,is he omniscient6 ,no4 ,was he joint-counsellor with the ,most ,high8 ,no4 7,isa4 xl4 #ac1 #ad2 ,rom4 xi4 #cd47 ,he must have derived this knowledge from revelation2 and from some instances in ,scripture1 we might infer that the devil is more skilled in theology1 especially in prophecy1 than many1 if not most modern interpreters4 ,in the time of our ,lord's humiliation he quoted and applied to him a prophecy in the #iast psalm1 7v4 #aa1 #ab47 ,he also dreaded being tormented1--before the time4 7,matt4 viii4 #bi37 from which it appears that he reasons of the times and the seasons as revealed in the ,bible4 ,but by the phrase1 a short time1 the devil understood1--and we are to understand1--not the time to transpire till the end of the world2 but1 the time intervening between his ejectment out of heaven1 and the overthrow of ,antichrist1 when he is to be bound4 ,now1 we may learn from the devil's calculation1 that all those learned and famous divines1 especially of the prelatic church of ,england1 do greatly err1 not knowing the ,scriptures2 who say1 that the dragon was cast out of the symbolic heaven in the time of ,constantine6 ,the space of duration from ,constantine till the millennium1 cannot be relatively short1 under the ,new ,testament dispensation4 ,the time of the dragon's being cast out of heaven1 and the instruments by which this was accomplished1 are to be found clearly verified in the authentic histories of the sixteenth century1 to which some references have been already made1 as elucidating the events of the #aath chapter3 for it is to be still remembered that the former part of the #aath chapter agrees in time with the #abth1 #acth and #adth chapters4 ,at the end of the second woe1 which we supposed to be in the latter part of the seventeenth century1 about the year #afgb1 it is declared the third woe cometh quickly1 7ch4 xi4 #ad47 ,now here it is said the devil1--hath but a short time4 ,taking both expressions as relating to the same period1 it follows that we are now living1--not in the time of the third woe1 but in the time of the devil's activity among the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea2 that is1 the population of ,christendom either in a tranquil or revolutionary state4 ,the enemy makes his second attack upon the woman in a new and unexpected mode of warfare4 ,so long as permitted1 he never ceases to persecute the saints4 ,when defeated in heaven1 he renews the assault upon the earth4 ,if the edicts and bulls of crowned and mitred heads have lost their power to terrify and destroy the souls of men1 he will try to effect the same object by other means4 #ad4 ,and to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle1 that she might fly into the wilderness1 into her place2 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 mouth1 water as a flood1 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 cast out of his mouth4 ,vs4 #ad-af4--,to guard against the second attack of the dragon1 the woman flees a second time to the place of safety1 which had been mercifully prepared for her preservation before the war began1 7v4 #f47 ,and she is in no less peril from her deadly enemy than before4 ,the two wings of a great eagle have furnished occasion to many fertile minds for indulging in fanciful conjectures4 ,to such persons nothing occurs answerable to the symbol but some emblem of imperial power or national sovereignty4 ,and because the eagle was the visible symbol on the military banner of ,rome1 it is conjectured that the eastern and western empires afforded protection to the church6 ,why1 the empire1 in both its wings1 was the deadly enemy of the church1 as we have already seen6 7ch4 xi4 #g47 ,alas6 what absurdities result from political bias6 ,the unlettered ,christian will readily perceive under the emblem in the text1 a plain allusion to the gracious interposition of the church's ,redeemer in the days of old4 ,ye have seen what ,i did unto the ,egyptians1 and how ,i bare you on eagles' wings1 and brought you unto myself4 7,exod4 xix4 #d47 ,thus the ,lord delivered his people and brought them into a literal wilderness on their way to the promised land of liberty4 ,and now in a time of equal danger1 he will set his hand again the second time to deliver his people4 ,he who delivered them from so great a death as ,pharaoh threatened1 doth still deliver3 in whom his saints have ground to trust that he will still deliver them1 7#b ,cor4 i4 #aj7 ,the great and beneficial change accomplished among the nations by the reformation in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries1 whereby the dragon was hurled from seats of ecclesiastical and civil power1 did not materially change the position of the two witnesses4 ,the time had not yet come when they were to be called up into the symbolic heaven4 ,they must continue to prophesy till the close of the appointed period of #abfj years4 ,till the expiration of that definite period the true church of ,christ is not to be permanently established in any nation of the earth4 ,the actual condition of the church and of the nations among whom she dwells1 is delineated in these verses during the time subsequent to the ,protestant ,reformation1--consequently in our own time4 ,the time1 times and half a time of the #adth verse1 are an obvious reference to ,daniel vii4 #be3 xii4 #g2 and are the same period as #db months1 or #abfj days1 a day for a year4 ,during this whole time the woman is nourished in the wilderness from the face of the serpent4 ,safety is secured for her only in her place4 ,water1 as a symbol or metaphor1 is of frequent occurrence and varied import in ,scripture4 ,among its diversified significations1 perhaps that of a destructive element is most common4 7,ps4 xviii4 #d2 xxxii4 #f47 ,it is indeed often used to denote gospel blessings1 7as ,is4 lv4 #a2 ,john vii4 #ch2 ,rev4 xxii4 #ag47 ,as here used1 the water as a flood1 represents something intended by the dragon for the destruction of the woman4 ,if he cannot destroy her by fire1 he aims to overwhelm her with water4 ,this water comes out of the dragon's mouth4 ,so of the unclean spirits1 7ch4 xvi4 #ac47 ,soul-destroying errors1--heresies1--are undoubtedly intended4 ,if he cannot devour as a roaring lion1 he will endeavour to deceive and seduce as a cunning serpent4 ,we are therefore instructed hereby to look for damnable heresies to prevail1 accompanied and followed by popular commotions and licentiousness4 ,the age in which we live is remarkably characterized by false systems and impious theories4 ,speculative atheism caused the ,french revolution1 and led to the erection of the ,united ,states government2 which1 having openly declared independence of ,england1 soon after virtually declared independence of ,god4 ,france1 ,germany1 ,england and the ,united ,states1 have all been pervaded with infidel and atheistical sentiments2 and these1 whether propagated under the name of solid science or polite literature1 have corrupted the public mind for generations4 ,in the name of science1 treating of the material or moral world1 the agents of the dragon have been exceedingly successful4 ,metaphysicians and geologists have constructed systems which would exclude the ,almighty from the heavens and the earth4 ,but however active and zealous these laborers in the service of the dragon1 they do not reach the popular ear but in part4 ,those sons of ,belial who devise false systems of religion under the name of ,christianity1 have been still more pernicious to the nations1 and dangerous to the church4 ,if the church of ,rome cannot prevail with kings as before1 to execute her cruel sentences of death upon heretics1 she is not less active in disseminating her idolatrous and superstitious dogmas among the nations4 ,by freemasonry1 odd-fellowship1 temperance associations1 and a countless number of affiliated societies1--the offshoots of popery and infidelity1 the dragon still assails the woman4 ,reason1 toleration1 humanity1 charity and liberality are terms which have been selected and abused by the servants of the devil to deceive the hearts of the simple4 ,these are alike the watchwords of the spiritual seducer and the political agitator4 ,what dogma or heresy so absurd1--what conduct so immoral1 as not to find patronage in the journals of the day8 or not to find tolerance or protection under the fostering wings of church or state8 ,what is impiously called free love1 as well as avowed infidelity and polygamy1 are patronized by constituted authorities in ,christendom4 ,when taking a survey of the errors and systems of error1 hostile to the honor of ,messiah and the free grace of his gospel1 how few can be found in the different nations of the earth1 who overcame by the blood of the ,lamb6 ,the religions established by the nations of the world are all more or less tainted with the errors1 and disfigured by the ceremonies of the church of ,rome4 ,surely we have before our eyes a constant fulfilment of the prophecy under consideration4 ,to all outward appearance the woman is in the wilderness4 ,she is in fact so obscure that some of her sons begin to question her visibility4 ,they are ready to cry in despondency1--,the witnesses are slain4--,they are mistaken4 ,this is their infirmity4 ,the #abfj years are not yet expired1 nor the testimony finished4 ,when the enemy shall come in like a flood1 the ,spirit of the ,lord shall lift up a standard against him4 7,isa4 lix4 #ai47 ,the mystic woman is yet in the wilderness1 and there she is nourished with the hidden manna a time1 times and half a time1 forty and two months1 or twelve hundred and sixty days1--that is1 years2 for1 as formerly noticed1 all these expressions mean the same period of time2 the period during which the witnesses prophesy1 on the one side1 and the gentiles tread the outer court1 on the other4 ,the profanation of the holy city1--the church nominal1 and the testimony of the witnesses against that conduct1 is the same contest which in this chapter is represented under other symbols4 ,the waters of the symbolic flood have spread over all the nations of ,christendom1 corrupting the very fountains of natural and moral science1 literature1 politics and religion2 so that hardly any principle is accepted by the human mind as settled1 but all is thrown into debate4 ,man's intellect1 craving substantial nourishment1 and thirsting for refreshment which nothing but the water of life can supply1 vibrates between ritualism and skepticism in our day4 ,the flood from the dragon's mouth1 consisting of truth and error1 a combination of ,christianity1 refined idolatry and speculative atheism1 fails to satisfy the necessary cravings of the immortal soul4 ,there be many that say1 ,who will show us any good8 7,ps4 iv4 #f47 ,in this state of the popular mind1 there is a general sentiment which discountenances penalties inflicted for mere opinion4 ,the cry of toleration1--freedom of speech and of the press1 resounds in the public ear among most communities since the dragon was cast down from the mystic heaven4 ,this popular sentiment is not an expression of the law of charity1 actuating hearts influenced by divine grace2 but rather originates from indifference alike to the claims of ,messiah and the destinies of mankind4 ,thus the earth helps the woman4 ,indeed1 the nations of ,christendom1 contrary to their former policy1 are now much more tolerant of ecclesiastical than of political heresies4 ,with few exceptions1 the policy of the nations at the present time is to discriminate1 not among churches1 but among religions4 ,the popular voice is obviously in favor of dissevering that alliance between church and state1 from which mankind have suffered in past generations4 ,while every earthly potentate1 usurping the place and prerogatives of the ,mediator1 assumed to dictate the faith and worship of his subjects1 all dissenters and recusants must necessarily be subjected to penalties4 ,such was the policy of the dragon for centuries1 while in the heavens of ecclesiastical and civil power4 ,the nominal church established by the state1 defined heresy2 and the heresy found by the church became rebellion against the civil authority4 ,of course the saints were then executed as traitors4 ,even a superficial view of the signs of the times will result in the conviction1 that a great change has taken place in the policy of nations and churches4 ,the dragon has now prevailed with most politicians and statesmen1 as well as with most professing ,christians1 to demand a total separation of church and state2 by which demand they do not mean a divorce of the unscriptural and antichristian alliance only or chiefly1 but a simple and absolute rejection of religion1 and especially the ,christian religion1 from any connexion with or influence upon civil affairs4 ,this is undeniably the avowed aim and declared desire of the great body of the population of ,christendom at the present time1 7#ahgj47 ,and what is this but an open denial of the authority of the ,mediator as he is the ,prince of the kings of the earth8 ,thus has the dragon1 since his ejection from heaven become a terrible woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea6 ,and thus has the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the flood2 so that the woman remains comparatively safe from the face of the serpent in the very obscurity of her position4 ,some of her sons1 from time to time1 venturing abroad from their secluded place in the wilderness1 becoming weary of sackcloth and aspiring to worldly distinction1 have been borne along by the waters of the flood1 and drowned in the general deluge4 ,against the force of this strong current of popular errors1 nothing will avail the seed of the woman but the living water which ,jesus imparted to the woman of ,samaria4 ,to him who partakes of this water1 those of the dragon will be distasteful2 for it shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life4 7,john iv4 #ad47 ,since the middle of the seventeenth century1 when by the reformation in ,europe and the ,british ,isles1 the dragon was cast down from the symbolic heaven1 he has been assailing in great wrath all ranks and degrees of men1 not1 as before1 with fire and sword1 with scaffolds1 gibbets1 thumb-screws1--torturing and destroying their mortal bodies1 that he might reach their immortal souls3 but by bringing them together in voluntary associations on principles of the covenant of works1 subversive of the covenant of grace1 and consequently aiming at the drowning of the mystic woman4 ,this the enemy of all righteousness has been attempting1 and with too much success1 by public and professed ecclesiastical and ,christian associations2 such as ,jesuits1 ,socinians and other self-styled ,unitarians1 ,latter-day ,saints1 ,mormons1--or by combinations in secret and sworn confederacies2 such as ,odd ,fellows1 ,freemasons1 ,sons and ,daughters of ,temperance1 with other affiliated fellowships innumerable4 ,the special subtlety of the serpent consists in blending these two kinds of communions1 so that under the name of reform1 moral and spiritual1 those who fear ,god may be unconsciously drawn into the snare4 ,and alas6 how many simple ones have been thus carried away by the waters of the flood6 ,and many strong men have been thus cast down from their excellency4 ,we are not to be surprised if we find the witnesses few in our time1--the seed of the woman diminished when the dragon makes his final attack4 #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 ,v4 #ag4--;,in this verse we have the last effort of the enemy1 to destroy the woman's offspring4 ,it is the third attempt1 and1 as we suppose1 is yet future4 ,we cannot therefore1 of course1 be so exact or certain as to the nature of this contest4 ,some things1 however1 are plain enough4 ,the dragon1 disappointed in his efforts hitherto against the woman1 so far from ceasing the warfare1 is only thereby the more exasperated4 ,the dragon was wroth with the woman4 ,malice overcomes reason4 ,he knows that he cannot finally prevail1--that no weapon formed against her shall prosper2 yet he continues to vent his rage4 ,the mode of attack is to be different from what it was in the second struggle4 ,he is said to make war1--to resort to open violence1 to employ the agency of the civil power1 the beast of the bottomless pit1 7ch4 xi4 #g27 for this third and last war1 waged by the dragon agrees in time with the slaying of the witnesses4 ,this third onset agrees also with the third woe-trumpet1 the vintage and the last vial2 and immediately precedes the introduction of the millennium4 ,the remnant of the woman's seed are so called with reference to those of her offspring who had suffered death under pagan and papal ,rome1 7ch4 vi4 #i47 ,perhaps also we may suppose the number to be comparatively few at the time of the last war with the dragon2 as during the whole period of the #abfj years1 it was the aim of the dragon1 through his instruments1 to wear out the saints of the ,most ,high4 7,dan4 vii4 #be47 ,the character which the ,holy ,spirit gives of these sufferers proves them to be the woman's seed4 ,they keep the commandments of ,god1 and have the testimony of ,jesus ,christ4 ,this is the special ground of the devil's hostility towards them4 ,a more comprehensive and definite description of true believers is not to be found in the whole ,bible4 ,in matters of religion they adhere strictly to the commandments of ,god4 ,they will not introduce1 nor permit to be introduced1 any corruptions into the doctrines of grace or into the matter of ,god's worship4 ,the temple1 altar and worshippers must stand the measurement of ,god's word in their fellowship4 ,no human traditions or innovations are to be tolerated4 ,but besides their conscientious care to have all the laws of the house of ,god duly observed1 these remaining witnesses sustain and propagate the testimony of their predecessors1 with such additional facts as they may have collected in their own time1 for the personal glory1 the offices and work of ,jesus ,christ4 ,this testimony will necessarily bring them into collision with the children of those who killed their fathers in the same quarrel4 ,like their fathers1 they have the sentence of death in themselves1 that they should not trust in themselves1 but in ,god which raiseth the dead1--not accepting deliverance1 that they might obtain a better resurrection4 7#b ,cor4 i4 #i2 ,heb4 xi4 #ce47 ,for as already hinted1 this remnant is to overcome by the blood of the ,lamb and by the word of their testimony1 as others did2 and in death to gain the final victory over death by vital union to their living ,lord1 being made conformable to his death4 7,heb4 ii4 #ad1 #ae47 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 #a4 ,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 lion2 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 things1 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 captivity1 shall go into captivity2 he that killeth with the sword1 must be killed with the sword4 ,here is the patience and the faith of the saints4 ,vs4 #a-aj4--,this chapter may be considered as an explication or commentary upon the seventh chapter of ,daniel's prophecy1 and a farther elucidation of what is revealed under different symbols in the two preceding chapters2 and no one can have an intelligent understanding of its contents without a competent knowledge of the symbols employed in those chapters4 ,here the ,holy ,spirit has given a most graphic1 intelligible and comprehensive exhibition of the complex power which the dragon employs1 to persecute and slay the witnessing servants of ,christ4 ,hitherto the devil has conducted the war against the saints through the agency of the beast of the pit1 7ch4 xi4 #g17 and those allies called his angels3 7ch4 xii4 #g37 but there has been a vail of obscurity hanging over these agencies4 ,who the beast and other allies of the dragon are1 it is the very design of this chapter to disclose1 with greater precision and clearness than heretofore4 ,in a word1 we have here the full portrait of ,,the ,,great ,,antichrist4 ,the distinct features and component parts of this complex and diabolical system of hostility to the ,lord and his ,anointed1 are presented in detail for our inspection4 ,and it is a fact1 that by a competent knowledge of this hostile combination1 the suffering saints of ,god have been hitherto enabled to direct their testimony with intelligence and efficacy against their appropriate objects4 ,and although the developments of providence in past centuries1 and those transpiring in our own generation1 are calculated to shed light upon this and collateral prophecies2 yet the gross conceptions of the illiterate in the contemplation of prophetic symbols on the one hand1 and the reckless disregard of scripture rules and usage by the learned on the other1 have greatly contributed to the present lamentable ignorance and culpable indifference of most ,christians4 ,for people cannot feel an interest in that of which they are ignorant4 ,but to be willingly ignorant of that which may and ought to be known1 is one of the characteristic sins of a generation of impenitent and profane scoffers4 7#b ,pet4 iii4 #c1 #e47 ,on the other hand1 all who humbly and earnestly desire to know the mind of ,god for their direction in faith and holiness1 shall assuredly obtain the necessary instruction4 7,dan4 vii4 #af3 viii4 #ae2 ,john xvi4 #ac2 #a ,cor4 xiv4 #ch47 ,in these first ten verses are contained the characteristics of that beast whose origin is given1 ch4 xi4 #g4 ,there we had no particular description of this personage2 only he was the agent by whom the witnesses were opposed in open warfare1 and by whom they were finally killed4 ,now we have a more full account of his origin1 character1 achievements and duration4 ,this personage is denominated a beast4 ,so are designated other characters1 who are very different from this1 7ch4 iv4 #f47 ,in that place we intimated that the authorized version is imperfect2 and that either living creatures or simply animals1 which latter we prefer1 is that which the reader is to understand from the original word4 ,not only are the four animals different in origin1 nature and agency from the beast2 but in all these respects they are morally opposite4 ,this is a ravenous beast2 a beast of prey4 ,elsewhere the word is translated a wild beast1 a venomous beast1 a viper4 7,acts x4 #ab2 xxviii4 #d47 ,this beast is the same which appeared in vision to the prophet ,daniel1 7ch4 vii4 #c47 ,of the four great beasts which that prophet saw1 this is the last4 ,all the preceding are described by their resemblance to some known animals1 but each is ferocious1--a lion1 bear1 leopard4 ,the fourth is a nondescript2 there is no species in the animal kingdom that can represent it2 only it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it1 7v4 #g47 ,these four beasts represent four kings1 7v4 #ag17 that is1 kingdoms1 7v4 #bc17 or dynasties4 ,now all interpreters agree that these four dynasties are the same as those symbolized in ,nebuchadnezzar's dream1 7ch4 ii4 #ca-dc47 ,the different parts of the image answer to the four beasts2 and these again are the symbols of the ,babylonian1 ,medo-,persian1 ,grecian and ,roman empires4 ,thus far1 all sober expositors are agreed4 ,also1 there is a like agreement that ,john's first beast identifies with ,daniel's fourth1--the ,roman empire4 ,this is obvious from the general description by both prophets1--having seven heads and ten horns4 7,dan4 vii4 #g2 ,rev4 xiii4 #a47 ,the origin of this beast is threefold1--out of the sea1 7v4 #a17 out of the bottomless pit1 7ch4 xi4 #g2 xvii4 #h17 and out of the earth4 7,dan4 vii4 #ag47 ,out of the sea of the commotions arising from the incursions of the northern barbarians1 by whom the ,roman empire was dismembered4 ,the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise4 7,dan4 vii4 #bd47 ,this is the result of revolution1--the sea4 ,the ,roman empire1 especially as nominally ,christian1 is thus characterized as being earthly1 sensual1 devilish1 a suitable agent of the dragon4 ,the fact of the ten horns of the beast1 now wearing crowns1 proves that the time to which the prophecy refers1 is that which followed the division of the empire into ten kingdoms4 ,the seven heads of the beast have a double significance1--seven different forms of government1 and seven mountains1 afterwards to be more fully explained1 7ch4 xvii4 #i1 #aj47 ,the name of blasphemy may indicate eternal city1 mistress of the world4--,of this characteristic of the beast1 other examples will be discovered hereafter4 ,daniel was solicitous to know the truth 7interpretation7 of the fourth beast1 which was diverse from all the others1 7ch4 vii4 #ai47 ,although diverse from all the others in geographical extent and destructive power1 this fourth beast combined in one all the ravenous propensities of the three predecessors1 but in reverse order4 ,the leopard1 bear and lion of ,daniel1 by which ,grecian1 ,persian and ,chaldean dynasties were symbolized1 are all comprised in ,john's beast of the sea1--the antichristian ,roman empire4 ,since this beast of the sea embodies all the voracious properties of the three persecuting powers which went before it2 this may be a suitable place briefly to review the sufferings inflicted by them upon the saints1 that we may know what the witnesses were taught to expect at the hands of this monstrous enemy4--,israel is a scattered sheep1 the lions have driven him away3 first1 the king of ,assyria hath devoured him1 and last1 this ,nebuchadnezzar king of ,babylon hath broken his bones4--,the violence done to me and to my flesh1 be upon ,babylon1 shall the inhabitant of ,zion say2 and1 ,my blood upon the inhabitants of ,chaldea1 shall ,jerusalem say4 7,jer4 #a4 #ag2 li4 #ce47--;,haman1 the son ,hammedatha1 the ,agagite1 the ,jews' enemy1--thought scorn to lay hands on ,mordecai alone4--,if it please the king1 let it be written that they 7the whole people7 may be destroyed2 and ,i will pay ten thousand talents of silver1--to bring it into the king's treasuries4--,behold also the gallows1 fifty cubits high1 which ,haman had made for ,mordecai1 who had spoken good for the king1 standeth in the house of ,haman4 ,then the king said1 ,hang him thereon4 7,esth4 iii4 #a1 #i2 vii4 #i47 ,such were the crimes and such the punishments of the enemies of ,god's people in ,babylon and ,persia1 as already matter of inspired history3 and had we equally full and authentic records of the punishments as we have of the cruelties of ,antiochus and other successors of ,alexander the ,great1 the king of ,greece1 we would see1 as in the other cases1 the just reward of the wicked4 ,of all these idolatrous1 tyrannical and persecuting powers1 which the ,divine ,spirit represented by beasts of prey1 it was foretold that they were to be removed in succession and with violence4 ,this fourth beast1 dreadful and terrible and strong exceedingly1 was to devour and break in pieces1 and stamp the residue with the feet of it4 7,dan4 vii4 #g47 ,moreover1 while it is predicted of them that they had their dominion taken away1 it is also added1--yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time1 7v4 #ab47 ,that is1 though their distinct and successive dominions were severally swept from the earth1 yet their lives1--the diabolical principles by which they had been actuated survived2 and these passed1 by a kind of transmigration1 into the body of the fourth beast4 ,this transition of animating principles or imperial policy of inveterate hostility to the kingdom of ,god1 we think1 is plainly indicated by the three features of this beast of the sea1 the leopard1 bear and lion4 ,if these three slew their thousands1 this monster has slain his ten thousands of the saints2 and the remnant of the woman's seed are yet to be slain as they were1 7ch4 vi4 #aa47 ,the dragon gave him his power1--physical force1 his seat or throne1--his right to reign1 and great authority--dominion--by the voice of the people4 ,thus1 it is obvious that the seven-headed1 ten-horned beast is the first1 and the oldest1 among the combined enemies of the ,christian church2 all of whose origin is from the dragon1 the abyss or bottomless pit4 ,the writers of the church of ,rome1 while forced to acknowledge that this beast is emblematical of the ,roman empire1 still insist that pagan ,rome is intended4 ,it is sufficient in opposition to this false interpretation to observe1 that the beast appears to ,john with crowns1 not upon his heads1 but upon his horns1 denoting the actual division of the empire into ten kingdoms3 an event which did not transpire till after the empire had become nominally ,christian under the reign of ,constantine the ,great4 ,the reign of this emperor and his successors1 by their largesses fostered the luxurious propensities of the ,christian ministry1 and so contributed to prepare the way for the rise of the next enemy in this antichristian confederacy against the witnesses4--,the head wounded unto death is the sixth4 ,john says expressly1 elsewhere1 five are fallen1 and one is1 and the other is not yet come1 7ch4 xvii4 #aj47 ,the five fallen were1 kings1 consuls1 dictators1 decemvirs1 and military tribunes4 ,all these forms of civil government had passed before the time of the apostle4 ,the one existing in his time1 was the sixth head1--the emperors2 by one of whom the apostle was now subjected to banishment in the desert isle of ,patmos4 ,this wound is supposed by some to be the change from paganism to ,christianity in the empire4 ,no2 this view is many ways erroneous3 but it is enough to remark that the ,roman empire1 according to both prophets1 ,daniel and ,john1 is to continue bestial under all changes1 during the whole period of #abfj years4 ,the deadly wound was inflicted by the northern invaders who overturned the empire1 and1 for the time1 extinguished the very name of emperor in the person of ,augustulus4 ,after the division of the western member of the empire had been subdivided among the victorious leaders of the invaders from the north1 and the people of that section supposed the beast slain1 the throne of ,constantinople continued to be occupied by the representative of the empire4 ,in the popular apprehension the imperial head of the beast seemed to be utterly cut off by the sword of ,odoacer1--wounded by a sword3 but the several kingdoms into which the empire was divided1 in process of time became united in the bonds of an apostate faith4 ,the imperial name and dignity were revived in the person of the emperor of ,germany1 ,charlemagne1 in #hjj2 and by the wars among the horns of the beast1 the title of emperor has been claimed alternately by ,germany1 ,austria and ,france1 down to our own time4 ,these dissensions and rivalries among the sovereigns of ,europe1--the mystic horns of the beast1 were foreshadowed in the ,babylonish monarch's dream3--the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly broken1--they shall not cleave one to another1 even as iron is not mixed with clay1 7,dan4 ii4 #db1 #dc47 ,and doubtless these internal commotions among the common enemies of the saints of ,god1 have tended1 in divine mercy1 to divert their attention occasionally from the witnesses4 ,while they have been made the instruments of mutual punishment1 the ,lord's people have been hid in the day of his fierce anger4 7,zeph4 ii4 #c47 ,at what time the sixth head of the beast disappeared and the seventh became developed1 is not clearly marked in the ,apocalypse1 and it is of comparatively little importance1 since the latter is to continue a short space 7ch4 xvii4 #aj47 ,the central fact is the continuance of the beast a definite time under all the heads1--#abfj years4 ,under all the forms of government through which the empire passed1 it continued bestial and was the object of popular admiration4 ,all the world wondered after the beast4 ,the populace made court to1 fawned upon1 followed in the train1 or formed the retinue of the beast4 ,we are to limit the phrase1--all the world1 for not all the inhabitants are to be understood1 but such only as professed allegiance to the existing imperial dominion2 and among those within the beast's territorial jurisdiction1 the witnesses still stood to their protest against his impious claims4--,but from admiration and loyalty1 the servile multitude break forth into adoration1 addressing the dragon and the beast in such language as is proper to ,god only4 7,ps4 lxxxix4 #f47 ,the shouts of the rabble on ,herod's birth-day may illustrate the conduct of these votaries of the beast and dragon4 7,acts xii4 #bb47 ,the poor ignorant and deluded subject1 in rendering homage to the beast1 did homage to the devil1 from whom the power was derived4 ,such is the degradation to which man is reduced by blind obedience to despotic power1 whether civil or ecclesiastical4 ,he glories in the chains which bind him6--,and this is the actual and voluntary condition of the great majority of the population of ,christendom at the present hour4 ,there has been1 indeed1 within the current century1 an effort by the masses of the people to assert their natural and civil rights1 to regain the exercise of the elective franchise2 but in selecting candidates to bear rule over them1 they generally prefer such as are1 like the majority of themselves1--aliens from the commonwealth of ,israel1 and strangers from the covenants of promise4 ,hence1 vile men are exalted1 the wicked bear rule1 and the people mourn4 7,ps4 xii4 #h2 ,prov4 xxix4 #b47--,the blasphemies uttered by this beast are all those royal prerogatives claimed by the several crowned horns or civil sovereigns who have established idolatry and superstition within their respective dominions4 ,the blasphemous headship over the church of ,christ1 as viewed and designated by his persecuted disciples in the ,british empire1 may tend to illustrate this part of the beast's history4 ,king ,henry ,,viii4 of ,england1 upon renouncing the civil and ecclesiastical headship of the ,pope1 proceeded to usurp an ecclesiastical headship within his own dominions2 and all his royal successors till the present day have asserted a similar dominion over the faith of the ,lord's people4 ,as an inherent right of the crown1 the sovereign of ,britain1 male or female1 is declared to be supreme judge in all causes1 as well ecclesiastical as civil6 ,the rest of the horns are no less blasphemous in their haughty pretensions4 ,history attests that the martyrs of ,jesus denounced these encroachments on the prerogatives of ,christ1 and the intrinsic power of his church1 as ,erastian supremacies1--blasphemous supremacies4 ,most expositors tell us that the blasphemies are chargeable to the ,pope or to the ,romish church4 ,but this interpretation confounds this beast of the sea with the apostate church of ,rome2 and indeed this confounding of symbols and consequent mistaking of objects in actual history1 are the primary errors of expositors in nearly all their attempts at expounding the ,apocalypse4 ,this first beast of ,john1 and fourth of ,daniel1 however1 is wholly secular or civil2 and clearly distinguished by both inspired prophets1 from the other agents of the dragon1 as we shall find in the subsequent part of this chapter4 ,this beast blasphemes the name of ,god by compelling men to worship idols and images1 enacting penal statutes and issuing bloody edicts to force their consciences4 ,he blasphemes his tabernacle1 when stigmatizing the assemblies of ,god's worshipping people as traitorous conspiracies1 rendevouses of rebellion--and them that dwell in heaven1 he blasphemes by calling them incendiaries1 fanatics1 enthusiasts1 rebels and traitors2 for all these terms of reproach are well authenticated in history1 as heaped upon the faithful and heroic servants of ,christ4 ,those who suppose that the phrase them that dwell in heaven1 means saints departed and angels as worshipped by papists in obedience to the ,romish church1 make two mistakes1--the one1 that ecclesiastical power is here intended1 whereas we have already shown that the power is civil2 the other1 that the word heaven is to be taken in a literal sense1 contrary to the symbolic structure of the whole context4 ,all history1 so far as authentic1 teaches that the civil powers throughout ,christendom1 attempt to coerce by penal inflictions the consciences of all who refuse obedience to their commands1 no less than the church of ,rome4 ,even constitutional guarantees of liberty of conscience have never secured the witnesses from the savage rage of the beast or any of his infuriated horns4 ,witness the history of the bloody house of the ,stuarts of ,britain4 ,in vain did the victims of papal and prelatic cruelty plead1 in their just defence in the seventeenth century1 the constitution and laws of their native land6 ,those who have done violence to the law of ,god1 will always disregard human enactments which stand in the way of their ambitious schemes4 ,their own laws will be treated as ropes of sand1 as ,samson's withs1 and the blood of saints as water4 ,such is persecution4--,the seventh verse1 expressing the beast's victory over the saints and the extent of his power1 is explanatory of ch4 xi4 #g1 #i2 and the time of his continuance1 7v4 #e17 is the same as the treading under foot of the city2 7ch4 xi4 #b37 so that we are assured of the agreement in time between the events here and those of the first part of the eleventh chapter4 ,also1 the parties here presented are the same as in the two preceding chapters1 only they are exhibited in different aspects by appropriate symbols4--,the worshippers of the beast include all under his dominion except those whose names were written in the book of life4--,this book is different both from the sealed book1 7ch4 #e27 and also from the open book1 7ch4 #aj47 ,it is the register1 as it were1 of the names of all whom the ,father gave to the ,son1 to be by him brought to glory4 7,john xvii4 #b2 ,heb4 ii4 #aj2 ,rev4 xx4 #ab1 #ae47 ,during the whole reign of the beast1 these are preserved1 having been sealed unto the day of redemption4 ,in the seventh chapter we had the angels employed in holding the four winds of the earth1 till these servants of ,god were sealed in their foreheads1 before the first alarm should be given by the trumpets4 ,the book of life contained their names from the foundation1--before the foundation of the world4 7,eph4 i4 #d47 ,they were in time sealed with that ,holy ,spirit of promise1 so that it was impossible to deceive them1 either by lying wonders or the serpent's sophistry4 7,eph4 i4 #ac2 ,matt4 xxiv4 #bd47--,the ,lamb may be said to be slain from the foundation of the world in the purpose of ,god1 7#b ,tim4 i4 #i27 in sacrifice1 7,gen4 iv4 #d27 in the ceremonial law and prophecy4 7,matt4 xi4 #ac27 and in the efficacy of his satisfaction rendered to divine justice1 for which the ,father gave him credit from the fall of man4 7,rom4 iii4 #be47--,so many erroneous views have been taken1 and false interpretations given of this chapter in particular1 as of the ,apocalypse in general1 that the ,divine ,spirit calls special attention here to the rise1 reign and ruin of the beast of the sea4 ,the prophetic description of this beast in an especial manner is of such importance to instruct1 and thereby sustain and comfort1 the suffering disciples of ,christ1 that he causes his servant ,john to pause1 as it were1 and allow the reader to reflect4 ,indeed1 wherever a note of attention is thus given1 we may be sure that something hid from the wise and prudent is intended4 ,accordingly1 it were endless to follow the vagaries of even learned men dealing out their private interpretations of this chapter4 ,yet the understanding of its general outlines was at the bottom of the ,reformation by ,luther1 his colleagues and successors4 ,elsewhere1 however1 we may take occasion to notice how vague1 and inadequate1 and bold1 were some of their conceptions2 all going to show the seasonableness of the solemn admonition1--,if any man have an ear1 let him hear4--,the beast is to be treated as he dealt with the victims of his cruelty4 ,he is justly doomed to captivity and death4 ,the beast was taken and--cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone1 7ch4 xix4 #bj47 ,tophet is ordained of old4 ,it was used by the prophets as a figure of hell4 7,is4 xxx4 #cc47 ,to this place1 whence there is no redemption1 this monstrous beast was to be consigned1 as predicted by the prophet ,daniel1 7vii4 #aa17--,the beast was slain1 and his body destroyed1 and given to the burning flame4--,in the protracted contest of #abfj years with this imperial power1 the patience and the faith of the saints were exemplified4 ,faith and patience would be more severely tried in this case than in any other2 as the period of persecution was to be of much longer continuance than any that had preceded since the beginning of the world4 7,heb4 vi4 #ab47 #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 ,v4 #aa4--;,john beheld another beast1--therefore not the same1 as many expositors strangely suppose4 ,no one can have an intelligent understanding of this chapter unless he views the beast of the sea and the beast of the earth as perfectly distinct4 ,as the former arose out of a revolutionary state of society1 and was consequently more clearly marked in history1 so the latter grew up out of the earth more quietly and gradually1 like a spear of grass1--we know not how4 ,as this second beast of the ,apocalypse is to act a prominent part in the scenery afterwards presented in vision to the apostle1 and a correspondent part in actual history1 and as it is called by different names and appears under different aspects1 it is necessary that its character be closely inspected1 so that its identity may be clearly ascertained4 ,the description here given is very minute4 ,one thing is very obvious1--that this beast of the earth is the confederate1 the ally1 and the accomplice of the beast of the sea4 ,they act in concert4 ,they had been thus represented in vision to ,daniel4 ,in the seventh chapter of that prophecy we have the beast of the sea1 as here1 with his ten horns1 7v4 #g47 ,while the prophet narrowly considered the horns1 behold1 there came up among them another little horn1 7v4 #h47 ,it has been already shown that these horns represent the kingdoms into which the ,roman empire was divided1 7v4 #bd47 ,among these horns1 kings1 7v4 #bd17 or kingdoms1 another shall rise after them1--among them1 yet in the order of time1--after them4 ,thus it appears that ,daniel's fourth beast had eleven horns2 but the eleventh is called another which came up1 to distinguish it from the ten1 7v4 #bj47 ,he shall be diverse from the first1 7v4 #bd47 ,it is thus evident that the last horn1--the eleventh1 is as really a horn of the beast1 as the other ten2 and of course this horn1--little at its rise1 but in time becoming more stout than his fellows1 is the willing accomplice in crime of that beast whose horn it is4 ,the same horn made war with the saints1 and prevailed against them1 7v4 #ba47--;,he had two horns like a lamb4 ,he professed to be gentle and innocent as a lamb1--to be the vicegerent of the ,lamb of ,god4 ,he claimed only a spiritual jurisdiction4 ,as it is natural that a lamb should have only two horns1 so the symbol is agreeable to nature4 ,but this lamb spake as a dragon2 and that was contrary to nature4 ,no two animals in creation are in their respective natures more diverse or opposite than a lamb and a beast of prey4 ,these two antagonistic natures combined1 indicate the crafty and cruel policy of this beast of the earth4 ,daniel mentions the little horn of the civil beast2 but says nothing of the two-horned beast4 ,on the other hand1 ,john speaks plainly of this beast of the earth1 but omits any mention of the little horn4 ,but the beast of the earth and the little horn sustain the same relation to the first beast1 the beast of the sea--the ,roman empire2 therefore the two-horned beast of the earth and the little horn are identical2 and this identity is confirmed by the additional name false prophet1 given to the beast of the earth in ch4 xix1 #bj4 ,his alliance and co-operation with the civil beast is precisely the same as in this chapter4 ,he wrought miracles before him1 that is1--in his interest4 ,some interpreters have mistaken this false prophet as a symbol of ,mahometanism4 ,the facts of history demonstrate the fallacy of this interpretation2 for the delusions of ,mahomet never had1 and they have not now1 any affinity with the idolatries of the ,latin ,roman empire4 ,but these two beasts of the sea and of the earth are obviously in the closest sympathy1 having a common interest4 #ab4 ,and he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him1 and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein1 to worship the first beast1 whose deadly wound was healed4 ,v4 #ab4--,the second beast exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him1--in his presence1 under his sanction and powerful protection4 ,thus the state1 or empire1 lays the church under obligation1 and of course expects a reciprocity of kind offices4 ,this is effected by the beast of the earth causing the earth--to worship the first beast4 ,by force and craft this is accomplished4 ,by his two horns of power1 the regular and secular orders of the hierarchy1 as from the mouth of a dragon1 he enjoins submission to the 7civil7 powers that be4 ,but besides the horns of power1 that is1 ecclesiastical authority1 this beast of the earth1 in order more effectually to enforce his commands to worship the first or civil beast1 resorts to great wonders1--miracles1 7vs4 #ac1ad17--lying wonders2 7#b ,thess4 ii4 #i37 for ,paul and ,john agree in their description of the same diabolical agency4 ,as ,jannes and ,jambres withstood ,moses1--magicians doing so with their enchantments1--beguiling unstable souls1 so this second beast maketh fire to come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of 7credulous7 men4 7#b ,tim4 iii4 #h2 ,exod4 vii4 #bb2 ,acts viii4 #i-aa47 ,the venal ministry of the heathenized church1 7ch4 xi4 #b17 inculcate passive obedience to the beast of the sea1 as to the ordinance of ,god2--to resist which1 subjects the recusant to damnation4 7,rom4 xiii4 #b47 ,here1 then1 we behold the counterfeits of the two great ordinances of church and state1 against which it is the special duty and arduous work of the two witnesses to contend for #abfj years4 ,this false prophet1 who spake as a dragon1 and made fire to come down from heaven1 to authenticate his divine mission1 may represent the bulls1 anathemas1 interdicts1 encyclical letters1 which emanate from ,rome1 together with the less terrifying mandates of her coadjutors1--daughters4 #ac4 ,and he doeth great wonders1 so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth1 in the sight of men1 #ad4 ,and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth1 by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast2 saving to them that dwell on the earth1 that they should make an image to the beast 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 caused 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 ,vs4 #ac-ag4--,this lamb-like beast of the earth devises another agency1 by which to subserve his own diabolical interest1 as well as that of the first beast4 ,he causes to be made an image to or of the beast of the sea4 ,of images in general1 as objects of idolatrous worship1 we are warranted to say1--they are dead and dumb idols2 7ch4 ix4 #bj2 ,jer4 x4 #ad37 but this one is altogether different4 ,and it is surprising to find learned expositors fixing upon the superstitious use of the cross by the papists1 as exemplifying this symbol4 ,the ,holy ,spirit1 as if to guard all readers against such misapprehension1 declares explicitly1 that this image has life1 speaks1 and acts4 ,the only point in which this image resembles others is1 that it is to be worshipped3 but of all others we are assured that they cannot do evil1 7,jer4 x4 #e47 ,this image has such life1 7breath17 and power as to cause the death of such as refuse to worship itself4 ,three agents are to be noticed and clearly distinguished here1--the ten-horned beast of the sea1 the two-horned beast of the earth1 and the image of the beast4 ,at the instance of the second beast1 an image is made2 not to or of himself1 but to1 and also of1 the first beast4 ,now1 as the beasts put forth their power by their horns1 so this ecclesiastical beast of the earth makes the image by his horns4 ,in short1 history explains the symbols4 ,the ,roman clergy1--the horns1 the cardinals1 create the ,pope2 and1 in their own ceremonial and language1--quem creant1 adorant1 whom they create1 they adore2 like all other idolaters4 ,thus1 the ,pope becomes the man of sin1 sitting in the temple of ,god1 showing himself that he is ,god1 7#b ,thess4 ii4 #d47 ,the ,pope is the most perfect image of the ,roman emperor2 claiming the same universal dominion1 the same titles and prerogatives1 in the same city3 but the ,pope and the emperor never identify4 ,they are always distinct4 ,two authoritative measures are to be specially noticed in this connexion2 one by the beast of the earth1 the other by the image of the beast of the sea4 ,the image demands worship under pain of death4 ,all heretics are judged worthy of death4 ,all are required by the second beast to receive the mark of the first or civil beast4 ,the penalty in this case is privation of civil and political privileges1--to buy or sell4 ,it is to be noticed here that the mark is imposed by the authority of the ecclesiastical power1 the two-horned beast4 ,as there is liability to mistake as to which of the two beasts the mark refers1 and as this mistake is in fact generally made by expositors1 the apostle ,john has been directed1 as in the case of the image1 to be peculiarly explicit1 that all may know it to be the mark of the first beast4 7,see chs4 xv4 #b2 xix4 #bj2 xx4 #d47 ,but it will be asked1--,what are we to understand by the mark8 ,this question is easily answered from history4 ,the heathen idolater gloried in his devotion to his imaginary god2 as the ivy leaf was the token of the worshippers of ,bacchus3 soldiers bore the initials of the names of their commanders2 and slaves1 of their masters4 ,these characters were impressed on the foreheads or other part of the persons of individuals4 ,the general idea suggested by the mark was subjection or property4 ,in short1 the mark of the beast signifies open and avowed allegiance to antichristian or immoral civil power1 when in the forehead2 and active co-operation with the same1 when in the hand4 ,it is at once a pitiable and culpable error1 to suppose1 as many preposterously do1 that this mark of the beast is popery6 ,and as the mark is the recognised badge of loyalty to civil rule1 of course the prohibition to buy or sell1 must signify civil disabilities1--disfranchisement4 ,men who suffer1 necessarily feel4 ,christ's witnesses1 as they only have the scriptural conception of the rights of man1 have long been familiar with the deprivation of their rights1 both civil and ecclesiastical4 ,the moral evils incorporated in the constitutions of church and state1 throughout all the streets of mystic ,babylon1 have effectually excluded the two witnesses1 and left them in the wilderness4 ,here is their destined place1 and here they are to be nourished from the face of the serpent for #abfj years4 ,christ's promise1--,i will not leave you comfortless1 7orphans17 is all along verified in their soul-satisfying experience4--,this will appear in the next chapter4 #ah4 ,here is wisdom4 ,let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast2 for it is the number of a man2 and his number is six hundred threescore and six4 ,v4 #ah4--,the name of the beast1 since the time of ,ireneus1 the disciple of ,polycarp1 who was cotemporary with the apostle ,john1 is understood to be ,lateinos1 or ,lateinus2 for it is well known to scholars1 that classical usage justifies the orthography of this word4 ,however learned men may indulge their fancy1 and sport with this mystic and sacred name and number1 no other word fills up all the conditions required by the inspired writer4 ,latinus is the proper name of the first beast1 the ,latin empire3 it is the name common to the whole population of the empire1 the ,latins3 it is the name of the founder of the empire1 ,latinus2 and it contains the number1 #fff4 ,the probability that this word contains the requisite name and number1 amounts almost to a certainty4 ,the unlearned reader may be easily taught to understand how to count the number of the beast4 ,of course1 the apostle ,john accommodated his expressions to the custom of his own age4 ,well1 even children soon learn to number or count by the use of ,roman letters of the alphabet4 ,they know that the letter ,i1 stands for one2 ,v4 for five1 etc4 ,now1 in the apostolic age1 the ,jews1 ,greeks and ,romans1 were accustomed to express numbers by the use of the letters of their respective alphabets4 ,this we suppose to be the only rational and probable method of solving the mystery4 ,in this chapter we have the fullest exhibition of the great antichristian confederacy1 spoken of by prophets and apostles1 including the man of sin1 to be revealed in his time4 ,the component parts of that complex moral person called ,antichrist1 are here graphically portrayed4 ,the three most prominent features are the two beasts of the sea and of the earth1 with the image of the first2 or1 a tyrannical empire1 an apostate church1 and the ,pope4 ,to suppose that the ,antichrist is a power or moral person distinct from these1--a wilful1 infidel or atheistical king1 is a mere chimera framed in a learned brain1 disordered by antichristian politics4 ,the chief1 if not the only ostensible ground of such hypothesis is the language of our apostle1 7#a ,john ii4 #bb47 ,he is ,antichrist that denieth the ,father and the ,son4 ,the sound of the words of ,scripture is too often mistaken for the sense4 ,this is a notable example4 ,from the words of our ,divine ,redeemer1--,my ,father is greater than ,i1 ,socinians infer the essential inferiority of the ,son to the ,father4 ,so in the preceding instance4 ,the inference is1 that the ,antichrist is to be known by a doctrinal denial of deity4 ,but the very name of this enemy of all righteousness1 ,antichrist1 demonstrates his recognition of the existence and office of our ,saviour4 ,for why should he oppose a nonentity8 ,all scholars are aware that the primary meaning of anti1 is substitution4 7,matt4 xx4 #bh47 ,antichrist usurps ,christ's place in church and state1 that he may more successfully oppose his interest4 ,there is no mystery to the intelligent ,christian in the declaration1 that men too often profess that they know ,god1 but in works deny him4 ,this explains the fact of ,antichrist's denying the ,father and the ,son4 ,usurping the prerogatives of the ,mediator is a practical denial of him1--of his authority1 and by consequence1 of the ,father who sent him4 ,he that acknowledged the ,son1 in this sense1 hath the ,father also2 while it is equally true1 in the same sense1--whosoever denieth the ,son1 the same hath not the ,father4 7#a ,john ii4 #bc47 ,hence it is not true that the ,pope is the ,antichrist of prophecy1 nor the church of ,rome1 nor both combined2 but ,daniel's ten-horned beast1--,john's seven-headed1 ten-horned beast1 which are the same3 ,daniel's little horn and ,john's beast of the earth1 which are the same2 together with the image of the first beast3 the ,saracenic locusts and ,euphratean horsemen2--all these go to the composition of the ,antichrist1 the eastern and western ,antichrist1 so identified and familiarly designated by the martyrs and witnesses of ,jesus for hundreds of years4 ,the great family of nations1 called the nations of this world1 7chap4 xi4 #ae27 in unholy alliance with a gentile church2 7ch4 xi4 #b27 these combined1 constitute the ,antichrist4 ,they will not have this man to reign over them4 ,against this combination it is the appointed business1--the life of the two witnesses1 to prophesy for a definite period of #db months1 #abfj days1 time1 times and a half2 all indicating the same duration1 #abfj natural years4 ,all this time the witnesses are alive and active1 but in an obscure and depressed condition1 wearing sackcloth in the wilderness1 not reckoned1 7not reckoning themselves17 among the nations4 7,num4 xxiii4 #i2 ,dan4 vii4 #bb1 #bg2 ,rev4 xx4 #d47 ,such is the condition of the saints1 and such the powerful combination against them1 as symbolically represented in the #aath1 #abth and #acth chapters of the ,apocalypse4 ,and in this prolonged and eventful conflict we may with ,moses1 turn aside and see this great sight1 why the bush is not burnt4 7,exod4 iii4 #c47 ,the ,lord was in the bush1 and greater is he that is in them than he that is in the world4 7#a ,john iv4 #d47 ,this will appear in the following chapter4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,as the #acth chapter contains the most full and graphic description of the great apostacy1 so in this chapter we have the other party described which protested against that apostacy4 ,it is a concise history of the two witnesses in holy and happy fellowship with ,christ1 when he had rejected the heathenized church1 because of her unholy league with the beast of the bottomless pit1 7ch4 xi4 #b1 #g47 ,the contrast between the sealed ones here1 and those who bore the mark of the beast1 is very noticeable4 ,this fact suggests that the parties are cotemporary4 ,besides1 it is evident that this company of #add1jjj are the legitimate successors of those sealed in ch4 vii4 #d-h2 or rather1 from the perpetual identity of the covenant society as a moral person1 we may view this company as the same with the sealed ones of the seventh chapter1 the two witnesses of the eleventh chapter1 and as in the wilderness in the #abth chapter4 ,political bias caused a learned expositor to interpret the third angel of this chapter as a symbol of the prelatic church of ,england6 and a similar bias1 or modern charity1 induced another to distinguish between the two witnesses and the #add1jjj4 ,to the unbiased and enlightened mind it is obvious that instead of the #add1jjj symbolizing the pious people1--in the different branches of the ,christian church--all true ,christians2 they are in fact distinguished from true ,christians1 as #add1jjj from a great multitude 444 who had washed their robes1 and made them white in the blood of the ,lamb1 7ch4 vii4 #i1 #ad47 ,as the ,antichrist1 after his first development in the world1 appeared in diverse forms of organization1 thereby more effectually to deceive them that dwell on the earth1 yet still preserved his moral identity1 so the faithful servants of ,christ are presented in corresponding attitudes and aspects1 to oppose and counteract his diabolical policy and tyranny2 yet always preserving their proper identity during the whole period of #abfj years4 ,the process of sealing the servants of ,god in their foreheads1 7ch4 vii4 #d-h17 took place under the sixth seal before the opening of the seventh1 7ch4 viii4 #a17 which introduced the trumpets1--the harbingers of the visible organization of ,antichrist4 ,for this purpose the four winds1--all winds1 emblematical of popular commotions1 were by four angels restrained from blowing upon the earth etc41 during the peaceful reign of ,constantine and his successors4 ,under the patronage of those nominally ,christian emperors1 as history informs us1 multitudes flocked into the church2 the number of immoral and unworthy ,christians began so to increase1 that the examples of real piety and virtue became extremely rare4444 ,the virtuous few were oppressed and overwhelmed with the superior numbers of the wicked and licentious4#f ,thus the way was prepared for the visible appearing of the man of sin1--the papacy4 ,so soon as the confederate hosts of the dragon are completely organized1 the two witnesses take their position with the ,lamb4 #a4 ,and ,i looked1 and1 lo1 a ,lamb stood on ,mount ,zion1 and with him a hundred forty and four thousand1 having his ,father's name written in their foreheads4 ,v4 #a4--,while all the world wonders after the beast1 7xiii4 #c17 and the gross senses of the multitude are preoccupied with that object2 here is another presented more worthy of our contemplation4 ,often has the ,lord ,jesus appeared in vision to ,john while viewing the grand panorama passing before him in ,patmos4 ,here he appears as the captain of the ,lord's host at the head of his army2 not indeed in active military enterprise1 but rather as leader in acts of solemn worship during a temporary recess from sanguinary warfare4 ,he and his associates are on the ,mount ,zion4 ,in ,zion is his seat4 444 ,the ,lord hath founded ,zion1 and the poor of his people shall trust in it4 7,is4 xiv4 #cb47 ,this select company maintain fellowship with ,christ1 being really and inseparably united to him as their ,head1 by the bond of the ,spirit1 on his part1 and faith on theirs4 ,christ's ,father's name in their foreheads indicates that they are the property and voluntary servants of ,god in ,christ4 ,of this covenant relation baptism is the visible sign2 but while ,simon ,magus may bear the sign1 none but those who are sealed unto the day of redemption1 are honored to stand with the ,lamb on ,mount ,zion4 ,to him their number is as accurately known1 as one hundred and forty-four thousand is to us2 and truly their fellowship is with the ,father and with his ,son ,jesus ,christ4 ,the votaries of the beast may either glory in bearing his mark in their foreheads1 or conceal the mark in their right hand2 but the followers of the ,lamb will confess him and his word before men1 at the hazard of all that is dear to men1--even life itself4 7,mark viii4 #ch47 #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 ,vs4 #b1 #c4--,let the children of ,zion be joyful in their ,king4444 ,let the high praises of ,god be in their mouth4--7,ps4 cxlix4 #b1 #f47 ,unterrified by the roaring of the beasts of prey1 these followers of the ,lamb lift their voices in unison2 and whether on mountains or in valleys1 in dens or in caves of the earth1 their songs of praise ascend to the ears of the ,lord of ,sabaoth4 ,the symphony is heightened by the voice of harpers1 harping with their harps4 ,and if any person be so ignorant as to ground an argument on these words1 for the use of instruments in the worship of ,god1 consistency will require him to take his position on the literal ,mount ,zion with a literal lamb6 ,the song was new4 ,it was not peculiar to the ,mosaic economy2 that1 like it1 was to wax old and vanish away4--7,heb4 viii4 #ac47 ,no1 it was indited by the ,holy ,spirit1 to whom all hearts are known1 and all events foreknown4 ,it was a song exactly framed to answer the twofold end of all inspired songs--to display the glories of the ,godhead1 and delineate the workings of grace and corruption with infallible precision1 neither of which can be even successfully imitated by the best of uninspired men2 much less by the licentious debauchees--the slaves of ,antichrist4 ,moreover1 the order of worship1 as here exemplified1 merits special attention1 ,the #add1jjj perform this solemn service before the four beasts1 and the elders4 ,the office-bearers1 appointed by the ,lamb--the ,lord ,christ--direct the whole solemnity4 ,among this joyful and holy company1 there is no hint that any part of public worship is left to a vote of the congregation4 ,this new song was unintelligible by the votaries of the beast2 nor could they learn it while in that servile vassalage4 ,they only who were redeemed from the earth1 as well as from among men1 were capable of learning it4 ,as this song related to the royal prerogatives of ,jesus ,christ1 and those who dwelt on the earth had transferred their allegiance to ,antichrist1 they became thereby incapacitated for learning that song4 ,alas6 how many complain of the cloudiness1 the ,jewish peculiarities1 the unforgiving1 revengeful spirit of the inspired ,psalms6 ,in their apprehension1 they are contrary to the spirit of the gospel--that is1 the ,holy ,spirit is contrary to ,himself6 ,o1 the blasphemy6 ,can such learn the new song8 ,no1 indeed1 unless they repent and pray ,god if perhaps the thought of their heart may be forgiven them4 #d4 ,these are they which were not defiled with women2 for they are virgins4 ,these are they which follow the ,lamb withersoever he goeth4 ,these were redeemed from among men1 being the first fruits 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 ,vs4 #d1 #e4--,these #add1jjj worshippers are farther distinguished by their chastity4 ,betrothed to the ,lord ,christ from eternity1 they were married to him in time4 7,hosea ii4 #ai1 #bj2 ,rom4 vii4 #d2 ,cor4 xi4 #b47 ,indeed the marriage covenant is employed throughout the ,bible1 to shadow forth the union between ,christ and believers4 7,see ,is4 liv4 #e2 ,jer4 xxxi4 #cb2 ,hos4 ii4 #b2 ,rev4 xxi4 #b7 ,this analogy pervades the #deth ,psalm and the ,song of ,solomon4 ,idolatry is therefore adultery2 and superstition1 will-worship and human inventions1 as means of grace or of communion with ,god1 are fornication4 7,ezek4 xxiii4 #bg47 ,accordingly1 the kings of the earth are charged with this crime1 7ch4 xviii4 #c47 ,hence1 it is plain that this company with the ,lamb are such as do not receive or teach for doctrines the commandments of men1 nor submit to a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels1 7,col4 ii4 #ah17 for they are virgins4 7,ps4 xlv4 #ad47 ,they are distinguished for sound doctrine and the power of godliness4 ,a man that is a heretic1 after the first and second admonition1 they reject4 7,titus iii4 #aj47 ,they cannot be indifferent to truth and error2 and they may be known by their love for practical1 but especially doctrinal1 preaching4 ,they frequent the ministry of those who give attendance to reading1 to exhortation1 to doctrine4 7#a ,tim4 iv4 #ac47 ,these follow the ,lamb4 7,john x4 #d1 #bg47 ,next after self-denial1 taking up the cross1 becomes the test of discipleship4 7,matt4 xvi4 #bd1 #be47 ,suffering is the most trying and most difficult part of a ,christian's obedience4 ,but mere suffering for one's religion is no evidence that his religion is scriptural4 ,nor is punishment endured for religion persecution2 but suffering for righteousness' sake1 or for ,christ's sake1 is persecution4 ,and this is what is implied in following the ,lamb whithersoever he goeth4 ,not suffering1 but the cause for which he suffers1 makes a ,christian martyr4 ,all these #add1jjj are martyrs in principle and intention4 ,besides1 these were redeemed 7bought7 from among men4 ,purchase supposes contract1--a price fixed and paid4 ,this ransom is both from debt and crime1--from bondage1 sin and penalty4 ,the ,lamb is their surety4 ,with his blood he redeemed them to ,god1 7ch4 v4 #i2 #a ,pet4 i4 #ai47 ,an atonement which does not reconcile1 a redemption which does not save1 must be an atonement and a redemption without a compact4 ,hence the covenant of grace1 and ,christ's engagement as surety in that covenant1 determine the extent of the atonement2 for without compact no sinner could be saved6 ,but such is the liberal doctrine of the boasted ,roman ,catholic ,church1 and such the sandy foundation of that general and doubtsome faith which the witnesses renounce4 ,however numerous these followers of the ,lamb may seem to be1 they are no more than the first fruits4 ,but the first fruits are part of the coming harvest1 and an assured pledge of a larger ingathering4 ,their numbers were to be greatly augmented by the ,reformation1 and still further in the millennial era4 ,godly sincerity is the last quality of these upright ones4 ,they are ,israelites without guile4 ,integrity1 probity1 candor1 distinguish them from the flocks of the companions by whom they are surrounded4 ,as they think in their heart1 so do they express the truth4 7,ps4 xv4 #b2 xii4 #b2 ,john i4 #dg47 ,they know nothing of the pious frauds any more than the indulgences and supererogations by which the man of sin sustains his interest4 ,their being without fault before the throne of ,god1 is the highest commendation possible2 yet it does not imply sinless perfection4 ,it speaks their justification by the righteousness of ,christ1 and their ,christian sincerity1 such as ,god testifies of ,job1 7ch4 i4 #h47 ,who would not prefer the society and employments of those who are with the ,lamb on ,mount ,zion1 to dwelling in the tents of wickedness8 ,let our delights be with these excellent ones of the earth4 #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 water4 ,vs4 #f1 #g4--,the apostles1 ,paul and ,john agree1 as already noticed1 in delineating a great defection from the purity and power of ,christianity in the last days4 ,paul calls this event the ,apostacy1 7#b ,thess4 ii4 #c47 while ,john designates it the ,antichrist4 7#a ,john ii1 #bb47 ,both these inspired writers use the ,greek article1 as may be supposed1 to emphasize that wicked confederacy of ,church and ,state1--a confederacy of greater extent and longer continuance than any other conspiracy against the ,lord and his ,anointed4 ,against these the saints of ,god1 with ,messiah at their head1 contend for the allotted period of #abfj years1 as we have seen in the three preceding chapters4 ,on their part the warfare is mostly defensive1 and their weapons ordinarily spiritual4 7#b ,cor4 vi4 #f1 #g47 ,from the #fth verse to the close of this chapter are presented1 under customary and well-defined symbols1 three successive stages of successful reformation1 showing how the two witnesses manage their scriptural and effective testimony against antichristian error and disorder in organized society4 ,three mystic angels successively appear1 divinely commissioned to execute their respective and appointed work4 ,these angels have been correctly designated1 by judicious expositors1 angels of revival and reform4 ,to the intelligent ,christian it will be obvious1 that without reform there can be no revival4 ,the popular idea of our time connected with the term revival1 is without foundation in the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,it does not mean the regeneration of a sinner1 nor the first work of the ,spirit in conviction4 ,it presupposes the existence of the vital principle1 and the bringing of that living principle into visible activity1 7,rom4 vii4 #i27 and this is equally true1 whether of an individual or moral person4 7,ps4 lxxxv4 #f2 ,ezek4 xxxvii47 ,divine truth and external order are characteristics of a genuine revival3 for nothing but sound doctrine can produce the power of godliness4 ,the popular commotions and social disorders which accompany modern revivals1 render them highly suspicious1 if they do not demonstrate them to be spurious4 ,it is true1 indeed1 that passionate declamation1 vociferous assertion of heresy1 intensified by theatrical and violent gesticulation1 may commove to a higher degree the active powers1--the passions of the sinner2 but such appliances can generate only a temporary faith4 ,such converts1 having no root in themselves1 wither away4 7,mark iv4 #f47 ,god is not the author of confusion1 but of peace1 as in all the churches of the saints4 ,so these angels of reform declare by their ministry4 ,the first of these angels is the recognized symbol of a gospel ministry1 7ch4 i4 #bj2 ii4 #a1 #h1 #ab1 etc47 ,heaven is the visible church general4 ,flying indicates celerity of motion4 ,this angel does not represent any individual1 as ,luther2 but the collective body of those who carry the joyful message of the everlasting gospel4 ,this gospel is everlasting as distinguished from another gospel1 which is not another 7,gal4 i4 #f1 #g1 #h1 #i17--;a spurious1 counterfeit1 and therefore ephemeral gospel1 invented and propagated by the man of sin1 from the flood which issued from the mouth of the dragon1 7ch4 xii4 #ae7 ,the gospel preached by this angel is everlasting in its origin and duration4 7,tit4 i4 #b2 ,john iv4 #ad2 ,gal4 vi4 #h47 ,this angel's commission is as extensive as that of the apostles1--every nation2 his loud voice is expressive of his zeal1 energy and authority2 the subject matter of his brief sermon indicates very plainly that the object of his teaching is to counteract the heresies of the ,romish apostacy4 ,fear ,god and give glory to him1--not to the ,virgin ,mary1 canonized saints and angels1 images of wood and stone1 7ch4 ix4 #bj47 ,all are solemnly warned to abstain from pollutions of idols1 and their attention earnestly directed to their ,creator1--to him who made heaven1 and earth1 the seas and fountains of waters4 ,this argument of the angel is very short1--that ,he only is to be worshipped who created the universe2 but it is sufficient to leave all men without excuse who do not glorify him as ,god4 7,rom4 i4 #bj1 #ba47 ,and how much more aggravated is the guilt of professing ,christians6 ,but the angel employs another powerful argument to enforce his teaching1--,the hour of his judgment is come4 ,the final judgment of the last day is often set before us in the ,bible1 and it is so even in this book2 but the last judgment cannot be intended here1 for subsequent judgments are to be inflicted according to the messages of the following angels4 ,that ,charlemagne should be mistaken for this flying angel betrays an almost incredible hallucination of the human mind6#g ,no individual1 as already noticed1 much less a successful civil or military tyrant1 can be intended by the ,spirit as the herald of the everlasting gospel6 ,in fact1 this angel is identical with the two witnesses1 whose special work is to oppose the great apostacy2 and this they do in a pre-eminent manner by proclaiming the everlasting gospel4 ,for #ejj years those who are known in history by the name of ,waldenses1 kept the doctrines and order of the apostles1 in a state of separation from the ,church of ,rome4 ,in the latter part of the twelfth century their numbers and influence attracted the notice and brought upon them the wrath of the man of sin4 ,in the following ages multitudes of them were subjected to all the penalties of confiscation1 banishment and death4 ,like the seed of ,abraham in ,egypt1 however1 the more they were afflicted1 the more they multiplied and grew4 ,they revived true religion in the kingdoms of southern ,europe1 and it is most probable that the good seed sown by them reached even to the island of ,britain4 ,john ,huss and ,jerome1 who1 by decree of the council of ,constance1 were committed to the flames for heresy2 and ,wishart1 in ,england1 whose end was similar1 together with such as co-operated with them and succeeded them in the same holy warfare1 are to be viewed as answering to the mystic angel4 ,these faithful and dauntless men denounced divine judgments against all who worshipped graven images1 however enjoined by civil and ecclesiastical authority4 ,for their fidelity to ,christ and the souls of men1 they were subjected to the heaviest censures of the heathenized church1 and the severest penalties of a tyrannical state1--the beast of the earth and the beast of the sea always in unholy alliance and acting in concert4 ,the ministry of this angel is a testimony against papal corruptions1 such as the worshipping images of the ,creator and creatures1 but especially the ,pope1--the image of the ,roman emperor4 ,it is a mere fancy to suppose this angel symbolizes modern missions4 ,the series of the prophecy forbids such an interpretation4 ,besides1 the idolatry of ,rome ,christian1 is not less real or gross than the idolatry of pagans1 and calls for a more earnest testimony2 and ,god has never left himself without witnesses against defection and apostacy4 ,this angel prepares the way for his successor1 who prosecutes the same work with increasing clearness and confidence4 #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 ,v4 #h4--,there followed another angel4 ,some expositors#h interpret this angel of ,luther1 some of ,calvin2 but no individual is sufficiently prominent in history to justify the application to him of so striking a symbol in so concise a prophecy4 ,such restriction of a symbol to an individual results from prelatic habits of thought4 ,in the mind of a prelate the idea of a gospel ministry includes that of a metropolitan4 ,this angel is1 in fact1 as usual1 simply the emblem of the ministry1 not excluding the social body of which they are the official guides4 ,this second angel carries forward the reformation effected by his predecessor1 reviving that cause when it began to languish under the violence of ,antichrist4 ,while the ,roman pontiff1 says ,mosheim1 slumbered in security at the head of the church1 and saw nothing throughout the vast extent of his domain but tranquillity and submission1 and while the worthy and pious professors of genuine ,christianity almost despaired of seeing that ,reformation on which their most ardent desires and expectations were bent1 an obscure and inconsiderable person arose on a sudden1 in the year #aeag1 and laid the foundation of the long expected change1 by opposing with undaunted resolution his single force to the torrent of papal ambition and despotism4 ,that individual was the heroic ,luther1 whose praise is in all the churches till the present day4 ,no individual is so famous in the history of that eventful period as ,martin ,luther1 for recovering the doctrine of justification by the righteousness of ,christ1 to the exclusion of all creature merit4 ,this fundamental principle in the economy of man's salvation he justly denominated articulus stantis vel cadentis ecclesiae--the hinge of a standing or falling church4 ,by the defence and propagation of this doctrine especially1 the priestly office of ,christ was vindicated against the dogmas of penance1 indulgence and supererogation1 inculcated by the ,man of ,sin2 and by consequence1 one of the bulwarks of mystical ,babylon effectually demolished4 ,at the famous ,diet of ,worms1 which1 like the ,council of ,constance1 combined the imperial power of ,rome1 civil and ecclesiastic1 that indomitable servant of ,christ gave a visible demonstration that the ,spirit of the ,father animated and spake in him1 7,matt4 x4 #bj47 ,not less explicit was ,luther on the fundamental doctrine of the divine decrees2 which1 with other ,arminian dogmas of creature-merit1 had been almost universally propagated and stamped with the pretended infallible authority of ,rome4 ,by the translation and circulation of the ,holy ,scriptures among the people1 the idolatries1 impositions and profligacy of the priesthood were extensively discovered4 ,and after years of deference to ecclesiastical authority1 conditional proposals of submission to the ,pope upon conviction of error in his theses1 or conscientious belief1 ,luther in time arrived at the conclusion that the church of ,rome was irreclaimable1 giving publicity to his deep convictions in a treatise ,de ,captivitate ,babylonica1--,the ,captivity of ,babylon4 ,in the #ahth chapter of this book1 he discovered that ,babylon is doomed to destruction4 ,he considered the church of ,rome as answering to the prophetic symbol1 and of course not to be reformed4 ,it was an obvious inference--he ought to obey ,christ rather than the ,pope1--,come out of her1 my people4--,this call was indeed a sufficient warrant to separate from the ,church of ,rome2 and1 acting on it1 protestant churches have ever since been organized3 but the type or symbol1 ,babylon1 was unwarrantably restricted in import1 as representing only the ,church of ,rome4 ,and it is to be deplored that most protestant expositors continue to limit the inspired symbol in the same way till the present time4 ,the literal ,babylon1 a name common to the ancient city and empire by the river ,euphrates1 was in no sense a church2 and it would be anomalous and incongruous to select either city or empire as an emblem of a church6 ,there is1 however1 in the ,apocalypse a combining or blending of symbols in order clearly and fully to represent a complex moral person4 ,this has been already exemplified in ch4 xiii4 #b1 where the prominent features of ,daniel's first three beasts1 7ch4 vii4 #d-f17 are combined in ,john's first beast of the sea4 ,just so in this instance4 ,the idolatrous and tyrannical ,roman empire1 in alliance with an apostate church1 constitutes mystical ,babylon4 ,history demonstrates the fact of their coalition4 ,the great red dragon1 the devil1 operates through both during the allotted period of #abfj years against the witnesses of ,christ4 ,sometimes1 indeed1 the nominal church is the more active and visible instrument1 and at other times the state1 in opposing ,mediatory authority2 and thus ,babylon1 or one of her streets1 which is the equivalent of a horn of the beast1 becomes prominent4 ,this second angel confidently proclaims1--,babylon is fallen1 is fallen4 ,so said ,isaiah of literal ,babylon long before the event2 7ch4 xxi4 #i17 and so said ,jeremiah1 7ch4 li4 #h17 to whose predictions ,john obviously alludes4 ,all these three prophets speak in present time of a future event1 simply because of the settled and unalterable purpose of ,god1 acting not formally as a sovereign1 but as a judge4 ,the multiplied and aggravated crimes of ,babylon1 literal or mystical ,babylon1 are the just grounds of her deserved and awful doom4 ,from ancient times ,god has declared by his prophets the things that are not yet done4 7,isa4 xlvi4 #aj47 ,his counsel stands and he doeth all his pleasure4 ,that the mystical ,babylon emblematically represented the complex systems of civil and ecclesiastical corruption and despotism organized in ,christendom1 was in some degree understood by the reformers in ,europe2 but the work of this second angel was carried on successively by men of piety and learning1 who were eminently qualified for systematically arranging the doctrines of grace as deduced from the word of ,god4 ,their pious labors we still have in the forms of ,bodies of ,divinity and ,confessions of ,faith1 in both which the unscriptural and antiscriptural dogmas and heresies of ,rome are condemned and solidly confuted by the ,scriptures4 ,there is a wonderful harmony of confessions framed by those who separated from the fellowship of the ,romish church2 which harmony can be accounted for only by the fact that those who framed them drew their materials from the ,bible4 ,but it was by their public covenants especially1 that the reformers lifted a testimony against the heresies1 immoralities and tyrannies of the church of ,rome4 ,and among all the churches of the ,reformation1 that of ,scotland is justly entitled to the pre-eminence4 ,in no nation or state in ,christendom did the witnesses of ,christ1--the second angel1 attain so nearly to a scriptural model of organized society in church and state as in that land1 whose mountains and valleys were flowered with martyrs for a ,covenanted ,work of ,reformation4 ,as ,zuingle the ,swiss-reformer excelled ,luther1 ,calvin and others in ,europe in the application of the divine moral law1 as revealed in ,scriptures1 to civil society1 so ,john ,knox in ,scotland was equally clear1 that royal personages are amenable to the body politic1 and both to the ,mediator4 ,we are now under the ministry of this second angel4 ,the revival effected by the first angel had greatly declined before the second made his appearance2 and all persons of intelligence and spiritual discernment in our day1 lament the visible decline in practical godliness1 arising from indifference to divine truth4 ,most professing ,christians1 including the descendants of the martyrs1 are willingly ignorant of the attainments and sufferings of their illustrious predecessors4 ,the work of reformation to be accomplished by the second angel1 we suppose to have been completed about the middle of the seventeenth century4 ,since that period his work appears from history to consist in testifying against defection from the reformation which had been reached4 ,the great city is to fall because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication4 ,she is spiritually called ,sodom and ,egypt1 neither of which was a church any more than ,babylon4 ,these were all heathen communities1 never married to the ,lord2 therefore ,babylon is not here charged as an adulteress1 but with fornication4 ,the nations are her paramours4 ,her wine is intoxicating4 ,it deranges the intellect and stupifies the conscience4 ,will any reasoning prevail with a drunken man8 ,an active politician is proverbially unscrupulous1 and proof against the law of ,god4 ,there is1 however1 wrath in this cup4 ,those who refuse to kiss the ,son must feel the weight of his iron rod4 7,ps4 ii4 #i1 #ab2 lxxv4 #h47 ,the little book introduced at the #ajth chapter1 is included in the first #ac verses of the #aath chapter1 which comprehends a concise history of the #abfj years1 as we have seen4 ,at the #aeth verse1 the seventh and last trumpet is sounded which introduces the millennium and gives a brief outline of events till the end of the world4 ,then the three following chapters give in detail the events prior to the millennium1 a commentary1 as it were1 on the little book1 but resuming a narrative of the sealed book's contents1 which had been suspended at the end of the #ith chapter4 ,there1 as we have seen1 the first and second woe-trumpets left the population of the ,roman church and empire still in rebellion3--,they repented not4--,hence it is apparent that the work of these symbolic angels consists in opposing the antichristian systems of organized society during the period of the fifth and sixth trumpets4 ,this they do partly by declaring the truth as it is in ,jesus1 and partly by denouncing divine judgments on the impenitent4 ,the first angel1 by proclaiming the everlasting gospel1 called upon men to fear ,god and give glory to him1 and not to idols1--threatening coming judgment4 ,the great majority of those addressed1 however1 disregarding alike his loving instructions and faithful warnings1 must hear from the second angel that the judgment threatened by his predecessor1 is now imminent3--,babylon is fallen1 etc4 ,notwithstanding the faithful and earnest contendings of the ,waldenses1 ,bohemians and others on the continent of ,europe1 seconded by the ,lollards in ,england1 so far were the votaries of ,antichrist from repenting of their idolatry and profligacy1 that they became more and more exasperated against those witnesses who tormented them1 and attempted to silence their testimony by committing their leaders to the flames4 ,hence the second angel's ministry consists more in denouncing judgment than in offering mercy to the penitent2 and the history of the struggles in ,europe and the ,british ,isles between ,christ's witnesses and the ,roman ,antichrist in the #afth and #agth centuries1 demonstrates the awful fact that they1 with great and wonderful unanimity1 judged the church of ,rome at least1 utterly irreclaimable4 ,of this united judgment the ,confessions of those reformers are at this day a standing evidence4 ,but chief among the churches and nations of ,christendom stands ,scotland1 as well before as after her appearance1 by her famous ,commissioners1 in the ,westminster ,assembly of ,divines4 ,in her full and free ,assembly1 and by her national representatives1 sustained by all their pious constituency1 she uttered those memorable words1--,we abhor and detest 444 chiefly all kind of ,papistry in general and particular heads1 even as they are damned 7condemned7 and confuted by the word of ,god and ,kirk of ,scotland4 ,perhaps this is the only instance hitherto within the #abfj years1 where a whole church and nation1 under the awful sanction of a solemn oath1 has pronounced a judicial sentence of condemnation upon the church of ,rome4 ,thus with confidence did those noble witnesses pronounce the anticipated doom of the mystic ,babylon4 ,but alas6 may we not adopt and apply now 7#ahgj17 the language of the weeping prophet8--,how is she become a widow6 she that was great among the nations1 and princess among the provinces6 ,as declension among those who had protested against the corruptions of ,antichrist1 under the ministry of the first angel of reform1 together with the continued impenitence of the multitude who still wondered after the beast1 called for the appearance of the second angel of revival1 so the moral condition of the world called for the work of his successor4 ,in the mean time1 living as we now are1 within the period allotted in prophecy and in history to the ministry of the second angel of revival and reform1 it is but too evident that there is a great and increasing decline among the best reformed churches4 ,many of the ,protestant ministry1 especially of the prelatic order1 are posting back to ,rome2 and the growing ritualism1 with its gaudy and splendid attire of a harlot1 which characterizes others1 plainly indicates their tendency in the same direction4 ,and even those other denominations1 which are not yet prepared to adopt that blasphemous hierarchy1 are visibly departing from the soundness in doctrine and purity of gospel worship which constituted the chief glory of the ,second ,reformation4 ,these are the baleful effects of the dragon's influence on the earth1 7ch4 xii4 #ac1 #ae47 ,besides1 nearly all ecclesiastical bodies are yet in cordial alliance with the beast of the sea2 and this alliance is the ,antichrist4 ,the ,pope is now nearly divested of his former civil supremacy1 and in this respect become less the express image of the imperial beast of the sea1 7ch4 xiii4 #ad27 yet the leaven of the ,romish religion pervades all the ,christian community1 so far as allegiance to the beast or his horns is either enjoined or tolerated4 ,this usurpation of the royal prerogatives of ,christ over the churches and nations in the eastern hemisphere by the kings of the earth1 and a similar usurpation in the western hemisphere1 whether by individual despots or by the body politic1 is the great crime which fills the measure of the cup of wrath1 to be poured out of the seven vials4 ,while such is the moral condition of society in all lands favored with a revelation of the will of ,god1--visited with judgments1 continuing impenitent and guilt augmenting1 what is to be expected but heavier judgments to follow8 #i4 ,and the third angel followed them1 saying1 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 ever2 and they have no rest day nor night1 who worship the beast and his image1 and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name4 ,vs4 #i-aa4--;,and the third angel followed4 ,the two preceding angels addressed communities1 calling them to repentance and reformation4 ,indeed1 the language of the second implies little or no hope of their recovery4 ,this third angel1 following up the scriptural testimony of those who went before1 and assuming that church and state1--the essential elements of the antichristian system1--continue irreclaimable1 addresses his message to individuals4 ,this angel is the last that the ,lord ,jesus will employ to awaken sinners that are at ease in ,zion4 ,his ministry is yet future1 and he will never be succeeded by an angel of mercy until mystical ,babylon is overthrown4 ,the special1 arduous and perilous work of this angel is1 to threaten eternal death against every individual who persists in the hitherto popular idolatry4 ,if any man worship the beast4--,up to the time of this angel's appearance the beast lives and devours his prey3 consequently1 his work comes within the period of the #abfj years4 ,during this limited time1 there will be found in the ,apocalypse three objects of popular devotion1--the dragon1 7ch4 xiii4 #d17 the beast1 and his image1 7v4 #ae47 ,in this place the dragon is omitted1 as also in ch4 xv4 #b2 xx4 #d4 ,we may ask1 why the omission8--,simply because the things which the ,gentiles sacrifice1 they sacrifice to devils1 and not to ,god1 7#a ,cor4 x4 #bj27 consequently1 these worshippers being ,gentiles1 7ch4 xi4 #b17 there is no necessity that the dragon 7the devil7 should be particularized4 ,from the first rise of the beast1 he was in alliance with the dragon1 7ch4 xiii4 #b1 #c27 therefore both are doomed to perdition1 7ch4 xx4 #aj47 ,most expositors consider this angel as emblematical of events already past2 the reformation effected by ,luther1 his coadjutors and successors1 or the church of ,england6#i ,their error consists in viewing the beast as the symbol of the church of ,rome4 ,and it is remarkable1 that through the power of local and political bias1 those commentators who themselves perceive that the beast of the sea in chapter xiii4 #a1 symbolizes the ,roman empire1 lose sight of their own exposition when they arrive at the place before us6 ,and of this bias and inconsistency they seem to be wholly unconscious6 ,no1 there has never yet appeared in the symbolic heaven a minister or ecclesiastical organization1 which has authoritatively denounced everlasting punishment against all who receive the mark of the beast4 ,it is to be noticed here that the sins charged are cumulative1 not distributive4 ,guilt is contracted as here charged1 by worshipping the beast and his image1 and receiving his mark4 ,if the beast signify immoral civil power1 and his image signify the ,papacy1 as we have seen they do1 then it follows that worshipping both1 and receiving the mark of the former1 constitute the special guilt here charged by the angel3 that is1 eulogizing1 praising1 and actively co-operating with civil and ecclesiastical society1 at war with the ,bible--in organized hostility to the ,lord and his ,anointed4 7,ps4 ii4 #i47 ,shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee1 which frameth mischief by a law8 7,ps4 xciv4 #bj47 ,but during the #abfj years1 the secular imperial beast consists of kingdoms of this world in alliance with the beast of the earth1 7ch4 xiii4 #a1 #aa47 ,and as both are for their crimes consigned to utter destruction1 so in the time of the third angel1 every individual is threatened with everlasting punishment1 who identifies with them4 ,no temporal judgments on collective bodies can be the fulfilment of this awful denunciation1 which evidently relates to individuals1 and to each individual who is guilty2 and if words can convey the idea of eternal punishment1 it is here denounced4#aj ,the words in the original1 translated for ever and ever1 7v4 #aa17 are the strongest in the ,greek language to signify eternity1 and are not susceptible of any other meaning4 ,as already intimated1 the special mission and awful message of this angel is yet future2 but the testimony of his predecessor will have made the tyranny1 idolatry1 immorality and profligacy of civil despots and mercenary ministers so palpable and glaring1 that the vengeance of the ,lord proclaimed by the last messenger will appear to be just4 ,in this way the two witnesses smite the earth with all plagues1 7ch4 xi4 #f27 for they are identical with the third angel1 and have an active agency in the work of judgment to be executed upon the antichristian enemies1 7ch4 xv4 #g47 ,and who knows the power of that wrath which is poured out without mixture into the cup of ,jehovah's indignation8 ,in temporal judgments there may be a mixture of mercy2 but there is no such element in the cup of the impenitent votaries of mystic ,babylon4 ,holy angels look on without sympathy for her agonies1 while the ,lamb inflicts the tremendous penalty of her complicated and long-continued crimes4 ,he shall be tormented--their torment3--individuals found guilty of complicity with ,babylon1 will be bound up into bundles as fuel for that fire and brimstone1 whose smoke ascendeth up for ever and ever4 ,they have no rest day nor night who worship the beast1--no mitigation of their sufferings4 ,they are doomed to dwell with everlasting burnings4 7,is4 xxxiii4 #ad47 ,such are the denunciations which the third angel is commissioned to proclaim in the ears of men1 either to bring them to repentance1 or to justify the ,lamb in punishing their impenitent disobedience4 ,now every one who is acquainted with the writings of the reformers and their successors1 knows that they generally declared1 without hesitation1 that popery is a damnable religion4#aa ,popery1 however1 is the religion which has corrupted states and churches throughout the world2 and therefore future reformers will not hesitate to join civil states with her in their testimony and prayers1 saying1--,the wicked shall be turned into hell1 and all the nations that forget ,god4 ,pour out thy fury upon the heathen that have not known thee1 and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name2 for they have devoured ,jacob and laid waste his dwelling place4 7,psa4 ix4 #ag2 lxxix4 #f1 #g47 #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 heaven1 saying unto me1 ,write1 ,blessed are the dead which die in the ,lord1 from henceforth3 ,yea1 saith the ,spirit1 that they may rest from their labours2 and their works do follow them4 ,vs4 #ab1 #ac4--,the faithful and pointed testimony of the third angel of reform against the organized enemies of ,god in church and state1 instead of producing repentance1 tends only to provoke them to greater rage against those who thus awaken their consciences and disturb their sinful repose4 ,the fires of persecution are again kindled1 and the witnesses are subjected to the anathemas of the church and the sword of the civil magistrate1--the cruelty of the two beasts4 ,it is therefore added1--,here is the patience of the saints4 ,the events predicted here agree in time with ch4 xiii4 #aj2 and the subjects of persecution are the same moral person in their legitimate successors who appeared in ch4 xii4 #ag4 ,they keep the commandments of ,god and the faith of ,jesus1 while the multitude obey unrighteousness1 receiving for doctrines the commandments of men4 ,to animate these sufferers who are in jeopardy every hour and who have the sentence of death as outlaws1 pronounced against them by ,antichrist1 ,john heard a voice from heaven1 directing him to write1--,blessed are the dead which die in the ,lord1 from henceforth4--,to die in the ,lord1--means1 in the faith and hope of the gospel1 relieved by the witness of the ,spirit from the overwhelming fears of the pains of purgatory4 ,both negatively and positively1 this angel testifies against the antichristian dogma of purgatory4 ,he declares that the torments of the wicked continue for ever and ever1 while the righteous who die in the ,lord1 cease from their labours4--,no stronger testimony can be conceived against the more gross papal heresy1 or the more modern and so called philosophical delusions of ,universalists1 ,socinians and others1--all of whom are the offspring of the mother of harlots4 ,but besides the voice from heaven1 and the concurrent witness of the ,spirit1 against the papal dogma of purgatory1 the rest here proclaimed for the comfort of martyred saints1 may be also understood as a termination to their sharp conflicts with ,antichrist4 ,henceforth they rest from their labours1--they shall never again be called to resist unto blood1 striving against sin1 as heretofore1 by the combined opposition of the beast and false prophet1 organized tyranny and idolatry4 ,the ministry of the third angel1 cotemporary with the seventh trumpet1--the third and last woe1 prepares society throughout ,christendom for entering into the millennial rest4 #ad4 ,and ,i looked1 and1 behold1 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 came out of the temple1 crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud1 ,thrust in thy sickle1 and reap2 for the time is come for thee to reap3 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 ,vs4 #ad-af4--,the gathering in of the harvest is sometimes emblematical of mercy1--as when the believer is gathered to his fathers by death4 ,his sanctification being completed1 he is taken home as a shock of corn ripe in his season4 ,reaping and threshing1 however1 are most frequently symbolical of divine judgments1 7,jer4 li4 #cc27 and the apostle refers here to the same event which the ,lord foretold by the mouth of other prophets4 7,joel iii4 #ac-ag2 ,micah iv4 #ab1 #ac47 ,this harvest is emblematical of divine judgment on the nations of apostate ,christendom4 ,he who executes the judgment is one like the ,son of man1 the ,lord ,christ4 ,enthroned on a white cloud as his chariot1 and having on his royal head a golden crown1 the symbol of sovereignty1 at the solicitation1 the loud cry of the symbolic angel1--a gospel ministry1 he thrusts in his sharp sickle1 the emblem of avenging justice1 and with infinite ease1 the earth is reaped4 ,this work of punishing guilty nations is not so proper to the ministry1 the functions of whose office are of a spiritual nature2 yet are they active in a way competent to them1 calling upon the ,lord of the harvest to reap4 ,they judge of the signs of the times4 ,such is part of their appropriate work4 ,thus they say1--,the time is come for thee to reap2 for the harvest of the earth is ripe4 ,the ,lord ,jesus appeared in royal majesty to ,john1 as he had appeared to ,ezekiel1 7ch4 i4 #bf27 and to ,daniel1 7ch4 vii4 #ac47 ,the cloud on which he sat had a bright side towards his saints1 but to his enemies a dark side1 as at the ,red ,sea4 7,ex4 xiv4 #ai1 #bj47 ,the two judgments of the harvest and vintage1 are obviously an allusion to a natural order in the climate of ,judea4 ,not only did the barley and wheat-harvest precede the time of gathering grapes1 but some space elapsed between these labors of the husbandman4 ,the usual order is observed here4 #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 wine-press of the wrath of ,god4 #bj4 ,and the wine press was trodden without the city1 and blood came out of the wine-press even unto the horse-bridles1 by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs4 ,vs4 #ag-bj4--;,as the ministry of the third angel1 7v4 #i17 was final1 as to pronouncing the deserved doom of all the adherents of the antichristian system1 so in the symbols of the harvest and vintage1 we have the execution of that sentence exhibited4 ,the nations of ,christendom1 having drunk the wine of the mother of harlots1 and of her daughters too1 and having exhausted the patience of the ,lord ,jesus1 refusing to repent1 while he warned them by his servants the three angels of reform1--rising early and sending them1 were at length ripe for his sharp sickle4 ,long had he expostulated with them1 saying to them1 while addressing his church1--,the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee 7,o ,zion17 shall perish2 yea1 those nations shall be utterly wasted4 7,isa4 lx4 #ab47--,the desolating judgments of the reigning ,mediator1 having brought those nations to hate the whore1 they become the willing and zealous agents of her destruction1 as appears1 7ch4 xvii4 #af47 ,the gathering of the clusters of the vine of the earth1--is a concise emblematical representation of that tremendous work of punishing the apostate church1 to be exhibited in greater detail in the following chapters4 ,the angel coming out of the temple1--represents the gospel ministry as usual4 ,his having a sharp sickle may import his more immediate agency in this than in the preceding work of the harvest4 ,christ himself judged the nations1--had the sharp sickle2 but in reckoning with impenitent ecclesiastical communities1 he will honor his faithful servants4 ,as in measuring the temple1--the ,mediator held the instrument in his own hand under the ,old ,testament1 7,zech4 ii4 #a17 but under the ,new ,testament gave it into the hand of ,john1 the representative of a gospel ministry1 7ch4 xi4 #a17 so that transaction may illustrate the symbols here4 ,the other angel coming from the altar1 who had power over fire1 is also symbolical of the ministry4 ,the sickle in the hand of the former angel1 is for gathering the grapes2 while the connexion of the latter angel with the altar1 imports that a sacrifice is about to be offered1 as customary1 to appease divine justice4--,the vine of the earth is plainly contrasted with the true vine4 7,ps4 lxxx4 #a2 ,jer4 ii4 #ba47 ,this is a vine of ,sodom with clusters of ,gomorrah1 7ch4 xi4 #h2 ,deut4 xxxii4 #cb1 #cc47 ,it is the symbol of an apostate church1 the chief heresy of which is a practical rejection of the atonement of ,christ2 for it is certain that vindictive justice is an attribute of ,god1 and that he will demand satisfaction from those impenitent sinners who despise his mercy in the gospel offer1 and tread under foot the blood of the covenant wherewith ,christ was sanctified4 7,heb4 x4 #bi47 ,a heavier doom awaits all such than to die without mercy1 which was the penalty for those who despised ,moses' law4 ,no sacrifice is appointed for the man or the church that sins presumptuously4 7,num4 xv4 #cj1 #ca47 ,to all such1 our ,god is a consuming fire4 7,heb4 xii4 #bi47--,the one angel calls upon the other1--encourages his companion1 to execute the judgment of ,god4 ,thrust in thy sharp sickle4--,under the superintendence of the ,mediator1 his servants by their prayers and their sermons have an active part in this work of judgment4 ,from the mouth of the witnesses proceeded fire to devour their enemies1 7ch4 xi4 #e47 ,this is the last work of judgment in which they will be honoured4 ,joining their victorious predecessors who overcame the antichristian combinations by the blood of the ,lamb and the word of their testimony1 7chs4 vi4 #i1 #aj2 xii4 #aa17 these undaunted servants of the ,lord are honored by him as instrumental in the infliction of the final judgments symbolized by the seventh trumpet and the seventh vial1--the third and last woe4--,the wine-press is the symbol of the wrath of ,god1 and its location without the city1 denotes that the churches of the apostacy are excommunicated1--reprobate silver1 because the ,lord hath rejected them4 ,we are not told here by whom the grapes are trodden2 but this is the work of the ,lord ,jesus himself1 who in the days of his flesh on earth forewarned his impenitent foes that he would thus deal with them in his wrath4 ,those mine enemies1 which would not that ,i should reign over them1 bring hither1 and slay them before me4 7,luke xix4 #bg2 ,isa4 lxiii4 #c2 ,rev4 xix4 #ae47--,the blood in depth is to the horse-bridles1 and in extent a thousand and six hundred furlongs1--#bjj miles6 ,although this language is hyperbolical1 it is intended to signify a time of trouble1 such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time2 and at that same time ,god's people shall be delivered1 every one that shall be found written in the book4 7,dan4 xii4 #a2 ,rev4 xiii4 #h47--,thus it appears that church and state1 having combined in the antichristian apostacy1 are severally visited with the unmingled wine of the wrath of ,god4 ,all the saints shall have obeyed the call1--,come out of her1 my people2 and mystic ,babylon shall then be utterly destroyed4 ,whether ,palestine1 the ,pope's patrimony1 or some other territory be understood by the #afjj furlongs1 is matter of vague conjecture by all expositors1 and is to be verified only by the fulfilment of the prediction4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,this chapter introduces the third and last series of symbols under which the prospective history of the church militant is given1 to strengthen the faith and animate the hopes of her suffering and heroic children4 ,the warfare of the witnesses for the crown rights of ,immanuel1 which have been usurped by his enemies1 has been symbolized under the seals1 7chs4 vi4-ix417 and under the trumpets1 7chs4 xi4 xii427 and the symbolic narrative is yet under the vials to be greatly amplified1 especially their last and greatest conflict1 briefly represented in the latter part of the preceding chapter1 7vs4 #i-ah47 ,whether or not the vials1 to which this fifteenth chapter is introductory1 be all comprehended under the seventh trumpet1 as the trumpets are all comprehended under the seventh seal1 is a question upon which respectable expositors differ4 ,it is indeed obvious that the breaking of the last seal1 lays open the whole of the book1 consequently the angels holding the vials would come into view4 ,john1 however1 is obliged to write consecutively some visions which he saw as it were at one view4 ,thus he was about to write what the seven thunders uttered1 7ch4 x4 #d17 but was prohibited4 ,that was not the proper time or place2 but it is there intimated1 7v4 #g17 that in the days of the voice of the seventh angel1 the import of the seven thunders would be disclosed4 ,then would the mystery of ,god be finished1 as he had declared to his servants the prophets4 7,joel iii4 #b1 #ab1 #ac2 ,micah iv4 #c2 ,zech4 xii4 #b-d2 #b ,thess4 ii4 #h47 ,some of the most learned and sober divines1 who wrote on the ,apocalypse during the peninsular war waged by the first ,napolean1 contemplating the anarchical and bloody scenes of the ,french ,revolution1 and the subsequent tyranny and blood connected with the successful wars of the ,gallic usurper1 thought they heard in the commotions of ,european nations the sound of the seventh trumpet1 and saw the plagues inflicted as symbolized by the vials4 ,and thus it is that local events1 which excite the political feelings1 the prejudices and partialities of even good men1 are hastily interpreted as a fulfilment of prophecy4 ,it does not appear1 however1 that those events were either of sufficient magnitude or geographical extent to answer the tremendous symbols of either harvest or vintage4 ,did the ,french revolution1 the ,american revolution1 or the wars of ,napolean ,first1 influence the civilized world or affect the church of ,god1 as ,popery and ,mahometanism have done8 ,no1 the comparison is preposterous4 ,hence it is most probable that ,christendom has not yet heard the alarming sound of the seventh trumpet4 #a4 ,and ,i saw another sign in heaven1 great and marvellous1 seven angels having the seven last plagues2 for in them is filled up the wrath of ,god4 ,v4 #a4--;,another sign in heaven4--,all the visions were seen by the apostle in the same place1 7ch4 i4 #a2 xii4 #a47 ,the word translated sign here is the same as wonder in the twelfth chapter1 which for greater clearness to the ,english reader ought to have been rendered by the same word4--,the symbol or sign consists of seven angels having the seven last plagues1--the last to be inflicted on the ,antichrist1 but not absolutely the last penal inflictions on the enemies of ,god2 for ,gog and ,magog are in like manner to be destroyed1 and there is eternal wrath4 ,upon the ,lamb's taking the book1 and before he had opened the first seal1 songs of joy burst forth from saints and angels1 7ch4 v4 #h1 #i47 ,so it is here4 ,before the angels proceed to execute their commission1 the redeemed of the ,lord1 anticipating the effects of these judgments1 give expression to their joy4 #b4 ,and ,i saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire2 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 ,almighty1 just and true are thy ways1 thou ,king of saints6 #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 manifest4 ,vs4 #b-d4--,the sea of glass1 or transparent sea1 7as in ch4 iv4 #f17 refers us to the brazen sea before the throne of ,god in the temple4 ,in this sea the priests were to wash themselves1 7,exod4 xxx4 #ah1 #ai17 and in water drawn from it the sacrifices were to be washed also4 7,lev4 i4 #i1 #ac47 ,as the brazen sea typified the blood of ,christ1 that fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness1 7,zech4 xiii4 #a17 so this sea of glass is the symbol of the same thing2 for the ,lord washes away the filth of the daughters of ,zion1 and purges the blood of ,jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment1 and by the spirit of burning4 7,isa4 iv4 #d47 ,this happy company were victorious by the blood of the ,lamb1 over the beast1 his image1 his name and number2 having clean escaped from them who live in error1 both in civil and ecclesiastical relations4 ,holding the eucharistic harps of ,god1 they are the same company as those on ,mount ,zion with the ,lamb1 7ch4 xiv4 #a1 #b47 ,there1 their song was called new2 here it is more fully described4 ,there it was said1 no man could learn that song but themselves1 here we have the matter of the song epitomised4 ,it is constructed of two parts1 the song of ,moses and the song of the ,lamb4 ,as the children of ,israel at the ,red ,sea celebrated the praises of ,god's justice in the overthrow of their enemies the ,egyptians1 so do these with united voice express their admiration and praise in anticipation of the final and awful end of these cruel1 idolatrous and persecuting mystical ,egyptians1 7ch4 xi4 #h17 saying1 ,great and marvellous are thy works1 ,lord ,god ,almighty2 just and true are thy ways1 thou ,king of saints4 ,they do also declare their faith in the universal dominion of their ,king2 that all nations shall come and worship before him4 ,and to this day none but the witnesses are prepared either with intelligence or affection to learn or use this song4 ,we have the subject matter of both parts of this triumphant song1 framed by the ,holy ,spirit and incorporated in the ,book of ,psalms1 7as ,ps4 ii4 #h2 xviii4 #cg-de2 xlv4 #c-f2 cx4 #a1 etc47 ,the fortunes of ,god's covenant people till the ingathering of the ,jews1 with the fulness of the ,gentiles1 may be found in ,moses' song1 7,deut4 xxxii4 #a-dc17 and the song of the ,lamb is found in chapter v4 #i-ac4 #e4 ,and after that ,i looked1 and 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 ,vs4 #e1 #f4--;,john looked again1 and saw the temple opened1 that the seven angels might have egress to enter upon their heavenly mission4 ,their clothing resembled the garments of the priests under the law1 white linen and golden girdles1 representing the holiness or moral purity of their work4 ,they shed the blood of the victim1 so to speak1 without soiling their garments2 but the ,lord ,jesus1 whose work of judgment this is1 stains all his raiment1 7,isa4 lxiii4 #c17 for the day of vengeance is in his heart1 7v4 #d47 #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 ,v4 #g4--,one of the four beasts1--animals1 the symbol of the gospel ministry1 as we found1 7ch4 iv4 #f47 ,not all the ministry were employed in this action1 but one only4 ,that is1 some few1 a fractional part1 possessing more insight into the sure word of prophecy1 and endowed with larger measure of heroic spirit by the ,lord ,jesus1 co-operated with holy angels in this work of judgment4 ,he gave the vials into the hand of the angels4 ,by their preaching1 their prayers and their example1 faithful ministers1 unseduced by the blandishments of corrupt power1 and undismayed by the bloody edicts of the beast1--in nothing terrified by their adversaries1 denounce the judgments represented by these vials1 upon the impenitent enemies of the ,lord and his ,anointed4 ,for an illustration of this symbolic action of giving the vials of divine wrath to the appointed agents1 reference may be had to ,jer4 xxv4 #ae-bf2 li4 #g4 #h4 ,and the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of ,god1 and from his power1 and no man was able to enter into the temple1 till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled4 ,vs4 #h4--,the temple filled with smoke1 represents the darkness of these dispensations1 the horror and dismay which seizes upon the votaries of ,antichrist4 ,but during the time of executing these judgments1 the progress of the gospel will be retarded1--no man being able to enter into the temple4 ,it is intimated1 moreover1 that these judgments will1 as it were1 clear away the smoke1 and render the temple once more luminous4 ,so we may conclude by comparing the #dth and #hth verses4 ,in the #dth verse the witnesses declare their faith thus1--,all nations shall come and worship before thee4 ,but this is a description of the millennial state of the world4 7,ps4 lxxii4 #aa47 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,all preliminaries being now arranged1 the seven angels receive their commission by a great voice out of the temple4 ,it is the voice of the ,lord1 full of majesty4 7,ps4 xxix4 #d47--;,as the seals and trumpets were not coincident1 but successive1 so it is doubtless with the vials4 ,no two begin to be poured out at the same time4 ,one follows another in orderly succession4 ,several questions of difficult solution1 arise in the minds of devout and humble students of the ,apocalypse1 respecting the series of the vials4 ,are the vials cotemporary with the trumpets8 ,seeing that the seventh seal included all the trumpets1 does analogy require that all the vials be comprehended under the seventh or last trumpet8 ,or1 do the seven vials come under the last three trumpets1 distinguished as they are by the character of woe-trumpets8 7ch4 viii4 #ac47 ,other questions may here be propounded2 but these seem to be the most obvious and important1 in fixing the time of the events predicted4 ,the breaking of the seventh seal unquestionably laid open the whole of the book1 including all the trumpets and vials1--all future events till the end of the world2 but it does not follow1 for instance1 that the awful scene of the final judgment is to be cotemporary with any of the trumpets1 7ch4 xx4 #aa1 #ab47 ,the seventh seal1 therefore1 discloses important events1 which are to come to pass subsequently to both trumpets and vials4 ,the fact that both trumpets and vials are disclosed by the opening of the last seal1 admits of their being cotemporaneous4 ,from the striking resemblance between the effects of the trumpets and those of the vials1 7ch4 viii4 #g-ab2 xvi4 #b-ab17 they might seem to be cotemporary4 ,this1 however1 is not the case1 for the objects of the judgments are different1 that of the trumpets being more formally the civil empire1 while that of the vials is the ecclesiastical empire2 each1 however1 greatly affecting the other1 because of their unholy union against the cause of ,christ4 ,perhaps it may be most consonant to the mind of the ,spirit to view the vials as agreeing in time with the three woe-trumpets4 ,keeping in view the definite period of ,antichrist's domination in church and state1 #abfj years1 and the probability of its drawing to a close1 the remaining part would seem too short for the period of the vials4 ,as the series of the vials1 like those which in vision preceded them1 is successive1 the application of them all to the ,french ,revolution is simply preposterous4#ab ,that event answered not to the symbol either in extent or duration4 ,nor indeed is there satisfactory evidence in the actual condition of the ,christian world1 notwithstanding the fond imagination of learned and good men1 that the voice of the seventh angel has yet been heard by ,christendom4 #a4 ,and ,i heard a great voice out of the temple1 saying to the seven angels1 ,go your ways1 and pour out the vials of the wrath of ,god upon the earth4 ,v4 #a4--;,earth has here the usual meaning1--the whole territory and population of the ,roman empire1 those only and always exempted1 who are true to the cause of ,immanuel4 ,the angels of destruction cannot hurt those who are under the protection of his blood4 7,exod4 xii4 #bc47 ,they may not come near any man upon whom is the mark4 7,ezek4 ix4 #f2 ,rev4 xiv4 #a47 #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 #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 #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 thus3 #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 altar say1 ,even so1 ,lord ,god ,almighty1 true and righteous are thy judgments4 ,vs4 #b-g4--;,and the first went4--,however disagreeable the service1 as we are ready to suppose1 this holy agent at once obeys the divine command4 ,the best of men hesitate and remonstrate when called to difficult and disagreeable work4 ,so it was with ,moses1 and with ,jeremiah4 7,exod4 iv4 #aj2 ,jer4 i4 #f47 ,but all these heavenly messengers in succession1 execute their respective tasks without gainsaying4 ,it is the will of our common ,lord that his disciples should emulate their example1 that they should know1 obey and submit to his will in all things as the angels do in heaven4 7,ps4 ciii4 #bj1 #ba47--,the judgments upon the antichristian enemies which have been briefly represented in the close of the #adth chapter by a harvest and vintage1 are in this chapter more extensively exhibited by the seven vials4 ,a resemblance to the first four trumpets may be observed in the effects of the first four vials1 and besides1 these plagues resemble those inflicted on ,egypt4 ,if by her crimes1 especially by idolatry and cruelty to the people of ,god papal ,rome has copied the manners of ,egypt and ,babylon1 it is but just that she should be visited with like punishment4--,the first vial selects as victims those who had the mark of the beast and worshipped his image2 and this is true of the succeeding plagues1 although the fact be not repeated4 ,the object of this vial is the earth in a more restricted sense than in the first verse4 ,the earth in the first verse comprises all the parts of a system1 earth1 sea1 fountains1 sun and air1 mentioned in the following verses4--,the noisome and grievous sore1 refers to one of the plagues of ,egypt4 7,exod4 ix4 #i-aa47 ,the earth was the object affected also by the first trumpet2 7ch4 viii4 #g27 but as ,antichrist had not then arisen1 this plague cannot agree in time with the first trumpet1 though it might with the fifth or sixth trumpet2 for while these trumpets were demolishing the eastern member of the ,roman empire1 making way for the development of ,mahomet's imposture1 the little horn of ,daniel1 and ,paul's man of sin1 was revealed in the west4 ,but the two witnesses were coincident in origin with ,antichrist1 and were empowered by the ,lord ,christ to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they would1 7ch4 xi4 #f47 ,the grievous sore is to be understood metaphorically1 not literally2 for so the construction of the ,apocalypse requires4 ,it may import the festering of unmortified corruption among the votaries of ,antichrist1 intensified by the faithful application of the divine law by the witnesses4--,the object of the second vial is the sea1 the same as that of the second trumpet1 7ch4 viii4 #h1 #i47 ,the allusion is to ,exod4 vii4 #bj1 #ba4 ,intestine commotions1 with war1 blood and death1 seem to be symbolized4 ,the horns of the beast were often turned against one another2 for the bestial kingdom was partly broken4 ,the toes in ,nebuchadnezzar's image did not cleave one to another4 7,dan4 ii4 #db1 #dc47--,the object of the third vial is the rivers and fountains of waters1 7ch4 viii4 #aj2 ,exodus vii4 #ai47 ,these symbols may signify the several kingdoms of the empire1 tributary by their wealth and traffic to the great city4 ,and as the witnesses continued to prophesy1 giving increased point and publicity to their testimony1 and as the ,turks were making encroachments upon the territories of nominal ,christian princes in the west1 extensive wars and great slaughter were the results4 ,these awful judgments are followed by the plaudits of two angels4 ,the eternal ,jehovah is recognized as the ,author of these judgments4 ,the ,mediator may here be understood1 7ch4 i4 #h27 7,john v4 #bb1 #bg47 ,the angel of the waters may be the same who poured out the vial4 ,he gives to the ,lord the glory of his justice3--,thou art righteous4 ,he also approves the law of retaliation3--,for they are worthy4 ,the other angel out of the altar speaks on behalf of the martyrs1 7ch4 vi4 #i1 #aj17 recognizing the faithfulness of ,god3--,true and righteous are thy judgments4 #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 plagues2 and they repented not to give him glory4 ,vs4 #h1i4--,the object of the fourth vial is the sun1 7ch4 viii4 #ab47 ,power was given him1--the angel4 ,the two witnesses are represented as armed with fire1 which proceedeth out of their mouth1 devouring their enemies1 7ch4 xi4 #e47 ,as the formal object of all the vials is the ecclesiastical1 rather than the civil empire1 and the sun is the symbol of the chief dignitary1 perhaps this vial strikes more directly upon the man of sin4 ,the expression in the introduction to the vials1 7ch4 xv4 #d17--thou only art holy1 seems to be a testimony against the antichristian name of blasphemy1--,his ,holiness4 ,by the ,reformation1 symbolized by successive angels of the fourteenth chapter1 those valiant men tormented the ,pope and his vassals1 so that they raged and blasphemed more and more1 but repented not to give ,god the glory4 ,so it was at the sounding of the sixth trumpet1 7ch4 ix4 #bj1 #ba47 #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 heaven1 because of their pains and their sores1 and repented not of their deeds4 ,vs4 #aj1 #aa4--,the seat of the beast is the object of the fifth vial4 ,the beast is all along from chapter xi4 #g1 the ,roman empire4 ,the image of the beast1 we have found to be the papacy1 7ch4 xiii4 #ad1 #ae47 ,now the seat 7throne7 of the beast1 would seem to point to the metropolis1 where the ,pope1 as a kind of imperial1 politico-ecclesiastical head1 keeps his court1 and whence decrees are issued4 ,this plague is like the ninth inflicted upon ,egypt1 7,exod4 x4 #ba47 ,it was the last but one1 and left ,pharaoh still impenitent4 ,just so here2 although this vial is the last but one to be poured out on the western limb of the great antichristian conspiracy3 the population of the spiritual empire repress their complaints before men1--they gnawed their tongues for pain2 while they in their hearts curse their king and their ,god1 and look upward4 7,is4 viii4 #ba47 ,this may be understood to be the actual condition of the ,pope and his retainers at the present time1 and especially since the year #ahdh1 when he was forced to flee from ,rome4 ,darkness is the emblem of distress1 of mental despair1 7,ps4 xxxv4 #h2 ,is4 viii4 #bb27 and the actual relation of ,european powers to the see of ,rome1--,austria1 ,france1 ,spain1 and the ,italian states1 is not calculated to mitigate1 but rather to augment and irritate the pains and the sores inflicted by this and former vials4 ,we can1 however1 offer only conjectures here1 and dare not be too confident2 for learned and pious expositors are of the opinion that all the vials are comprehended under the seventh trumpet2 that the seventh trumpet has not yet begun to sound2 and consequently1 that the vials are all future4 ,on the other hand1 equally learned and godly interpreters of these ,apocalyptic hieroglyphics1 are very confident that the sixth vial is in process of pouring out in our present time2 and that in fact its effects are obviously traceable in providence4 ,already we have indicated our humble opinion1 that all the vials are not necessarily comprehended under the seventh trumpet2 inasmuch as the opening of the last seal disclosed equally trumpets and vials3 yet doubtless it is requisite that the series of the trumpets should precede that of the vials1 while nothing hinders that of both series should cotemporate4 ,we may conceive that as the first four trumpets demolished the western member of the ,roman empire1 and the next two the eastern limb1 so the vials may be distributed in a manner somewhat similar4 ,the second woe1 or sixth trumpet1 has not yet finished its appropriate work in the final subversion of the ,turkish empire1 which still exists2 and during the time of its last echoes1 the vials may be supposed to be accomplishing their appropriate work upon the western empire1 as being wholly given to idolatry4 ,while the first five vials are consuming the ,antichrist in the west1 the sixth is operating in the east4 #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 watcheth 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 ,vs4 #ab-af4--,the great river ,euphrates is the object of the sixth vial4 ,by the very general consent of expositors the ,turkish empire is intended by this symbol2 and they seem to be equally agreed that the sixth vial in now in process of pouring out4 ,the object of the sixth trumpet is the same1 7ch4 ix4 #ad47 ,there is1 besides1 an obvious allusion to the ancient literal ,babylon2 and to the manner of its overthrow by ,cyrus the king of ,persia4 7,jer4 l4 #ch2 li4 #cf2 ,dan4 v4 #bf-bh2 ,is4 xliv4 #bg1 #bh47--,this monarch1 as historians relate1 changed the current of the ,euphrates1 and by this means took possession of the city1 while ,belshazzar and his nobles were engaged in a drunken festival4 7,dan4 v4 #a-cj47--,the waters of this river are to be taken as representing the population of the ,ottoman empire1 7ch4 xvii4 #ae47 ,by the kings of the east may be understood the ,jews1 agreeably to the symbolical nature of this book2 7,is4 xli4 #b1 #c27 yet as the ,turkish empire and ,mahometan imposture constitute barriers to the extension of ,christ's kingdom among the populous nations of the east1 as ,popish despotism and idolatry1 obstruct the gospel in the west1 we may give this symbol of the kings of the east a more extensive interpretation4 ,probably a larger proportion of the natural seed of ,abraham are to be found on the west than even on the east of the ,turkish empire4 ,the dynasty of the ,turk is in process of visible exhaustion1 and nothing but what is termed among antichristian nations the balance of power1 prolongs its existence or hinders its extinction4 ,drying up1 evaporation1 is a gradual process1 and with singular precision describes the waning light of the once proud ,crescent1--the expiring breath of what has been termed by a bold figure1 the sick man4#ac--,under this vial1 however1 and likewise as the termination of the second woe1 a general1 final and desperate alliance is to be found to resist the aggressive forces of the ,lord of ,hosts4--,this confederacy is headed by the dragon1 and is identical with the war1 7ch4 xii4 #ag17 against the remnant of the woman's seed4--,these unclean spirits like frogs are called spirits of devils4 ,they come out of the mouth of all the agents1 the dragon1 7ch4 xii4 #c1 #i17 the beast1 7ch4 xiii4 #a17 and the false prophet1--the same as the two-horned beast1 7v4 #aa17 and 7ch4 xix4 #bj47 ,these unclean spirits succeed in gathering the kings of the earth1 by working miracles1 lying wonders4 7#b ,thess4 ii4 #i2 #a ,tim4 iv4 #a1 #b47 ,they are the agents of antichristian ,rome1 spiritual wickedness in high places1 7,eph4 vi4 #ab27--like frogs1 living in moral filth2 garrulous and impudent1 stealthily gaining access into the bedchambers of the kings1 after the manner of ,egypt4 7,exod4 viii4 #c47--,surely the policy of ,rome is here portrayed1 her cardinals1 archbishops1 ,jesuits1 etc41 gaining entrance into the councils and cabinets of princes1 inciting them to debauchery1 tyranny and blood4 ,hellish hosts are thus gathered to the battle of that great day of ,god ,almighty1--the day of the seventh vial1 of the vintage1 7ch4 xiv4 #ah-bj17 and of the seventh trumpet1 7ch4 xi4 #ae27 for all these agree in point of time4--,this will be an hour of temptation1 as intimated in the #aeth verse1 which is a parenthesis1 interrupting a little the narrative of the effects of the vial4 ,there is danger of apostacy1 of falling away to these ,chaldeans1 of temporizing with the enemy in order to escape suffering4 ,thus ,christian soldiers of the cross1 losing the armour of righteousness1 would be exposed to shame4 ,but blessed is he that watcheth1 that looks to the ,captain of ,salvation1 to his cause1 as elucidated by his providence1--the signs of the times2 for so shall he keep his garments1 when others are found naked4--,and he gathered them or rather they gathered1 7for the singular verb agrees with its nominative plural neuter as usual17--the unclean spirits gathered the kings of the earth to the destined place4 ,this hinders not but that these antichristian enemies of the church are brought together by the ,almighty4 ,just so he sent the king of ,assyria against a hypocritical nation4 7,is4 x4 #e-g47 ,and doubtless the prophet ,joel prophesied of this great and decisive battle1 7ch4 iii4 #aa-ad47 ,thither cause thy mighty ones to come down1 ,o ,lord4 ,compare vs4 #a1 #b4 ,the place is called ,armageddon1 the mountain of destruction1 suggesting the issue of the battle in the final overthrow of ,antichrist2 for it is not necessary to suppose that any place is literally pointed out2 but as this is a compound word in the ,hebrew tongue1 allusion may be made to the slaughter of ,sisera's army1 7,judges v4 #ai27 or to the mournful death of ,josiah1 7#b ,chron4 xxxv4 #bb47 #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 fell2 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 talent2 and men blasphemed ,god1 because of the plague of the hail2 for the plague thereof was exceeding great4 ,vs4 #ag-ba4--,the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air4--,the devil is emphatically styled the prince of the power of the air4 7,eph4 ii4 #b47 ,all the preceding vials fell upon their respective and successive objects1 the several parts of the symbolic system2 but this vial of consummation affects the whole of that system at once4 ,the dragon1 the beast1 and his image1 together with the false prophet1--all the kingdoms of this world and the glory of them1 which the god of this world claimed as his own1 and offered to our ,lord ,jesus ,christ in the days of his humiliation1 7,luke iv4 #f1 #g27--;all will be destroyed for ever4 ,he who gave commission by a great voice1 7v4 #a17 to these angels1 now that they have fulfilled his pleasure1 solemnly declares his approbation1--,it is done4 ,the ,lord ,christ had solemnly sworn that in the days of the voice of the seventh angel1 when he should begin to sound1 the mystery of ,god should be finished1 7ch4 x4 #f1 #g47 ,he is faithful to his oath1--,it is done4 ,hence1 it is undeniably evident that the seventh trumpet agrees in time with the seventh vial2 and it is equally evident that the events which they represent are yet future4 ,what was obscurely intimated as following the sounding of the seventh trumpet1--the nations were angry1--and thy wrath is come1 7ch4 xi4 #ah17 is here amplified2 for the voices1 thunders and lightnings1 are the visible and sensible tokens of the wrath of ,god4 7,exod4 xix4 #af2 ,heb4 xii4 #ba47 ,next follows an earthquake1 the usual symbol of revolution2 but this one is without parallel4 ,an earthquake followed the opening of the sixth seal1 7ch4 vi4 #ab27 when paganism was overthrown in the ,roman empire by ,constantine1 and another earthquake marked the close of the second woe1 7ch4 xi4 #ac17 when the tenth part of the city fell3 but this concussion is so mighty and so great as to divide the great city into three parts1 or rival factions3 next1 the cities of the nations fell1--revolted from their wonted allegiance1 and great ,babylon came in remembrance before ,god1 who seemed to have forgotten both her and his saints whom she had so long and so cruelly persecuted4 ,at the fall of ,rome pagan1 mountains and islands were only moved out of their places1 7ch4 vi4 #ad27 but at the fall of ,rome papal1 every island fled away1 and the mountains were not found2--the former indicating transition1 the latter utter destruction4--,the fall of hail is to be viewed as accompanying1 not following1 the fall of cities1 flight of islands and mountains4 ,as hail-stones are symbolical of divine judgments1 and as there may be allusion here to another of the plagues of ,egypt1 7,exod4 ix4 #ah27 so more especially may the facts of history supply the figurative language with which the judgments of the vials terminate4 ,if any escaped the destroying sword in the battle of ,armageddon1 they are overtaken by these ponderous hail-stones out of heaven2 even as the ,lord cast down great stones from heaven upon the five kings of the ,amorites2 so that more died with hailstones than they whom the children of ,israel slew with the sword4 7,jos4 x4 #aa47--,the result is as before2 the survivors remain impenitent4 ,as history supplies no instance of literal hail-stones of a talent weight1 7sixty pounds1 or as others1 a hundred17 so the symbol represents this as the most tremendous of all the judgments of ,god1 7ch4 xiv4 #bj47 ,thus1 we have seen that the last trumpet and the last vial combine1 in the final perdition of ,babylon the great4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,this chapter may be considered introductory to the eighteenth1 or as a digression in the narrative1 to explain more fully the integral parts of that complex1 mystical moral person so often called great ,babylon1 whose destruction was so awfully presented in the foregoing chapter4 #a4 ,and there came one of the seven angels1 which had the seven vials1 and talked with me1 saying unto me1 ,come hither2 ,i will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore1 that sitteth upon many waters2 #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 ,vs4 #a1 #b4--,the angel that talked with the apostle was probably the seventh4 ,the great whore is the symbol of the idolatrous church of ,rome1 which broke her marriage covenant with ,christ4 ,idolatry is spiritual whoredom4 7,hosea vi4 #aj47 ,her sitting upon many waters is explained1 verse #ae4 ,the kings of the earth are her paramours1 and their subjects are partakers in the crime1--made drunk4 #c4 ,so he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness2 and ,i saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-coloured beast1 full of names of blasphemy1 having seven heads1 and ten horns4 #d4 ,and the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet-colour1 and decked with gold1 and precious stones1 and pearls1 having a golden cup in her hand1 full of abominations1 and filthiness of her fornication4 #e4 ,and upon her forehead was a name written1 ,,mystery1 ,,babylon ,,the ,,great1 ,,the ,,mother ,,of ,,harlots1 ,,and ,,abominations ,,of ,,the ,,earth4 ,vs4 #c-e4--,the scarlet-coloured beast is the ,roman empire professing the ,christian religion1 modelled by the ,romish church2 for the woman sits upon the beast1 guiding and controlling all its motions4 7,james iii4 #c47 ,the raiment of both is at once imperial and bloody1--purple and scarlet4--,the raiment of this woman is decked with precious metal1 stones and pearls1 after the usual attire of a harlot4 7,ezek4 xvi4 #ag47 ,the cup alludes to the practice of harlots giving love-potions to their paramours1 very expressive of the indulgences1 absolutions1 preferments1 etc41 by which the church of ,rome attracts disciples to her idolatry4 ,the nations have drunken of her wine2 therefore the nations are mad4 7,jer4 li4 #g47--,the inscription upon her forehead is after the manner of shameless prostitutes1 avowing ,rome's whoredoms of idolatry1 monasticism1 indulgences to sin1 as essential to religion1 a mystery of iniquity1 by which the man of sin thinks to change times and laws4 7,dan4 vii4 #bd1 #be2 xi4 #cf1 #cg47 #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 ,v4 #f4--,this woman1--,christian church1--was drunken with the blood of saints and martyrs4 ,of course1 such a sight would give rise to the apostle's astonishment4 ,the attempt of popish writers to apply this to pagan ,rome's persecutions is demonstrably false2 for ,john could not wonder at the persecution of the church when he was himself an actual victim in ,patmos1 7ch4 i4 #i47 #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 carrieth her1 which hath the seven heads and ten horns4 #h4 ,the beast that thou sawest1 was1 and is not2 and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit1 and go into perdition3 and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder 7whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world17 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 kings3 five have 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 ,vs4 #g-aa4--,the angel explains the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carrieth her4 ,the beast1 the civil power1 carrieth1 sustains the woman1 the church2 as the church controls the state1 7v4 #c2 ch4 xiii4 #a1 #aa1 #af47 ,the beast that was1 and is not1 and yet is1 is a mysterious personage as well as the woman2 therefore all who dwell upon the earth1--not in heaven1 wonder1 7ch4 xiii4 #c-f27--that is1 all the vassals of ,antichrist1 distinguished from those whose names are in the book of life1--the two witnesses4--,the seven heads of the beast signify seven mountains1 on which ,rome literally stands1 namely1 ,capitoline1 ,palatine1 ,aventine1 ,esquiline1 ,coelian1 ,viminal and ,quirinal4 ,here the woman and ,rome are manifestly identical1--the spiritual empire4 ,but the heads of the beast have a double meaning2 for they also signify seven kings or successive forms of civil government4 ,at the time when ,john wrote1 five had fallen2 they had passed into actual history4 ,one was then existing1 namely1 the emperor1 in the person of ,domitian1 as is supposed4 ,this is the imperial head1 whose deadly wound was healed1 7ch4 xiii4 #c47--,the seventh head was not come in the apostles' time1 but on his appearance1 he was to continue a short space4 ,the papacy is not the seventh head4 ,he is a horn4 7,dan4 vii4 #h1 #bj47 ,but a horn of the beast cannot identify with the beast himself4 ,it is otherwise with a head1 which is the form of government over the whole empire4 ,the patriciate succeeded the imperial1 being the seventh head1 and only of short duration1 about fifty years4 ,charlemagne was crowned emperor of the ,romans in the year eight hundred2 and so the patriciate terminated4 ,this is the eighth1 which is of the seven2 and goeth into perdition4 ,this septimo-octave head is so variable1 sometimes acknowledged as residing in ,austria1 then in ,france1 etc41 that for hundreds of years1 the great republic of the nations1--all bestial1--are at a loss to identify the visible head in whom resides the precedency3 hence the balance of power is so perplexing and difficult to adjust4 ,were there an acknowledged imperial and despotic head1 this obvious difficulty could not exist4 ,but the beast is not4 ,nevertheless the arbitrary power of the horns of the beast is sensibly felt in every part of the ,roman empire4--,the beast is1 and will continue till the time of the end2 7,dan4 xii4 #i27 for the ,roman empire must be equal in duration with the life and actings of the two witnesses1 #abfj years4 #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 them2 for he is ,lord of lords1 and ,king of kings2 and they that are with him are called1 and chosen1 and faithful4 ,vs4 #ab-ad4--,the ten horns signify ten kings or regal or civil sovereignties1 into which the empire was to be partitioned after ,john's time1 and which we have seen was effected by the first four trumpets1 7ch4 viii4 #g-ab47--,these received power one hour with the beast1--rather1 at one time1 or cotemporaneously with the beast2 for they are his horns1 and are of one mind1 giving their power and strength1 all their resources1 to him4 ,these shall make war with the ,lamb1 the ,mediator1 headed by the dragon1 and instigated by the beast and his image1 7ch4 xii4 #g2 xiii4 #g47 #ae4 ,and he saith unto me1 ,the waters which thou sawest1 where the whore sitteth1 are peoples1 and multitudes1 and nations1 and tongues4 ,v4 #ae4--,the waters1 controlled by the whore1 are the multitudes whom the apostate church of ,rome commands to volunteer in the wars of the kings against the ,lamb4 #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 ,v4 #af4--,what a surprising change6 yet how natural6 7#b ,sam4 xiii4 #ae47 ,the punishment is that which was adjudged in the case of a priest's daughter4 7,lev4 xxi4 #i47--,the ten horns1 here1 are to be understood generally1 not universally1 7ch4 xviii4 #i2 xix4 #ai47 ,some of those princes that have contributed most to the aggrandizement of the ,romish church1 and been most devoted to her religion1 as the ruler of ,france1 the eldest son of the church1 their catholic majesties of ,austria1 ,spain1 ,portugal1--may be among the first in executing divine judgments on ,babylon4--,make her desolate and naked1 eat her flesh2 that is1 withdraw the lands1 endowments1 etc41 which enriched her monasteries and fattened her bishops1 priests1 etc4 #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 ,v4 #ag4--;,here we are led into the secret cause of the wonderful change in the policy of the horns3 ,god hath put into their hearts4 ,they just do to the great whore1 whatsoever ,god's hand and counsel determined before to be done4 7,acts iv4 #bh4 ,see also ,exod4 vii4 #c2 ,gen4 xiv4 #h2 l4 #bj2 ,ps4 cv4 #be47 #ah4 ,and the woman which thou sawest is that great city1 which reigneth over the kings of the earth4 ,v4 #ah4--,this woman is the great city2 not literally the city of ,rome2 but the imperial ecclesiastical jurisdiction1 to whose authority intoxicated kings and their subjects bowed in slavish submission2 and whose bloody decrees they had executed for #abfj years upon many of their best subjects and fellow-creatures4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 #a4 ,and after these things ,i saw another angel come down from heaven1 having great power2 and the earth was lightened1 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 ,vs4 #a-c4--;,after the apostle had described ,babylon in the preceding chapter1 he saw another angel4 ,this seems to be the ,lord ,christ1 the same as in ch4 x4 #a4 ,he confirmeth the word of his servants1 7ch4 xiv4 #h27 that ,babylon the great has fallen1 and is adequately punished for her crimes1 which are enumerated1 v4 #c4 #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 ,v4 #d4--,the phrase1 my people indicates that the speaker is not a created angel whose warning is here given with a voice from heaven4 ,this call of the ,lord ,jesus has been addressed to his elect1 ever since the revelation of the man of sin4 ,it has been obeyed but partially hitherto3 but upon the sounding of the seventh trumpet1 his ,holy ,spirit will give the call unusual efficacy4 #e4 ,for her sins have reached unto heaven1 and ,god hath remembered her iniquities4 #f4 ,reward her even as she rewarded you1 and double unto her double1 according to her works3 in the cup which he hath filled1 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 heart4 ,i sit a queen2 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 burnt with fire2 for strong is the ,lord ,god who judgeth her4 ,vs4 #e-h4--;,her sins have reached unto heaven1 and now she is to be visited with condign punishment2 although it seemed both to her and ,god's own people long delayed4 ,god hath remembered her iniquities4 ,there is reference to ancient ,babylon's punishment1 and the law of retaliation4 7,jer4 l4 #ae2 ,ps4 cxxxvii4 #h2 ,is4 xlvii4 #a-h47 ,her punishment is destruction from the ,almighty3 strong is the ,lord ,god who judgeth her4 #i4 ,and the kings of the earth who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her1 shall bewail her1 and lament for her1 when they shall see the smoke of her burning4 #aj4 ,standing afar off1 for the fear of her torment1 saying1 ,alas1 alas1 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 more4 #ab4 ,the merchandise of gold1 and silver1 and precious stones1 and of pearls1 and fine linen1 and purple1 and silk1 and scarlet and all thyine wood1 and all manner of vessels of ivory1 and all manner vessels of most precious wood1 and of brass1 and iron1 and marble4 #ac4 ,and cinnamon1 and odours1 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 off1 for the fear of her torment1 weeping and wailing1 #af4 ,and saying1 ,alas1 alas6 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 naught4 ,and every ship master1 and all the company in ships1 and sailors1 and as many as trade by sea1 stood afar off1 #ah4 ,and cried1 when they saw the smoke of her burning1 saying1 ,what city is like unto this great city8 #ai4 ,and they cast dust on their heads1 and cried1 weeping and wailing1 saying1 ,alas1 alas6 that great city1 wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea1 by reason of her costliness6 for in one hour is she made desolate4 ,vs4 #i-ai4--;,at the fall of ,babylon some of the kings who had been her supporters1 will lament for her while utterly unable to protect her1 and afraid of partaking of her plagues4 ,it may be proper to remark1 that the word translated alas1 and repeated in this chapter1 is the same in the ,greek text as that which is rendered1 woe in ch4 viii4 #ac2 from which fact we are to infer that the fall of mystical ,babylon described in this chapter comes under the last three1 or probably the seventh trumpet4 ,that the ,turkish empire is to be overthrown by the sixth trumpet or second woe1 and gradually exhausted by the sixth vial1 hardly admits of a doubt3 but it does not necessarily follow1 that said trumpet and vial are to terminate when that judgment ends4 ,each trumpet and vial may continue its effects for some time after the following one commences4--,kings1 merchants and shipmasters are mentioned as chief mourners1 while they are helpless spectators of this judgment4 ,in all this narrative there is plain allusion to the language of ,old ,testament prophets who predicted the destruction of the enemies of ,god's people2 as ,babylon1 ,tyre1 ,egypt4 ,all these powerful kingdoms have been made desolate for their idolatry and cruelty2 and thus history comes in aid of prophecy to confirm the faith of the saints4 ,the moral government of the ,most ,high is uniform1 and he will execute vengeance upon his and ,zion's impenitent enemies4 ,the merchandise and lamentations are borrowed from ,ezek4 xxvii4 ,in ver4 #ac there is mention made of the persons of men as part of the wares in the markets of ,tyre1 and we find slaves 7bodies7 and souls of men1 among the commodities for sale in modern ,babylon4 ,how can we1 in view of historic facts1 exempt the ,united ,states of ,north ,america from complicity in the crimes of mystic ,babylon as one of her dependencies8 ,while earthly politicians1 sustained by eminent divines1 proclaimed to the world in gushing oratory that ,america was an asylum for the oppressed of all nations1--the land of the free1 and the home of the brave2 perhaps there never was a more effectual refutation of this popular sentiment1 accompanied with a more biting sarcasm1 than that which was uttered in derisive song by the sable1 coffled chain-gang in the streets of the national capital1--,hail6 ,columbia1 happy land6--,all who are acquainted with the internal and political history of the ,united ,states1 know that the adherents of the ,man of ,sin always gave their suffrages for the support and continuance of that cursed traffic4 ,the great variety of the articles of merchandise here enumerated1 is calculated to impress the reader with the idea of the wealth1 luxury1 splendor1 and self-indulgence of the metropolis of the idolatrous ,roman empire1 the mother and mistress of all churches4--,the prophetic declaration1 however1--with feigned words shall they make merchandise of you1 7#b ,pet4 ii4 #c17 is not confined to the ,romish communion4 ,this traffic1 in souls1 pervades all the streets of symbolic ,babylon4--,the overthrow is sudden and unexpected1--in one hour4 ,this is thrice repeated1 7vs4 #aj1 #ag1 #ai47 ,in v4 #ah this spiritual ,sodom is compared to her prototype in her fearful end4 ,they saw the smoke of her burning4 7,gen4 xix4 #bh47 #bj4 ,rejoice over her1 thou heaven1 and ye holy apostles and prophets2 for ,god hath avenged you on her4 ,v4 #bj4--;,judgments on the impenitent enemies of ,god and of the saints1 are mercies to the church4 7,ps4 cxxxvi4 #ae-bj27 and consequently1 while the former are lamenting for the fall of the great city1 the latter are exhorted to rejoice in her ruin1--all the members of the church in general1 and holy apostles and prophets in particular4 ,the apostles are daily worshipped at ,rome in their supposed likenesses1 the work of the cunning artificer2 but here they are mentioned as rejoicing in the destruction of the idolatrous sinners who so greatly dishonoured them1 and detracted from the glory of ,god4--,as there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth1 so is there over the destruction of the impenitent4 7,jer4 li4 #dh47 ,so let all thine enemies perish1 ,o ,lord4 7,judges v4 #ca47 #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 ,vs4 #ba-bc4--,the emblem of a great millstone cast into the sea1 is a very striking indication of the sudden and irretrievable ruin of mystic ,babylon1 and contains an allusion to ,jer4 li4 #fc1 #fd4--,the removal of musicians1 craftsmen1 candles1 etc41 from this devoted city1 as they plainly point to the statuary1 music and paintings which have attracted multitudes to the idolatry1 superstition and harlotry of antichristian ,rome1 emphatically proclaims the utter and perpetual desolation of papal ,rome4 ,the language is borrowed from ,isa4 xxiv4 #h2 ,jer4 xxv4 #aj2 ,ezek4 xxvi4 #ac4--;,her merchants being the great men of the earth1 and the sorceries by which the nations were deceived1 very plainly indicate the successful traffic of the mother of harlots1--the church of ,rome4 #bd4 ,and in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints1 and of all that were slain upon the earth4 ,v4 #bd4--,when the ,lord maketh inquisition for blood1 the blood of all that were slain upon the earth1--for ,christ's sake1 will be found in the skirts of this ,jezebel4 ,papal ,rome has shed more innocent blood than pagan ,rome2 than ,babylon1 ,tyre and ,egypt2 and by her relentless cruelty to prophets and saints1 ministers and members of the witnessing church1 she has endorsed all the murderous persecutions from ,abel down to the present day4 7,luke xi4 #ej1 #ea2 ,acts vii4 #eb47--,now when we contemplate in the light of prophecy1 confirmed by authentic history1 the numberless1 aggravated and long-continued crimes of ,babylon the great1 her pride1 7v4 #g17 her cruelty1 7v4 #c17 her luxury1 her tyranny1 her idolatry1 her fornication1 her impenitence in all1--can we hesitate to acquiesce in the righteousness of her final doom1 or to join in the plaudits of the saints in the next chapter8 ,,chapter ,,xix4 #a4 ,and after these things1 ,i heard a great voice of much people in heaven1 saying1 ,alleluia2 ,salvation1 and glory1 and honour1 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 ,vs4 #a-d4--,the frequent repetition of the ,hebrew word ,alleluia in this chapter1 may perhaps be an intimation of something which specially relates to the ,jews4 ,the perpetuity of the covenant made with ,abraham1 renewed to ,isaac1 and confirmed to ,jacob1 7,ps4 cv4 #i1 #aj17 is clearly taught in the ,scriptures4 7,gen4 xvii4 #g2 ,acts ii4 #ci2 ,rom4 iv4 #ac2 ,gal4 iii4 #ad1 #bi47 ,it has been already intimated1 7ch4 xi4 #ae17 that at the sounding of the seventh trumpet1 there were great voices in heaven1 saying1 ,the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our ,lord and of his ,christ2 and he 7,christ17 shall reign for ever and ever4 ,beholding the overthrow of ,babylon1 all the people of ,god were invited1 7ch4 xviii4 #bj17 to rejoice over her1 for her downfall was effected under the last trumpet and vial4 ,with that invitation the saints here joyfully comply4 ,much people in heaven1 implies a great augmentation of their number1 and as heaven signifies the church on earth1 we are warranted to expect a rapid increase of her membership as the consequence of the sounding of the seventh trumpet4--,at the pouring out of the third vial1 7ch4 xvi4 #g17 the angel of the altar said1 ,true and righteous are thy judgments4 ,the very same sentiment is repeated here by the much people1--all the saints4 ,thus they recognise the faithfulness and justice of ,god1 as he heard and answered the cry of the souls under the altar2 7ch4 vi4 #i1 #aj17 for he had now avenged their blood and that of their brethren that had been killed as they were1 upon them that dwell on the earth1--the population of mystic ,babylon4 7,ps4 cxxxvii4 #h1 #i47 ,and again they said1 ,alleluia2 and her smoke rose up for ever and ever1 like that of ,sodom4 ,in all this1 the ministry and members of the whole church cordially join1 adding their hearty and solemn ,amen6 ,for this protracted joy and exulting praise1 two causes seem to be in operation1 ,god's judgment on ,babylon1 and his mercy on ,zion4 ,both are matter of praise4 7,ps4 ci4 #a47 #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 honour to him2 for the marriage of the ,lamb is come1 and his wife hath made herself ready4 #h4 ,and to her was granted1 that she should be arrayed in fine linen1 clean and white2 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 ,vs4 #e-i4--,this happy company are called upon to renew their song4 ,the call seems to come from some one who is authorized to speak with authority1 out of the throne4 ,all the servants of ,god are invited1 and all appear to respond1 a great multitude4 ,this is the most animated of all the examples of praise recorded in this book4 ,it is compared to the rushing of waters down a cataract1 as the roaring of the sea1 or the rolling of thunder in the heavens4 ,it is indeed the voice of them that shout for mastery1--and all the people shout with a great shout1 for the ,lord hath given them the city1--,alleluia1 praise ye the ,lord1 for the ,lord ,god omnipotent reigneth4 ,thou wilt perform the truth to ,jacob1 and the mercy to ,abraham1 which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old4--,these joyful victors encourage each other to prolong their acclamations3--,let us be glad and rejoice1 444 for the marriage of the ,lamb is come3 and what can that be1 but the recalling of the ,jews8 ,this is the day of our ,new ,testament ,solomon's espousals1 and the day of the gladness of his heart4 7,song iii4 #aa47--,not only the ,jews1 but the great majority of professing ,christians during the #abfj years of ,antichrist's usurpations1 have refused to submit themselves to the righteousness of ,god4 7,rom4 x4 #c47 ,the kings of the earth also have fostered the pride and profligacy of the great whore1 instead of the bride of the ,lamb4 ,the lewd woman1 and the woman in the wilderness hitherto1 are now to be distinguished4 ,as their character and conduct are different1 so is their raiment4 ,the gaudy and splendid attire of the former1 is in striking contrast with that of the latter2 which is that of a woman professing godliness1 7ch4 xvii4 #d2 #a ,tim4 ii4 #aj47--,to her was granted1--,precious words2 for the ,lamb's wife of herself was utterly destitute1 7ch4 iii4 #ag47 ,the ,jews1 in the day of their ,messiah's power1 7,psa4 cx4 #c17 convinced of the law as transgressors1 will be brought to adopt the language of their own prophet1 7,is4 lxi4 #aj27 he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation1 he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness4 ,the righteousness of ,christ imputed for justification1 and the ,spirit of ,christ imparted for sanctification1 together with good works1 the visible evidence of both1 will constitute the fine linen1 clean and white1 which is the righteousness of saints4 ,this is1 after all1 a more costly1 as well as more comely attire1 than that of the mother of harlots4 7,ps4 xlv4 #ac1 #ad47--;,and he saith4--,that is1 say some1 the angel1 7ch4 xvii4 #a1 #g2 or ch4 xviii4 #a27 but we are rather to view him as the same who brings all these messages from ,christ to the apostle1 7ch4 i4 #a47 ,the angel pronounces those blessed who are called to the marriage supper of the ,lamb4--,in the beginning of the ,new ,testament dispensation1 the invitation was to a dinner4 7,matt4 xxii4 #d47 ,the day will have been far spent at the sounding of the seventh trumpet1 when ,jews and ,gentiles are called to this supper4 ,it will be the last great feast of the church militant4 ,but who shall live to partake of the banquet8 ,the angel gives his solemn attestation to these sayings4 #aj4 ,and ,i fell at his feet to worship him4 ,and he said unto me1 ,see thou do it not2 ,i am thy fellow-servant1 and of thy brethren that have the testimony of ,jesus4 ,worship ,god3 for the testimony of ,jesus is the spirit of prophecy4 ,v4 #aj4--,this is a surprising incident1--an aged1 experienced and holy man1 an apostle1 falling down to worship the angel6 ,and we are told that he relapsed into the same sin1 7ch4 xxii4 #h1 #i47 ,like ,peter on the mount1 who wist not what to say2 or ,paul in the third heaven 444 whether in the body or out of the body1 he could not tell4 7,mark ix4 #f2 #b ,cor4 xii4 #c47 ,john had become overpowered by the visions and transported by the high praises which he saw and heard4 ,the like effects were experienced by ,daniel1 7viii4 #ah2 x4 #h1 #ag47--,this sin of idolatry by the apostle was doubtless permitted by the ,lord1 in order to furnish occasion for a testimony from the angel1 against the voluntary humility and worshipping of angels1 7,col4 ii4 #ah27 practised by the ,papists1 and to leave them without excuse4--,the abrupt language of the angel in this and a subsequent case1 is strongly expressive of resentment3--,see--not4 ,such is the curt1 sententious utterance in the ,greek text4 ,he assigns the best reason and strongest argument against idolatry3--,i am thy fellow-servant1 a creature as well as yourself3 we are servants of one ,lord1 who alone is the object of our devotion1 ,worship ,god4 ,this is the best counsel1 enforced by the most cogent reasoning1--,for the testimony of ,jesus is the ,spirit of prophecy4 ,this sentence may be read1--,the ,spirit of prophecy is the testimony of ,jesus2 and it will be equally true4 ,to him give all the prophets witness1 7,acts x4 #dc27 for the ,spirit of ,christ was in them2 7#a ,pet4 i4 #aa27 and this fact is well known to holy angels4 7,eph4 iii4 #aj2 #a ,pet4 i4 #ab47 ,so this angel plainly declares4 #aa4 ,and ,i saw heaven opened1 and1 behold1 a white horse3 and he that sat upon him was called ,faithful and ,true3 and in righteousness he doth judge and make war4 #ab4 ,his eyes were as a flame of fire1 and on his head were many crowns3 and he had a name written1 that no man knew 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 nations1 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron3 and he treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of ,almighty ,god4 #af4 ,and he hath on his vesture1 and on his thigh a name written1 ,,king ,,of ,,kings1 ,,and ,,lord ,,of ,,lords4 ,vs4 #aa-af4--;,heaven opened once more1 allows the apostle to look upon ,messiah the ,prince going forth to fresh conquests4 ,as he began1 7ch4 vi4 #b17 so he continues1 in righteousness to judge and make war2 not as the ambitious tyrants who destroy the earth1 7ch4 xi4 #ah47 ,he has here three names1--,faithful and ,true1 ,the ,word of ,god1 king of kings and ,lord of lords2 yet he has a name written which no man knoweth but he himself4--,his infinite essence and eternal generation are incomprehensible by angels and men4--,he is1 however1 known by his mediatorial titles1--faithful and true to all covenant engagements2 as the prophet of the church1 he declares the ,father1 making known the word of ,god2 and his lordship is at once a warning to his enemies and security to his friends4--,on his head were many crowns1 emblematical of his numerous victories over the princes of the earth1 especially the ten kings1 7ch4 xvii4 #ad47--;,his eyes as a flame of fire1 going though the whole earth in every place1 7,prov4 xv4 #c27 render it impossible for his enemies to elude discovery4 7,jer4 xxiii4 #bd47--;,his vesture dipped in blood1 refers to his victories over all his malicious and impenitent foes4 7,is4 lxiii4 #a-c2 ,rev4 xiv4 #bj47--;,his armies on white horses1 clothed in fine linen1 white and clean1 are uniformed like their leader1 7ch4 xii4 #g27 for they that are with him are called1 and chosen1 and faithful1 7ch4 xvii4 #ad47--,the weapon with which he smites the nations that oppose him1 is the sharp sword1 an emblem of his ruinous and avenging justice2 for he tradeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of ,almighty ,god4--,on his thigh1 where he wears his sword1 there is a legible inscription1 indicating his universal and rightful authority4 #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 horses 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 fire1 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 ,vs4 #ag-ba4--,the position of the angel standing in the sun1 and crying with a loud voice2 represents1 that ,messiah's judgments would be visible to all the world2 and the extent of the invitation to the fowls1 indicates the vast slaughter of his enemies4 ,babylon being utterly burned with fire1 7ch4 xvii4 #af1 xviii4 #h17 as a suitable punishment of an apostate church2 the flesh of kings1 of captains1 of mighty men1 etc41 as a sacrifice to divine justice1 is given as a feast to the fowls of heaven4 ,the allusion here is to the destruction of ,gog and ,magog4 7,ezek4 xxxix4 #ag-bj47 ,these enemies of the saints are to appear and be overthrown before the millennium2 and although ,john borrows the names of these enemies1 7ch4 xx4 #h17 they are not the same as those of ,ezekiel2 the one appearing before1 the other after the thousand years4 ,we have often found the enemies of the church called in the ,apocalypse by the names of persecutors under the ,old ,testament2--,babylon1 ,egypt1 etc4--,we may consider the fowls1 the birds of prey1 as symbolizing the kings who retaliate upon ,babylon2 7as in ch4 xvii4 #af27 or rather1 as the ,lord's people reclaiming their own1 of which they had been unjustly and long deprived1--spoiling the ,egyptians4 7,exod4 xii4 #cf47 ,some suppose that the confederacy of the kings of the earth with the beast1 7v4 #ai17 is a distinct attack from that mentioned in chapter seventeenth2 7v4 #ad27 but perhaps it is safer to consider it as the same1 only more distinctly and fully exhibited here4 ,indeed it seems1 from the agency of the false prophet1 to be the same event as that under the sixth vial1 7ch4 xvi4 #ad27 preparing to the battle of ,armageddon4 ,the ,lord ,jesus as captain of the ,lord's hosts1 and the army of heaven following him1 all of them on white horses1 appear to be on the one side2 and the beast with the kings of the earth1 instigated by the false prophet1 on the other4 ,the rank and file like their leaders are described as having received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image4 ,but the beast of the earth1 7ch4 iii4 #aa17 causes all ranks to receive the mark1 and worship the image of the beast1 7vs4 #ae1 #af7 ,the beast of the earth1 the woman1 and the false prophet1 all mean the same thing2 and that is1 an apostate church in alliance with tyrannical civil powers1 7ch4 xvii4 #c47 ,now1 if the great city ,babylon1 a symbol which comprises the whole antichristian confederacy1 has been utterly destroyed1 as appears in the eighteenth chapter1 whence come these enemies bearing the same characters8 ,the only solution of this apparent difficulty is by supposing as we have done1 that this is a re-exhibition of what has been more obscurely symbolized1 7ch4 xiv4 #bj2 xvi4 #ag2 xvii4 #af2 xviii4 #b1 #h1 #bj17 in order more distinctly to point out the end of two principal leaders1--the beast and the false prophet1 the empire and church of ,rome4 ,these both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone4--,the remnant were slain4 ,when the leaders were discomfited1 the ranks were soon broken1 and the whole army melted away4 ,they were slain with ,messiah's sword1 the emblem of his justice1 7ch4 i4 #af47 ,thus ,babylon is fallen1 to rise no more at all3 all the visible enemies of the ,lord and his ,anointed are cut off from the face of the earth3 and it remains only that he who originated the rebellious conspiracy be put under necessary restraint4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 #a4 ,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 that1 he must be loosed a little season4 ,vs4 #a-c4--;,and ,i saw an angel4 ,this angel is the ,lord ,christ1 7ch4 x4 #a47 ,the key is the symbol of authority4 7,is4 xxii4 #bb2 chs4 i4 #ah2 iii4 #g47 ,the dragon had been previously cast down from heaven1 7ch4 xii4 #i27 by the ,reformation1 and during the short time of his liberty1 he persecuted the woman and the remnant of her seed1 on the earth4 ,now1 however1 his career is arrested4 ,seizing1 binding1 casting into the abyss1 shutting up1 and setting a seal upon that old serpent1 7ch4 xii4 #i17 are strong figurative expressions1 by which his secure confinement is signified4 ,thus is the devil to be restrained from deceiving the nations for a thousand years4 ,that this period is to be taken in a proper1 and not in a mystical sense1 appears thus4 ,if we multiply one thousand by three hundred and sixty1 as some fancifully do1 the resulting number of years1 three hundred and sixty thousand1 would be out of all proportion to the past duration of the world1 as well as the well-defined period of #abfj years4 ,add to this1 that when by ,daniel and ,john definite duration is symbolically mentioned1 it is by months1 days2 time1 times and a half a time1 or the dividing of time1--never by years4 ,at the expiration of the thousand years1 ,satan will be loosed a little season1--little1 as compared with the thousand years2 so little1 as not to be deemed worth estimating4 #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 hands3 and they lived and reigned with ,christ a thousand years4 ,v4 #d4--;,and ,i saw thrones4 ,here there is no mention of heaven being opened4 ,nothing henceforth obstructs ,john's vision4 ,the darkness is past1 and the true light now shineth4--,at evening time it shall be light4 7,zech4 xiv4 #g47--;,and they sat on them4 ,who8--,there is here what may be termed a remarkable chasm in the language of the text4 ,there is no visible or proximate antecedent4 ,who are they who sit on thrones8 ,did ,millenarians only put this question1 and patiently search for the solution in the context1 agreeably to the allegorical texture of this whole book1 all their hallucinations might be easily and happily obviated4 ,the inspired writer assumes1 of course1 that the reader will readily identify these persons1 who are thus promoted to honour1 now that ,antichrist is no more1 and society is to be reorganized4--,daniel furnishes a satisfactory answer to our question4 ,i beheld till the thrones were cast down4 7,dan4 vii4 #i47 ,the ,roman imperial thrones of civil despotism were subverted4 ,again1--,but the judgment shall sit1 and they shall take away his dominion1 to consume and to destroy it unto the end4 7v4 #bf47 ,the ,roman imperial throne of ecclesiastical domination shall be destroyed4 ,then when ,messiah shall have put down all rule1 and all authority and power1 of both sorts of tyranny1 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 kingdom1 and all dominions1 7rulers7 shall serve and obey him1 7v4 #bg47 ,the saints of the ,most ,high1 according to ,daniel1 are to be exalted to civil rule1 and these are the same whom ,john saw sitting on thrones4 ,now1 the effect of the seventh trumpet becomes a fact in history4--,the kingdoms of this world1 which had been controlled by the beast1 and bewitched by the sorceries of the lewd woman1 are become the kingdoms of our ,lord and of his ,christ4--,for in the millennial state of the world1 there will be a plurality of kingdoms4--,hence a very common petition of pious but ignorant people1--,that the kingdoms of this world may soon become the kingdom of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 neither will1 nor ever can be answered4--,under the righteous and benign administration of the saints1 kings shall be nursing-fathers1 and their queens nursing-mothers to the church3 for the nations and kingdoms that would not serve her1 have perished2 yea1 those nations have been utterly wasted4 7,is4 xlix4 #bc2 lx4 #ab47--,the souls which the apostle saw under the altar1 whose cry for vengeance he heard1 and who were directed to rest for a little season1 till the roll of their martyred brethren should be completed1 are here presented in quite a new position1 sitting on thrones1 7ch4 vi4 #i47 ,although they are not the same identical persons physically1 they are the same morally2 for the life of the two witnesses is commensurate with the reign of ,antichrist1--twelve hundred and sixty years4 ,these lived and reigned with ,christ a thousand years2 that is1 in their successive generations3 for otherwise they would over-live the age of ,methuselah6--,souls are here evidently persons1 and not souls as distinct from bodies1 as some needlessly argue against ,millenarians3 for foreheads and hands are attributed to them3 but foreheads cannot be literally ascribed to those who had been beheaded4 ,their living is to be understood of their succeeding to the same scriptural position occupied by their predecessors1 as well as succeeding them in the order of natural generation4 ,the ,holy ,spirit says1 ,levi1 who receiveth tithes1 paid tithes in ,abraham4 7,heb4 vii4 #i1 #aj47 ,elijah reappeared in the person of ,john the ,baptist4 7,matt4 xi4 #ad47 ,jezebel and ,balaam were recognised in their wicked successors1 7ch4 ii4 #ad1 #bj47 ,but this is the very structure of the ,apocalypse1 being composed of hieroglyphics1 that the free agency of the wicked might be left untrammelled1 and the diligence of ,god's people might be tested in searching the ,scriptures4 #e4 ,but the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished4 ,this is the first resurrection4 ,v4 #e4--,the rest of the dead supposes two classes of the dead4 ,these are the witnesses1 who died a violent and cruel death1 and the wicked1 who died a natural death1--there were no bands in their death4 ,as there are two kinds of death1 so are there two kinds of resurrection1--a first and second of each4 ,those who had been beheaded for the witness of ,jesus1 etc41 lived in their successors1--sat on thrones1 reigned with ,christ a thousand years4 ,of course those who were slain by ,christ and his army at the battle of ,armageddon1 and whose flesh was given to the fowls of heaven1 lived not again in their successors1 until the thousand years were finished4 ,consequently1 this is the first resurrection1 with which the true disciples of ,christ shall be honoured4 ,they must1 however1 die as all others1 and await the second resurrection3 but on them the second death shall have no power4 #f4 ,blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection2 on such the second death hath no power2 but they shall be priests of ,god and of ,christ1 and shall reign with him a thousand years4 ,v4 #f4--;,blessed and holy1--and blessed1 because holy2 for sin is the procuring cause of misery4 ,this is a summary description of the millennial period4 ,the dragon being bound by the almighty power of ,christ1 and not permitted to deceive the nations1 wars shall cease unto the ends of all the earth3 the population of the globe must be rapidly and greatly multiplied beyond all precedent4 7,ps4 xlvi4 #i2 lxxii4 #af17 the life of man will be prolonged2 7,isa4 lxv4 #bj-be17 holiness1 righteousness and praise shall spring forth before all the nations1 7lxi4 #aa47 ,that condition of our globe1 which divines call the millennium1--a state of holiness and happiness1 second only to the enjoyment of heavenly felicity1 is as clearly and frequently promised to ,god's people1 as the promise of the ,messiah was under the former economy4 ,but as many were in expectation that the kingdom of ,god should immediately appear1 who then entertained unwarrantable and carnal conceptions of the ,messiah's person and reign1 just such groundless and gross expectations and aspirations are cherished now4 ,a literal resurrection of all the righteous1 who shall have died before the millennium is supposed to take place at the personal appearance of ,christ2 and this1 too1 before the general judgment4 ,by personal1 they mean corporeal3 for the ,lord ,christ promised his gracious personal presence with his people all days1 when he was about to disappear from their bodily vision4 7,matt4 xxviii4 #bj47 ,to them that look for him shall he appear the second time1 7not a third17 without sin unto salvation4 7,heb4 ix4 #bh2 ,rev4 i4 #g47 ,besides1 is it for a moment supposable that saints who have passed into glory1 are to be brought upon earth to conflict once more with enemies1 when ,gog and ,magog shall surround the camp of the saints8 ,such is a specimen of questions suggested by the ,millenarian system1 which have failed of either scriptural or rational solution by all the learning and ingenuity of its fanciful advocates4 ,the whole series of the ,apocalypse proves that the two witnesses live and prophesy throughout the #abfj years of ,antichrist's reign4 ,their lives and their testimony end together1 7ch4 xi4 #g47 ,but the beast that slays them is himself with his ally1 the false prophet1 at the close of the contest1 cast alive into the lake of fire1 7ch4 xix4 #bj47 ,after three and a half prophetical days1 the witnesses are raised1 and ascend up to heaven1 7ch4 xi4 #ab27 and this is the identical fact which is more fully presented here in the #bjth chapter4 ,the resurrection of the witnesses in the #aath chapter is a spiritual and mystical resurrection in the persons of their successors2 the heaven to which they were exalted is a mystical heaven3 and just so of those beheaded and advanced1 after their resurrection1 to positions of civil and ecclesiastic power as in this #bjth chapter4 ,thus exalted1 and ruling in the fear of ,god1 they become a terror to evil doers1 and a praise to them that do well4 7,rom4 xiii4 #c47 ,then shall be realized the glorious predictions of ,isaiah and the ,sweet ,psalmist of ,israel4 7,isa4 xi4 #a-i2 ,ps4 lxxii4 #a7 #g4 ,and when the thousand years are expired1 ,satan shall be loosed out of his prison4 #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 ,vs4 #g-i4--,satan shall be loosed out of his prison4--,the ,lord ,christ will remove the restraint which had repressed the chief enemy during the thousand years1 that the ,faithful and ,true ,witness may give a final testimony to the moral universe1 that neither the philosophy of proud man1 nor the law of ,moses1--no1 nor the ordinances of the gospel1 will ever change the nature of a sinner3--,that neither judgments nor mercies have any efficacy to subdue the stubborn will1 or renew the desperately wicked heart of man2 and that it is a righteous thing with ,god to render tribulation to them that trouble his saints and insult his ,majesty4 ,thus released for a little season1 the prime enemy goes out as before to deceive the nations4 ,he is successful4 ,the rest of the dead1 who lived not again during the #ajjj years1 at once re-appear in the persons of their genuine successors4 ,they are the children of them that killed the witnesses2--the seed of the serpent aiming a last fatal stroke at the seed of the woman4--,they are called ,gog and ,magog2 and because of the identity of names1 many have supposed them to be the same as those enemies of the people of ,god described by ,ezekiel1 7chs4 xxxviii41 xxxix47 ,this view is1 however1 without sanction in the ,scriptures4 ,the characters are mystical according to the uniform structure of the ,apocalypse4 ,ezekiel's ,gog and ,magog come from the north quarters2 those of ,john from the four quarters or corners of the earth4 ,it is also probable1 if not absolutely certain1 that the enemies predicted by ,ezekiel are to appear before1 while those of ,john are to arise after the millennium4 ,the overthrow of ,gog and ,magog1 foretold by ,ezekiel1 is evidently connected with the conversion of the ,jews1 7ch4 xxxix4 #bb1 #bi27 but that event must precede the millennial period4 7,rom4 xi4 #bf47--,magog is reckoned with ,meshech and ,tubal among the sons of ,japheth1 7,gen4 x4 #b27 and those nations called in history ,scythians and ,tartars1 in the north quarters of ,europe and ,asia1 as well as the isles of the ,gentiles1 are supposed to be their descendants4 ,by the three unclean spirits1 7ch4 xvi4 #ac17 a confederacy was effected under the sixth vial to the battle of ,armageddon2 and the same is again presented in ch4 xix4 #bj1 as the final attempt against the saints previously to the millennium1 when two of the prime instigators1 the beast and the false prophet1 are cast into the lake of fire4 ,thus we may suppose eastern and western ,antichrist finally destroyed4 ,ezekiel's ,gog and ,magog being slain in the battle of ,armageddon1 how or where shall we find those of ,john8 ,they are to be found precisely on the same principle on which we find the witnesses of ,christ in this chapter4 ,satan is loosed a little season1--little as compared with the thousand years of ,messiah's reign2 or rather1 as compared with the #abfj years of the dragon's successful enterprises against the saints through the beast and false prophet as agents4 ,these being now cast into the lake of fire1 ,satan is for ever deprived of their agency4 ,during the millennial period people will be born in sin as at other times2 and at the close of that happy period1 ,almighty ,god will display his sovereignty by withholding his grace1 that a last demonstration may be given to all the world of the necessity and efficacy of that grace in changing the heart of a sinner4 ,without the intervention of the beast or the false prophet1 ,satan will prevail by more direct temptations to gather together to battle a multitude of the same spirit as ,ezekiel's ,gog and ,magog displayed against the saints before the millennium4 ,these are the rest of the dead that lived not again till the one thousand years were finished4 ,as the deadly wound of the civil beast was healed1 and he received a new life1 to the astonishment of spectators1 7ch4 xiii4 #c17 as the witnesses received the ,spirit of life from ,god1 to the dismay of their enemies2 7chs4 xi4 #aa2 xx4 #d17 so ,gog and ,magog re-appear in the persons and bloody cruelties of their genuine successors4 ,and in language similar to that in the context we may warrantably say1--this is the second resurrection2 for when it is declared that the rest of the dead lived not again1 it is manifest that two classes of dead are intended4 ,all are said to be dead2 the witnesses1 slain by the beast2 their enemies1 slain by the ,lord4 ,the witnesses rise1 and this is the first resurrection4 ,a first implies a second of the same kind4 ,well1 the rest lived not again till the thousand years were finished4 ,what then8 ,why1 simply this1--that the other remaining class of the dead lived again2 and this appears to be the obvious scope and meaning of these terms1 so vexing to many critics4 ,by deception ,satan prevails to assemble the nations in vast multitudes1 as the sand of the sea1--a proverbial form of expression applied to ,abraham's seed4 7,gen4 xxii4 #ag47 ,they went up on the breadth of the earth4 ,coming from the four quarters of the earth1 they compassed the camp of the saints4 ,the allusion here is twofold3 to ,israel in the wilderness1 in the time of ,moses2 and to the holy city ,jerusalem1 in the days of ,david2 7,ps4 cxviii4 #aj-ab17 for often did the enemy with joint heart attempt to cut off the name of ,israel4 7,ps4 lxxxiii4 #d-h47 ,never was ,pharaoh or ,sennacherib more confident of a sure and easy victory over the saints4 7,exod4 xv4 #i2 ,isa4 xxxvi4 #bj47 ,as in the days of ,noah1 most of the generation of the righteous had been taken home to glory before the ungodly were destroyed by the deluge1 so we may suppose the camp of the saints to be but a little flock1 when assailed for the last time1 while they are in a militant state4--,the issue in this case1 however1 will be more decisive and glorious than any other battle with the powers of darkness4 ,we may adopt and apply the words of the prophet to ,god's people in the time of ,jehoshaphat3--,thus saith the ,lord1--,be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude2 for the battle is not yours1 but ,god's4 ,ye shall not need to fight in this battle4 7#b ,chron4 xx4 #ae1 #ag47--;,fire came down from ,god out of heaven1 and devoured this great multitude4 ,this most dreadful of all elements in the material universe1 is that which is commonly employed to represent the wrath of ,god4 ,by it ,sodom and ,gomorrah were destroyed1 ,corah and his rebellious company1 the captains and their fifties2 fire proceeded out of the mouth of the two witnesses and devoured their enemies2 ,gog and ,magog are consumed by this element2 the heavens and the earth which are now1 are reserved unto fire2 the ,lord ,jesus shall be revealed from heaven 444 in flaming fire1 taking vengeance on them that know not ,god1 and that obey not the gospel1--most probably these very enemies2 and all such are to be consigned to the fire that never shall be quenched4 ,awful thought6 ,tremendous destiny6 ,who would not fear thee1 ,o ,lord2 who art a consuming fire to all thy impenitent enemies8 #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 ,v4 #aj4--,the first rebel against the righteous authority of the ,lord and his ,anointed1 and the ceaseless instigator of all rebellions of individual and social man1 is the last to be consigned to adequate punishment4 ,when the ,lord first called sinners to account1 the same order is noticeable3 ,first1 ,adam1 then ,eve1 and last the serpent4 ,the beast and the false prophet are already in the lake of fire2 7ch4 xix4 #bj27 and now1 ,satan1 who is here called the devil1 is dismissed after them1 that they may all be tormented for ever and ever1--words1 as already noticed1 which are the strongest in the ,greek language1 to convey to the human mind the idea of endless duration4 #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 ,god3 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 books 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 cast 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 ,vs4 #aa-ae4--,nothing now remains to bring to a close the moral administration of ,messiah1 but the raising of the dead and pronouncing final sentence on all the subjects of his government4 ,there is no intimation that any events shall intervene between the casting of the devil into the burning lake1 and the appearing of the ,judge4 ,the great white throne is suitable to the majesty and holiness of the ,judge4 ,he is not at first called by any name1 for every eye shall see1 and seeing1 recognise his divine dignity4 ,in the next verse he is styled ,god1 not to identify him1 but as a matter of course in the narrative4--,no sooner did the ,judge take his seat1 than the earth and the heaven fled away4 ,the simplicity and sublimity of this language are inimitable by human genius2 and rarely if at all equalled1 even by those who spake as they were moved by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the first inspired writer uses language very similar4 7,gen4 i4 #c47 ,we are frequently and sufficiently taught that the ,lord ,christ in person is to be the judge of quick and dead4 7,acts xvii4 #ca47 ,all must appear before the judgment seat of ,christ4 7#b ,cor4 v4 #aj47 ,no person is competent to this work of judgment but one who is omniscient and omnipotent1 not to speak of other divine perfections4 ,the ,judge of all the earth is a divine person1 possessed of all the attributes of deity2 and as there is not now among apostate angels1 so there will not then be a child of ,adam1 to deny the supreme deity of ,jesus ,christ4 7,matt4 viii4 #bi47 ,of this he gave intimation at the beginning of the ,apocalypse3--,every eye shall see him1 and they also which pierced him1 7ch4 i4 #g27 yes1 they pierced him for blasphemy1 because that he1 being a man1 made himself ,god4 7,john x4 #cc47 ,here the ,judge on the throne demonstrates to an assembled universe1 the scriptural warrant for the language of the ,reformers when they say he is very ,god1 and very man4 ,god is judge himself1 7,ps4 l4 #f17 in the person of the ,father2 but he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness1 by that man whom he hath ordained4--7,acts xvii4 #ca47 ,before the righteous ,judge shall be gathered all nations1 7,matt4 xxv4 #cb17 all that have ever lived upon the earth1 from the creation till the end of time1 all ranks and degrees1 however diversified by sex1 age1 or social position2 righteous and wicked1 ,jews and ,gentiles1 ,herod and ,pontius ,pilate1 ,cain and ,abel1 ,judas1 etc4 ,in order to this general assize1 the dead shall hear the voice of the ,son of ,god1 7,john v4 #be1 #bh1 #bi27 and many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake1 some to everlasting life1 and some to shame and everlasting contempt4 7,dan4 xii4 #b47 ,the sea1 death and hell1 or the grave1 7or rather1 the place of souls as separated by death from their bodies17 which are thus awfully1 but beautifully personified1 shall surrender their respective tenants1 that they may stand before the ,son of man in judgment4--,only such as have died are mentioned here3 but some will not die1 but remain alive unto the coming of the ,lord1 the judge2 and these1 it is probable1 will be the camp of the saints which have been miraculously delivered from the rage of ,gog and ,magog1 7vs4 #h1 #i47 ,there is a beautiful order in the final resurrection4 ,the dead in ,christ shall rise first4 7#a ,thess4 iv4 #af2 #a ,cor4 xv4 #bc47 ,next will be raised the wicked2 for like sheep they are laid in the grave2 death shall feed on them1 and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning4 7,ps4 xlix4 #ad47 ,the dead1 being all raised1 those who shall be alive will undergo a change equivalent to death1--in a moment1 in the twinkling of an eye2 for these shall not prevent 7anticipate7 them which were asleep2 that is1 they will not be changed until their companions are called from the grave1 etc4 ,all being now before the judgment seat of ,christ1--the books are opened6 ,oh1 what emotions will swell and heave the bosoms of the righteous6--joy unspeakable and full of glory3 for before the sentence of acquittal is publicly pronounced1 their position on the ,judge's right hand indicates the sentence4 ,and next what terror insupportable will now seize the wicked6 ,what fearful looking-for of judgment and fiery indignation1 when in breathless suspense1 they await the just sentence1--,depart from me1 ye cursed1 into everlasting fire1 prepared for the devil and his angels6 7,matt4 xxv4 #da2 ,heb4 x4 #bg47 ,the righteousness of this sentence will be attested by the opened books1--of the divine omniscience1 the human conscience1 and in the case of gospel-rejecters1 the ,bible4 7#b ,thess4 i4 #g1 #h47 ,and the like condemnation would pass upon the righteous1 but that another book is opened1 in which are inscribed the names of all the objects of ,god's electing love3 and this will be the key-note in their songs of praise to all eternity4 7,jer4 xxxi4 #c2 ,rev4 i4 #e47 ,all are judged according to their works1 as these are witnessed by the books1--for their works do follow them1 7ch4 xiv4 #ac47 ,death and hell were cast into the lake of fire4 ,death1 or the grave2 hell1 or the separate state1 will never again be needed1 as prisons to keep their inmates for trial4 ,the lake of fire is the place of ceaseless and endless torment for all who are not found written in the book of life2 and this place seems to be distinct from the bottomless pit1 ,satan's prison1 out of which he had been loosed1 7v4 #g47--,of the beast it was said1 he ascendeth out of the bottomless pit1 but not that he was remanded thither again3 he is said to go into perdition1 which must be the lake of fire4 7,compare ch4 xvii4 #h1 with xix4 #bj2 and xx4 #a-c with v4 #aj47--,the plain and obvious meaning of these closing verses of the #bjth chapter1 as delineated in its general import by appropriate and familiar symbols and intelligible words1 for ever excludes1 and emphatically condemns the conscience-stupifying heresies and blasphemies of ,unitarians and ,universalists4 ,the ,god-man ,mediator1 seated upon the throne of his glory1 before whose face the earth and the heaven fled away1 is thus evidenced to be the ,son of ,god1 ,jehovah's ,fellow4 ,and we may here adopt the assertion and caution of the beloved disciple1--,this is the true ,god and eternal life4--,little children1 keep yourselves from idols4 7#a ,john v4 #bj1 #ba47--,moreover1 these verses reveal a place or state1 more to be dreaded than the killing of the body1--the lake of fire1 which is the second death1 where their worm dieth not1 and the fire is not quenched4 7,matt4 x4 #bh2 #b ,thess4 i4 #h-aj2 ,heb4 x4 #bf-ca47 ,with the #bjth chapter of the ,apocalypse terminate the events of time1 in which the divine ,author demonstrates1 that known unto him are all his works1 from the beginning of the world4 7,acts xv4 #ah47 ,many1 indeed1 of the learned and pious have supposed the remaining chapters of the ,apocalypse1 to be a description of the church on earth during the millennial period4 ,but besides the series1 coherence and dependence of the several parts of the book1 precluding such retrogression1 this interpretation overthrows the scriptural distinction between the militant and triumphant state of the church4 ,and it is not to be thought out of place1 that the inspired prophet should describe1 by suitable emblems1 the outline of the heavenly state2 for this he has done briefly already in a number of instances4 7,see chs4 ii4 and iii41 also ch4 vii4 #ae1 #ag47--,those who consider the last two chapters as a delineation of the church on earth1 have first formed in their minds ideas of a corporeal or bodily presence of ,christ1 and of a literal and visible reign on the earth4 ,such views we have already shown to be without scripture warrant1 yea against plain declarations of the ,holy ,spirit1 7as ,acts iii4 #ba2 ,matt4 xvii4 #aa1 #ab2 ,heb4 ix4 #bh47 ,hence we shall contemplate the symbols of the following chapters1--except as incidents or allusions may render this incompatible1--as shadowing forth the glories of the church's heavenly state4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 #a4 ,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 heaven1 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 eyes3 and there shall be no more death1 neither sorrow nor crying1 neither shall there be any more pain3 for the former things are passed away4 #e4 ,and he that sat upon the throne1 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 end3 ,i will give unto him that is athirst1 of the fountain of the water of life freely4 #g4 ,he that overcometh shall inherit all things3 and ,i will be his ,god1 and he shall be my son4 ,vs4 #a-g4--;,it is unquestionable that the phrase new heavens and a new earth is to be understood sometimes as descriptive of moral renovation in the world4 ,as the moral change affected by grace in the character of an individual sinner is called a new creation1 and is in truth no less1 so in respect to a community4 ,the analogy in this case is the same as between a revolution and an earthquake4 ,thus1 we must understand ,is4 lxv4 #ag1 lxvi4 #bb1 of that great moral change which will characterize the millennium4 ,but the new heaven and the new earth are here contrasted with the first heaven and the first earth which were passed away1 7ch4 xx4 #aa47 ,the apostle ,peter describes the very same grand and glorious change4 ,mingling the important facts of authentic history with the future facts of prophecy1 he tells us that the heavens and the earth which are now1 444 are reserved unto fire4--,he speaks obviously of the visible heavens and earth4 ,these heavens shall pass away 444 and the earth also1 444 shall be burnt up4 ,he adds1--,we look for new heavens and a new earth1 wherein dwelleth righteousness4 7#b ,pet4 iii4 #g1 #ac47--,there was no more sea1 no more disorderly passions1 animosities1 arising from human depravity1 to interrupt the delightful harmony and fellowship of saints in glory4 ,it is estimated that about two thirds of this world are occupied by water4 ,in that happy place occupied by the people of ,god1 there is no sea2 consequently1 yet there is room1 many mansions1 room enough for all the redeemed4 ,the holy city1 compared to a bride1 two very incongruous emblems1 shows the poverty of symbols1 their inadequacy to represent the church triumphant3 how then shall created objects furnish suitable emblems of the glorious and glorified ,bridegroom8 ,in vision the city seemed to the apostle as if suspended in the air on the same plane with himself2 for now he stood neither on the sand of the sea1 7ch4 xiii4 #a17 for there was no more sea1 nor upon the earth1 for it was passed away4 ,no intervening object could obstruct his view4--,he heard a voice from heaven1 saying1 ,behold1 the tabernacle of ,god is with men1 and he will dwell with them1 as his reconciled and beloved people4 ,as a tender ,father1 he will wipe away all tears from their eyes4 ,there shall be no more death1 either of themselves or their beloved friends1 to open the fountain of tears any more for ever4 ,but death is the last enemy to be destroyed2 7#a ,cor4 xv4 #bf27 how then can these words apply to any state short of immortality in heaven8 ,neither sorrow nor crying1--for sin or suffering2 neither shall there be any more pain1 causing tears or cries3 and what is this but heaven8 ,yes1 the former things are passed away4 ,now he that hath the bride is the bridegroom1 and she shall never be false to her marriage covenant any more4--,he that sat on the throne1 denotes the ,father most frequently in this book1 as he is distinguished from the ,son2 but the ,son is set down with his ,father in his throne1 7ch4 iii4 #ba27 and the ,son is to be viewed as the person on the throne here1 as the following words1 compared with the twentieth chapter1 verse eleventh1 make evident4--,he it is who makes all things new4 ,he left his disciples as to his bodily presence1 and went to prepare a place for them1 7,john xiv4 #b27 and now he has come again and received them to himself1 in fulfilment of his promise4 ,having sent the ,holy ,spirit to create them anew and to carry on to completion their sanctification1 he now sees of the travail of his soul1 the ,father has given him his heart's desire1 and hath not withholden the request of his lips4 ,now1 all his ransomed ones are with him1 in answer to his prayer1 and also their own prayers1 that they may behold his glory which the ,father gave him4 7,ps4 xxi4 #b2 ,john xvii4 #bd2 ,phil4 i4 #bc47--,the ,lord ,christ said to ,john1--,write2 for these words are true and faithful4 ,and what has sustained the spirits1 animated the hopes1 and filled with exulting joy1 the confessors1 witnesses and martyrs of ,jesus1 but faith's realizing views of the ,king in his beauty1 and the glories of ,immanuel's land8 ,for this peculiarity the disciples of ,christ have been as speckled birds1 men wondered at1 in all generations4--,it is done1 so he said at the pouring out of the seventh vial1 7ch4 xvi4 #ag27 when the final stroke was given to the antichristian enemies3 but now these words import the completion of the whole counsel of the will of ,god1 as carried into effect by the ,captain of salvation1 in bringing the beloved and adopted sons and daughters of the ,father home to glory4 7,heb4 ii4 #aj47 ,he who is the ,alpha and ,omega1 is the author and finisher of their faith4--,although the ,lord ,jesus has made of sinners new creatures1 prepared them as vessels of mercy unto glory1 and introduced them into heaven1 they are creatures still1 and necessarily dependent4 ,they thirst for refreshment suited to their holy nature2 and accordingly he gives of the fountain of the water of life freely1 for the streams of which they thirsted1 as the heart panteth for the water brooks1 while they sojourned in a dry and parched land1 far from their ,father's house4 ,man's sin consisted in forsaking this ,fountain of living waters1 and his recovery and felicity must arise from his returning from his own broken cisterns to the original spring4--,the water of life was purchased at infinite cost by ,christ2 but he offers it to the thirsty without price1 7,is4 lxv4 #a1 #b47--,those who are refreshed by the streams of the water of life1 have many enemies to encounter in their militant state1 but all who overcome are encouraged in their warfare by the animating promise1 that they shall inherit all things4 7#a ,cor4 iii4 #ba47--;,he shall be my son1 and if a son1 then an heir of ,god1 and joint heir with ,christ4 #h4 ,but the fearful 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 brimstone2 which is the second death4 ,v4 #h4--;,but the fearful1 who dread suffering or reproach for the cause of ,christ1--not the self-diffident who loves his ,captain1 but the coward or deserter1 who turns back in the day of battle1 who fears the enemy more than his ,captain3--and unbelieving1 not the misbelieving1 as ,thomas2 nor the weak in faith1 but such as have no faith1--infidels2--the abominable1 defiling the flesh as ,sodomites3--murderers1 suicides1 duelists1 assassins1 burglars1 etc41 whoremongers1 adulterers1 fornicators3--sorcerers1 necromancers1 spiritualists1 who are the devil's prophets1 pretending to new revelations1 and all liars1 perjured persons1 deceivers1 hypocrites1 false teachers1 who handle the word of the ,lord deceitfully1 for filthy lucre's sake1--all such shall have their part in the lake1 with the devil1 the beast1 and the false prophet4 7#a ,cor4 vi4 #i1 #aj2 ,gal4 v4 #ai-ba2 ,eph4 v4 #e1 #f2 #b ,cor4 xi4 #ac47 #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 ,israel4 #ac4 ,on the east1 three gates2 on the north1 three gates2 on the south1 three gates2 and on the west1 three gates4 #ad4 ,and the wall of the city had twelve foundations1 and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the ,lamb4 ,vs4 #i-ad4--,this angel is probably the same who had shown ,john the mystic ,babylon and her destruction1 7ch4 xvii4 #a27 and who now proposes to show him the bride of the ,lamb by way of contrast4--,under the influence of the ,spirit1 who has access to the soul without the use of the bodily organs1 7#b ,cor4 xii4 #b17--;,john was carried to a great and high mountain1 where the prospect might be sufficiently enlarged4 ,when the angel proposed to show him the scarlet whore1 he carried him into the wilderness1 intimating that such is the only position in which the mystery of the woman1 and of the beast that carrieth her1 can be clearly seen or perfectly understood4 7#b ,pet4 i4 #i47 ,great indeed is the contrast4 ,both objects are complex1 and the combination of symbols1 wholly incongruous in nature1 admonishes the sober interpreter to beware of indulging his vain fancy by attempting to trace analogies in detail1 where none are intended by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the true church of ,christ is compared to a virtuous and fruitful woman1 7ch4 xii4 #e27 and the apostate church is symbolized by a fruitful but profligate woman1 7ch4 xvii4 #e47 ,then both are also represented by two cities1 which are equally contrasted4 ,as the women differ in their outward adornment1 7chs4 xix4 #h1 xvii4 #d17 so do the cities in the quality of population1 commerce and employment1 7ch4 xviii4 #d2 xxii4 #ad47--,the nuptials being consummated between the ,lamb and his bride1 and she being now made perfect in holiness2 under the emblem of a city1 she is illuminated with the glory of ,god1 made comely through his comeliness put upon her1 rendered beautiful and illustrious beyond conception or expression3 for the happiness of heaven results from conformity to the ,god-man1 communion with him and communications from him4 7#a ,john iii4 #b47--;,her light resembled the jasper1 clear as crystal4 ,the knowledge of saints in heaven will be intuitive3 they will no longer see through a glass darkly1 by word and sacraments2 nor shall the glorious ,bridegroom show himself as formerly through the lattice2 7,song ii4 #i27 but they shall see him as he is4 7#a ,john iii4 #b47--;,a wall great and high denotes the security of this city1 which can never be scaled by an enemy4 ,the twelve gates are to admit the twelve tribes of ,god's spiritual ,israel1--the sealed ones1 7ch4 vii4 #e-h27 who shall come from the east1 and from the west1 and from the north1 and from the south1 and shall sit down in the kingdom of ,god4 7,luke xiii4 #bi47--;,at the gates were twelve angels1 as guards and porters4 ,the foundations of the wall1 named after the twelve apostles1 denote that all who enter the city1 gained admission by belief of the truth as taught by the apostles1--had continued steadfast in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship1 in the face of reproach1 persecution and apostacy4 ,they were built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets1--,old and ,new ,testament believers saved by the blood of the ,lamb3 for the twelve tribes1 multiplied by the twelve apostles1 make a hundred and forty-four2 and these again1 multiplied by a thousand1 make the whole number who appeared with the ,lamb on ,mount ,zion1 7ch4 xiv4 #a27 the public witnesses of ,christ1 in the church militant during the great apostacy4 #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 four square1 and the length is as large as the breadth4 ,ami he measured the city with the reed1 twelve thousand furlongs3 the length1 and the breadth1 and the height of it are equal4 #ag4 ,and he measured the wall thereof1 a hundred and forty and four cubits1 according to the measure of a man1 that is1 of the angel4 ,vs4 #ae-ag4--,the apostle borrows the symbols and language of preceding prophets1 especially those of ,ezek4 7xl4 #c17 and ,zech4 7ii4 #a47 ,the furlongs measured by the reed1 indicate a city of vast dimensions2 and being four square1 each side would be about fifteen hundred miles6 ,and as the length and breadth and height of it are equal1 we are hereby taught that no gross conceptions are to be formed in our imaginations1 since a city fifteen hundred miles high1 is utterly inconceivable4 ,the instruction intended to be conveyed to us by the vast dimensions1 and precious materials of this city may be1 the incomprehensible nature and transcendent glory of heaven4 7#a ,cor4 ii4 #i47 ,a cubit1 as the word signifies1 is the measure of a man from his elbow to the end of his middle finger4 ,the measure of the wall1 in height or breadth1 was a hundred and forty-four cubits1 or the twelve tribes1 as before1 multiplied by the twelve apostles2 for the idea of a cube1 as the most perfect symbol of symmetrical form1 seems to be intended4 #ah4 ,and the building of the wall of it was of jasper3 and the city was pure gold1 like unto clear glass3 #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 third chalcedony2 the fourth1 an emerald2 #bj4 ,the fifth1 sardonyx2 the sixth1 sardius2 the seventh1 chrysolite2 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 pearls3 every several gate was of one pearl3 and the street of the city was pure gold1 as it were transparent glass4 ,vs4 #ah-ba4--,the jasper1 gold and glass1 are here all combined2 though their natural properties and chemical elements are so different4 ,glass is clear1 transparent1 but brittle2 gold is solid and shining1 but opaque4 ,in heaven1 the saints shall know more than we can now imagine4 ,the glass will be all gold4 ,as the eye sees an object through glass at a glance1 so the saints in heaven will perceive truth without the tedious process of comparison and reasoning4 ,the gold will be all glass4 ,all these symbols are intended to show to the devout reader1 that the antichristian harlot is incomparably eclipsed by the glory of the ,lamb's bride1--having no glory1 by reason of the glory that excelleth4--,the twelve precious stones which garnished the foundations of the wall of the city1 are an allusion to those of ,aaron's breastplate of judgment4 7,exod4 xxviii4 #ag-bj27 indicating that the ,urim and ,thummim1 the light and perfection of glory1 shall be there1 superseding the oracle and ,shekinah3 for one thing is peculiar to this city by which it is distinguished from the old ,jerusalem1--no temple4 #bb4 ,and ,i saw no temple therein3 for the ,lord ,god ,almighty1 and the ,lamb1 are the temple of it4 #bc4 ,and the city had no need of the sun1 neither of the moon1 to shine in it2 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 it1 and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it4 #be4 ,and the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day2 for there shall be no night there4 #bf4 ,and they shall bring the glory and honour 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 lie2 but they which are written in the ,lamb's book of life4 ,vs4 #bb-bg4--,there was no temple therein4 ,as there was a temple in the city which ,ezekiel saw in vision1 7ch4 xli4 #a17 and this fact determines the point1 that his prophecy relates to the church militant2 so1 the absence of even the semblance of such a structure here1 proves that this is a description of the church triumphant4 ,in heaven there is no need of external1 material1 visible symbols of ,god's presence4 ,as the ceremonial law had a shadow of good things to come1 but vanished away when ,christ appeared1 7,heb4 x4 #a17 so will it be in heaven2 no ordinances will be used to act upon either sense or faith1 these having issued in vision4 ,the glorious presence of the ,lord ,god ,almighty and the ,lamb1 having superseded the necessity of a temple2 the light of the sun and moon shall be no longer needed4 ,god is light1 and in him is no darkness at all1 7#a ,john i4 #e27 and as long as ,christ was in the world1 he was the light of the world4 7,john ix4 #e47 ,we have seen that other suns and moons which were symbolical1 have been darkened or blotted out of existence by the omnipotent ,mediator2 but now these natural luminaries are totally and for ever obscured by the ineffable effulgence of uncreated light1--the manifested and immediate presence of the ,father and the ,son4--,all the redeemed shall walk in the light of the ,lord2 and all the glory of the kings of the earth1 concentrated in one place1 would bear no comparison with the splendor of this holy city4 ,the gates are not to be shut during the day of eternity2 and since the excellent ones of the earth shall all enter the twelve open gates from every part of the world1 it may be truly said they bring the glory and honor of the nations into it4 ,what a delightful scene of a holy1 happy1 safe and harmonious fellowship6--,it is observable that the apostle altogether drops personalities here4 ,he seizes only upon properties or qualities1--any thing1--so holy is the place1 and so holy the inhabitants2 yea1 so safe and secure1 that no creature1--no beast of the field which the ,lord ,god has made1 shall ever gain an entrance into this heavenly ,paradise3 but only those whose names are written in the ,lamb's book of life2 who1 despite of the ,serpent1 brings all his spiritual seed safe to glory4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 #a4 ,and he showed me a pure river of water of life1 clear 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 him4 #d4 ,and they shall see his face2 and his name shall be in their foreheads4 #e4 ,and there shall be no night there3 and they need no candle1 neither light of the sun3 for the ,lord ,god giveth them light3 and they shall reign for ever and ever4 ,vs4 #a-e4--,these verses1 being a continuance of the description of the holy city1 naturally belong to the preceding chapter4--,the angel proceeds to show ,john the source and current from which emanate all heavenly blessings4 ,the allusion is to ,ezekiel1 xlvii4 #a-ab2 but both he and ,john call our attention to man's primeval state1 when our first parents dwelt in ,eden4 ,this abode of the blessed is beautified and enriched with all the products1 delights and attractions which are adapted to the refined senses of holy creatures1--pleasant to the eyes1 and good for food4 ,it is ,paradise restored1 by the doing and dying of the second ,adam4 ,it is also ,paradise improved1 having not only the tree of life1 as the first had1 but also1 in addition1 the water of life4 ,the tree of life was to sinless ,adam a symbol and pledge of immortality to himself and all his posterity whom he represented in the ,covenant of ,works4 ,now that heaven is procured for all believers by the second ,adam1 it is emblematically represented to our weak apprehension by directing our attention to the primitive and earthly ,paradise4 ,this is repeatedly done in ,scripture4 ,the ,lord ,jesus1 before he expired upon the cross1 said to the penitent thief1--,to day shall thou be with me in ,paradise4 7,luke xxiii4 #dc47 ,paul was caught up thither1 7#b ,cor4 xii4 #d27 and he calls the place heaven1 7v4 #b27 and in this book1 7ch4 ii4 #g17 the ,lord promises1--,i will give to him that overcometh to eat of the tree of life1 which is in the midst of the paradise of ,god4 ,the tree is an emblem of ,christ1 7,song ii4 #c27 the river of the water of life symbolizes the ,holy ,spirit1 7,john vii4 #ch1 #ci27 for as the ,son and the ,holy ,ghost proceed from the ,father1 the former by generation1 the latter by emanation from eternity1--so that eternal life which was with the ,father in the person of the ,son1 and purchased by the ,son1 is communicated by the ,holy ,ghost to all the redeemed by regeneration4 7#b ,cor4 iii4 #f2 ,rom4 viii4 #b47--,thus1 the eternal duration of life in glory proceeds out of the throne of ,god and the ,lamb4 ,on each side of the river the tree of life is accessible by the inhabitants2 and the fruits of the tree1 ripe in all months of the year1 and adapted to every taste1 each one may put forth his hand as he passes1 and take 444 and eat1 and live for ever4 7,gen4 iii4 #bb47 ,or1 the people that are therein may sit down under its shadow1 and its fruit will be sweet to their taste4--,the leaves of the tree are for medicine1 being preventive of all disease1 so that the inhabitant shall not say1 ,i am sick3 the people that dwell therein are forgiven their iniquities4 7,is4 xxxiii4 #bd47 ,there shall be no more curse4 ,satan gained entrance into the garden of ,eden1 and succeeded in entailing the curse upon man1 and upon beast1 and upon the fruits of the ground2 but he shall never be loosed again1 or emerge from the lake of fire1 to disturb the repose of that blessed society in heaven1 7ch4 xxi4 #bg47--;,as the throne of ,god and the ,lamb is one1 7ch4 iii4 #ba27 so it is remarkable that the distinction of persons is omitted1 as though the ,father and the ,son were but one person4 ,true1 ,christ said1 ,i and my ,father are one1 7,john x4 #cj27 but he referred to unity of nature and purpose1 not of personality2 for1 in consistency with this1 he said also1--,my ,father is greater than ,i2 an assertion which must consist with the former1 and which plainly involves personal distinction1 7ch4 xiv4 #bh47--;,his name shall be in their foreheads4--,which of them8 ,we have found ,christ's ,father's name written in the foreheads of a hundred and forty-four thousand saints militant1 7ch4 xiv4 #a47 ,while in conflict1 the world knew them not1 and the adherents of ,antichrist cast out their names as evil1 branding them as heretics2 but now they are known to the whole universe1 as the covenant property of both the ,father and the ,son1 7ch4 iii4 #ab47--;,behold1 ,i and the children which ,god hath given me2 7,heb4 ii4 #ac47 ,i have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me cut of the world4 ,thine they were1 and thou gavest them me2 and they have kept thy word4 444 ,all mine are thine1 and thine are mine2 and ,i am glorified in them4 7,john xvii4 #f1aj47--,there will be no intermission or interruption of service1 no night there1--no hidings of ,god's countenance1 no desertions2 for they shall see his face in the express image of the ,father's person1 be assured of his love2--need no candle1 nor any earthly accommodation2 for the ,lord ,god giveth them light2 and they shall reign for ever and ever1 in fulness of joy and unalloyed pleasures for evermore4 7,ps4 xvi4 #aa47 ,how different is this heaven from the ,mahometan paradise1 which1 if real1 could gratify only carnal and sensual sinners6 yet the imaginations of many1 and their aspirations too1 with the ,bible in their hands1 are little better than those of ,mahometans or pagans4 ,all speculations of heathen philosophers about the chief good1 or the enjoyments of their imaginary gods1 are so gross and brutish as to demonstrate the all-important truth1 that except a man be born again1 he cannot see the kingdom of ,god4 7,john iii4 #c47 ,and it is too evident that some modern philosophers are as little acquainted as ,nicodemus with the humbling doctrines of the gospel4 ,the society of learned men1 making perpetual advance in natural science1 especially in astronomy1--would seem to be the highest conception of happiness which too many modern philosophers can reach4 ,they know not some of the elementary teachings of the ,holy ,scriptures2 such as1--,without holiness no man shall see the ,lord2 and that this indispensable preparation for heavenly felicity consists in the washing of regeneration1 and the renewing of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the hundreds of diverse and conflicting opinions of learned writers on the summum bonum1 or chief good1 proves to demonstration1 that without supernatural revelation and regeneration1 man cannot conceive in what happiness consists4 ,thus far is the description of the heavenly state2 and how little can we know1 or even conceive of the glory and felicity of the upper sanctuary6 ,we must still say with the prophet ,isaiah and the apostle ,paul1--,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 7,isa4 lxiv4 #d2 #a ,cor4 ii4 #i47 #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 quickly1 blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book4 ,vs4 #f1 #g4--,the angel assures the apostle and all who read1 that these sayings are faithful and true1 however sublime and incomprehensible2 however1 incredible to infidels2 however contradicted and misinterpreted by antichristian apostates and enthusiasts4 ,they are all from the ,lord ,god of the holy prophets1--from ,jesus ,christ and ,god the ,father1 7ch4 i4 #a47--;,all prophets who wrote any part of the ,bible1 were holy men of ,god4 7#b ,pet4 i4 #ba47--,of these things some were shortly to be done2 and all in regular series would be accomplished in due time4--,behold ,i come quickly4 ,christ is the speaker here1 and declares that each one is blessed who keepeth the sayings 444 of this book4 ,this benediction was pronounced on such at the beginning of this ,revelation1 7ch4 i4 #c17 and it is repeated by its immediate divine ,author1 to encourage all to study it4 ,this blessing is not to be expected by any who merely read or hear1 but by those only who keep the sayings of this prophecy4 ,its ,author foreknew its enemies and corrupters4 #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 angel1 which showed me these things4 #i4 ,then saith he unto me1 ,see thou do it not3 for ,i am thy fellow-servant1 and of thy brethren the prophets1 and of them which keep the sayings of this book3 worship ,god4 ,vs4 #h1 #i4--;,a second time1 ,john attempts an act of idolatry6 ,while we may wonder at this1 let us not fail to admire the wonderful wisdom of ,god in permitting his servant to fall1 as he did in the case of our first father ,adam1 that he might take occasion more fully to display his glory in bringing good out of evil4 ,the ,apocalypse is directed chiefly against that primary feature of the great ,antichrist1 idolatry4 ,this was part of the mystery of inquity which did already work in the time of the apostles1 7,col4 ii4 #ah17 and was to be fully developed afterwards4 7#b ,thess4 ii4 #d47 ,this second rebuke of an apostle1 by one of the most exalted of creatures1 for ever answers all arguments of ,papists or others1 who plead for1 or palliate the worshipping of angels or souls of men4 ,idolaters worship angels and souls when absent1 as though they were omniscient1 omnipresent and omnipotent2 thus giving the glory to creatures of these divine perfections3 whereas this heavenly messenger1 when present1 keenly resents this indignity to his and the apostle's adorable ,creator and ,lord4 ,once more the angel directs ,john and all men to join him and all the heavenly host in observing the first and great commandment1--,worship ,god1 7ch4 v4 #aa-ad47 ,this angelic rebuke1 leaves ,papists for ever without excuse2 and consequently all others who deny the supreme deity of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 and yet worship him4 #aj4 ,and he saith unto me1 ,seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book2 for the time is at hand4 #aa4 ,he that is unjust1 let him be unjust still2 and he which is filthy1 let him be filthy still2 and he that is righteous1 let him be righteous still2 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 ,vs4 #aj-ab4--;,christ himself addresses ,john in person4 ,he had done so at the beginning of these glorious scenes of the future1 7ch4 i4 #h47 ,now he appears again in glory1 though not described as before1 that he may thus authenticate and close the vision4--,seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book4 ,why is this8 ,the reason is assigned1 because the time is at hand when they shall begin to be verified in actual history4 ,the case was different in ,daniel's time1 who was inspired by the same omniscient ,spirit to predict the same events4 ,o ,daniel1 shut up the words1 and seal the vision1 even to the time of the end4 7,dan4 xii4 #d47 ,if the vision of the empires of ,persia and ,greece was to be for many days1 7ch4 viii4 #bf17 then the rise1 reign and overthrow of the ,roman empire1 were still more remote4 ,no wonder that ,daniel1 with becoming humility but intense interest inquired1 ,o1 my ,lord1 what shall be the end of these things8 ,such was the subdued anxiety of other prophets4 7#a ,pet4 i4 #aj47 ,and here we may once for all notice the three distinct periods mentioned by ,daniel1 as measuring the duration of the ,roman empire1 the ,romish apostacy1 and as they bear upon the promised and desirable millennium4 ,the two prophets1 ,daniel and ,john1 agree in fixing and limiting the domination of the ,antichrist to #abfj years4 ,this agreement has been already pointed out4 ,the ,lord1 however1 to allay the laudable anxiety of his greatly beloved servant ,daniel1 makes mention of two other periods of time1 #abij and #acce days or years1 7ch4 xii4 #aa1 #ab47 ,now1 when we have manifold assurances that the great apostacy shall terminate with the close of the #abfj years1 we may venture humbly to suppose1 that the next thirty years may be occupied in the conversion of the ,jews1 and the remaining forty-five in the effectual calling of the residue of the gentile nations2 so as to bring the kingdoms of the earth and the church of ,christ to perfect organization and visible harmony1 and the whole population of the globe into voluntary and avowed subjection to the ,lord and his ,anointed1--to perfect millennial splendor1 the nearest approximation to heaven4 7,rom4 xi4 #be1 #bf2 ,ps4 cii4 #ae1 #af47 ,but who shall live when ,god doeth this8 7,num4 xxiv4 #bc47--,the divine ,author of this book1 having given to mankind a complete and sufficient revelation of his will1 containing invitations and warnings1 at this juncture gives intimation that obstinate sinners shall at length be left to the consequences of their own free and perverse choice1 unjust and filthy still2 no further means to be employed for their conviction2 but those who have embraced the offer of the gospel1 shall be confirmed for ever in holiness and happiness1--righteous and holy still4--,he also repeats the assurances of his sudden appearance to reward every man according as his work shall be4 ,the recompense which he brings will be of debt or justice to the impenitent unbeliever2 but wholly of free grace to the believer2 for the works of each class shall follow them1 as decisive evidence of their respective characters1 7ch4 xiv4 #ac47 #ac4 ,i am ,alpha and ,omega1 the beginning and the end1 the first and the last4 ,v4 #ac4--,the ,lord ,christ here declares and asserts the eternity of his personal subsistence and official standing1 as an all-sufficient guarantee of his ability and authority to deal with the righteous and the wicked1 as also to bring to pass all events by his providence which are here predicted4 ,the same guarantee he had given at the beginning of the ,apocalypse1 7ch4 i4 #h47 #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 ,v4 #ad4--,those who do his commandments1 are believers1 7,john xiv4 #ae17 and no others can obtain a right to the tree of life--all the blessings of ,christ's purchase3 for without faith it is impossible to please ,god1 7,heb4 xi4 #f27 and this is the love of ,god1 that we keep his commandments4 7#a ,john v4 #c47 ,by the deeds of the law1--keeping the commandments1 whether moral or ceremonial1 shall no flesh be justified in the sight of ,god1 or merit a right to the tree of life1 or to enter in through the gates into the city4 ,this right1 power1 or privilege1 is confined to those1 and to those only1 who receive and believe on the name of ,christ4 7,john i4 #ab47 ,they who serve the ,lord ,christ1 are entitled to the reward of the inheritance1 7,col4 iii4 #bd27 and in keeping of his commandments1 there is great reward4 7,ps4 xix4 #aa47 ,this reward is of grace1 not of debt to any of the children of ,adam3 not of works1 lest any man should boast4 7,rom4 xi4 #f2 ,eph4 ii4 #i47 ,and when the last elected sinner1 pertaining to the whole company of the redeemed1 shall have been called1 justified and sanctified1 then with gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought3 they shall enter into the ,king's palace4 7,ps4 xlv4 #ae47 #ae4 ,for without are dogs and sorcerers1 and whoremongers1 and murderers1 and idolaters1 and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie4 ,v4 #ae4--,without are dogs4--,these characters have been excluded by the righteous and unalterable sentence of the judge of quick and dead1 having their part in the lake of fire3 for there is no intimation here or elsewhere1 of any purgatory or intermediate place1 with the delusive hope of which1 those who love and make lies1 flatter themselves and their blind votaries4 ,oh1 that such sinners in ,zion1 and out of ,zion1 might be afraid6--that timely fearfulness might surprise these hypocrites6 that they might ponder those awful questions6--,who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire8 who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings8 7,isa4 xxxiii4 #ad47 #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 ,v4 #af4--,this is the angel whose ministry the ,lord ,christ was pleased to employ in making known to the church through his servant ,john1 most of the discoveries of this book1 7ch4 i4 #a1 #aa47 ,many other angels have indeed been employed by the ,mediator as the ministers of his providence2 but this one seems to have been the principal all along4 ,none of these heavenly messengers1 however1 was found competent to reveal the purposes of ,god1 7ch4 v4 #c47 ,to this work the eternal ,son of ,god alone was found adequate by nature and office1--the ,lamb that had been slain4 ,christ has a personal property in the angels1 as he is their ,creator and ,lord2 and as they are his creatures and willing servants1--mine angel4--,this is perfectly reasonable2 for he is the ,root of ,david in his divine nature2 and the ,offspring of ,david1 in his human nature1 7,rom4 i4 #c47--;,god-,man1 ,mediator4 ,and here let it be remarked1 that in speaking or writing of our ,redeemer there appears to be no scriptural warrant for the popular phrases1--the union of the two natures1--,christ as man2 or1 as ,god4 ,these expressions militate against the unity of his divine nature and personality2 and are calculated1--we do not say intended1 to mislead or confuse the mind of his disciples4 ,in him personally1 not in the ,father or the ,holy ,ghost1 dwelleth all the fulness of the ,godhead bodily4 7,col4 ii4 #i47--;,by ,john the descent of ,christ's human nature is traced through ,david here1 because of the ,covenant of ,royalty2 by ,paul1 he is represented as being of the seed of ,abraham1 by reason of the more extended relation involved in the ,covenant of ,grace4 7,heb4 ii4 #af47--;,he is also the bright1 even the morning star4 ,this may be in reference to the less luminous stars in his right hand1 7ch4 i4 #af1 #bj17 and by way of contrast with them3 but he takes this name chiefly to intimate that he is the ,author of all supernatural illumination1 whether in the kingdom of grace or of glory3--,the ,lamb is the light thereof1 7ch4 xxi4 #bc47 #ag4 ,and the ,spirit and the bride say1 ,come4 ,and let him that heareth1 say1 ,come4 ,and let him that is athirst1 come4 ,and whosoever will1 let him take the water of life freely4 ,v4 #ag4--;,here is the unrestricted universal call of the gospel1 to come to ,christ for eternal life4--,we do testify that the ,father sent the ,son to be the ,saviour of the world1 7#a ,john iv4 #ad47--,the invitation is manifold and pressing4 ,the ,spirit by the word and conscience says1 ,come4 ,the ,bride1 the church militant and triumphant1 says1 ,come4 ,every one that heareth the invitation1 is warranted to say to others1 ,come4 ,let every one that thirsts for true and lasting felicity1 ,come4 ,if any one be in doubt1 whether his desire be spiritual or not1 it is added for his encouragement1 as well as sufficient warrant1--,let whosoever will1 take of the water of life freely4 ,any sinner of ,adam's race may wash and be clean1 in that fountain open for sin and for uncleanness2 may with confidence and pleasure1 draw water from the wells of salvation4 7,zech4 xiii4 #a3 ,isa4 xii4 #c47 ,who can resist these calls1 invitations and persuasions1 and be guiltless8 or who can devise easier terms of reconciliation to an offended ,god1 than are here addressed to the chief of sinners8 #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 holy city1 and from the things which are written in this book4 ,vs4 #ah1 #ai4--;,for ,i testify4--,he who is the faithful and true ,witness closes this book of prophecy1 with a solemn and awful sanction4 ,these tremendous threatenings by the ,lord ,god of the holy prophets1 may well cause all who read or hear to tremble3 for who can abide his indignation8--,while the prophecy of this book is primarily intended1 all other parts of the ,bible are included in this solemn conclusion3 for doubtless our ,lord intended the ,apocalypse to be a close to the whole canon4 ,the threatening is twofold1 corresponding to the criminality4 ,learned1 bold and irreverent biblical critics2 enthusiasts and pretenders to new revelations1 are in danger of these judgments4 ,the plagues that are written in this book1 are such as will utterly destroy the presumptuous sinner who adds to these things4 ,and he that impiously takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy1 exposes himself to the like awful punishment4 ,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--,tremendous doom6 ,all that which he seemed to have shall be taken away4 7,luke viii4 #ah47 ,great will be the sudden and unexpected loss6--,these awful denunciations1 however1 have special reference1 like the rest of the threatened judgments in this book1 to the great1 continued and defiant impieties of the apostate church of ,rome4 ,she has added her traditions to the ,scriptures1 as part and principal part1 of the ,rule of ,faith6 ,she has taken away the ,scriptures from the body of her people2 or shut them up in an unknown tongue1 so that every man may not hear in his own tongue wherein he was born1 the wonderful works of ,god4 7,acts ii4 #h1 #aa47 ,this is one of the articles in ,rome's indictment here2 and whatever modern infidelity or spurious charity may suggest1 this theft of ,god's word1 and robbery of his people1 is not to be expiated with burnt offering or sacrifice4 ,and he who scans all time1 foresaw this attempt of the dragon and his allies to deprive the church and the world of the lively oracles2 therefore1 as he promised a blessing on the reader of this book1 as it were on the title-page1 here in the close he appends a malediction1 that all who read or hear1 may be deterred from such sacrilege4 #bj4 ,he which testifieth these things saith1 ,surely ,i come quickly3 ,amen4 ,even so1 come1 ,lord ,jesus4 ,v4 #bj4--;,he which testifieth these things is the ,lord ,jesus4 ,again he reminds all to whom these presents come1 of his certain and speedy appearance4 ,these frequent assurances are not vain repetitions4 ,they are intended to strengthen the faith and counteract the despondency of the saints1 and to alarm the consciences of his enemies4 7#b ,pet4 iii4 #c1 #d1 #h1 #aj2 ,jude #ad1 #ae47 ,to this promise of his coming1 ,john responds in the name of the whole church1--,amen4 ,even so1 come1 ,lord ,jesus1 to fulfil these predictions1 in their promises and threatenings2 to be glorified in his saints1 and admired in all them that believe4 ,so shall they ever be with the ,lord4 7#a ,thess4 iv4 #ag47 #ba4 ,the grace of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ be with you all4 ,amen4 ,v4 #ba4--,these are also the words of ,john4 ,he had just been addressing the ,lord ,jesus1 and his next words are addressed to the seven churches1 7ch4 i4 #d1 #aa17 or to all who read or hear the words of this book3 but especially the church general4 ,this is a concise form of the apostolic benediction1 7#b ,thess4 iii4 #ah17 which is sometimes amplified1 by naming the ,father and the ,son2 or1 at other times1 the three divine persons4 7#b ,cor4 xiii4 #ad47 ,however1 the grace of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ is originally from ,god the ,father1 procured for us by ,jesus ,christ1 and communicated to us by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,and unto the ,father1 the ,son1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 let equal1 undivided1 and everlasting glory be ascribed1 by all the subjects of his regenerating and sanctifying grace1 throughout all ages1 world without end4 ,amen4 ,,footnotes3 ,footnote #a3 ,life of ,martin ,luther4 ,pp4 #agc1 #agd4 ,london4 #ahee4 ,luther afterwards became convinced of his error4 ,footnote #b3 ,gibbon has unconsciously written a commentary on prophecy6--an involuntary witness1 like ,josephus6 ,footnote #c3 ,it has been our lot to hear the voice of the third woe1 ,faber4--,in this ,i entirely agree with that expositor4 ,m',leod4 ,the blinding influence of earth's politics upon the minds of pious men1 has often occasioned the hearts of their brethren to sigh for their inconsistency4 ,footnote #d3 ,the terms clergy and laity are of papal origin1 and the unlearned ,christian should know that they are contrary to the mind of the ,holy ,spirit4 #a ,pet4 v4 #c4 ,the body of the people are ,god's heritage1--clergy4 ,footnote #e3 ,gibbon4 ,footnote #f3 ,mosheim4 ,footnote #g3 ,such is the interpretation of ,bishop ,newton6 ,footnote #h3 ,faber4 ,footnote #i3 ,this is the opinion of ,mr4 ,faber4 ,footnote #aj3 ,scott4 ,footnote #aa3 ,scott ,footnote #ab3 ,so ,mr4 ,faber imagined4 ,footnote #ac3 ,so designated by ,nicholas1 late emperor of ,russia4 ,,appendix4 ,,the ,,new ,,jerusalem4 ,interpreters are much divided in opinion as to the import of this symbol4 ,some think it represents the church on earth during the period of the millennium2 while others1 no less learned and pious1 consider it as an emblematical representation of the heavenly state4 ,of those who acquiesce in the former view1 some consider the arguments quite conclusive4 ,it may be conceded that much may be advanced1 and with great plausibility1 in support of this position4 ,perhaps the most specious arguments to this purpose are such as the following3--,that the ,new ,jerusalem is distinguished from the ,old1 because of the superior light and grace of the present dispensation of the ,covenant4 ,moreover1 the glowing descriptions of the church militant given by the prophets1 especially ,isaiah1 are thought to be as boldly rhetorical as those of ,john2 yet those lofty flights are confessedly descriptive of the church on earth4 ,besides1 who can conceive how the kings of the earth bring their glory and honour into the heavenly state8 or how are the leaves of the tree of life for the healing of the nations1 when there are no nations to be healed8 etc4 ,to these arguments the following answers may be given4 ,the church is one under all changes of dispensation1 and by what names soever she is called3 but it does not appear that we are warranted by ,scripture usage to view the ,new ,jerusalem as a designation of the church in her militant state4 ,she is indeed sometimes called in the ,new ,testament by ,old ,testament names3 as when ,paul calls her by the name ,zion1 7,heb4 xii4 #bb47 ,but he does not say1 new ,zion4 ,again1 when our ,lord promises1 7as in ,rev4 iii4 #ab17 to reward him that overcometh1 it must be supposed from the connexion1 that1 as in all similar cases of spiritual conflict1 this reward is to be conferred in a future state1--heaven4 ,but part of the reward he describes in these words3--,i will write upon him the name of the city of my ,god1 which is ,new ,jerusalem4 ,surely it may be supposed without presumption1 that in this place ,new ,jerusalem means heaven4 ,nor is the assumption true1--that the descriptive language of the ,old ,testament prophets is always to be understood of the church on earth4 ,for instance1 can the following language 7,is4 xxxiii4 #bd17 be predicated of the saints while in the body3--,the inhabitant shall not say1 ,i am sick8 ,the glory and honour of the nations are the saints of ,god1 the excellent2 who while here1 are the light of the world1 the salt of the earth2 and doubtless nations as well as families and individuals have learned by experience that the ,lord hath blessed them for their sakes3 7,gen4 xxx4 #bg2 xxxix4 #e27--;and that he has also reproved kings and destroyed nations for their sakes1 7,ps4 cv4 #ad2 ,is4 xliii4 #c1 #d47 ,and when all the saints who are to rule the nations1 7,rev4 xx4 #d1 #f17 for a thousand years1 shall have been brought home to glory1 then emphatically will the glory and honour of the nations be brought into the ,new ,jerusalem4 ,as to the leaves of the tree for the healing of the nations1 it may be remarked1 that their sanative virtue will have been experienced by national societies on earth3 and there is not1 there never was1 nor will there ever be1 any other healing medicine for them1 7,ezek4 xlvii4 #ab7 ,in addition to what has been said1 it is worthy of notice that the tree of life1 in allusion to the delights of the garden of ,eden1 which was an emblem of heaven1 is mentioned in the ,apocalypse1 near the beginning and near the end of the book1 7chs4 ii4 #g2 xxii4 #b47 ,now1 we are told expressly that this tree is in the midst of ,paradise4 ,but we learn both from our ,lord and the apostle ,paul that ,paradise signifies heaven3--,to-day shalt thou be with me in ,paradise1 said ,christ to the penitent thief4 ,i was caught up into ,paradise2 that is1 the third heaven1 said ,paul4 ,did ,christ and ,paul mean the visible1 or the invisible church militant by the name ,paradise8 ,but the tree of life flourishes there1 and all the redeemed eat of its fruit4 ,they are where the tree is1 the tree is in ,paradise1 and ,paradise is heaven itself3 therefore we are warranted to conclude with certainty that ,new ,jerusalem is a symbol of the church triumphant2 and1 consequently1 that those parts of chapters twenty-one and twenty-two1 which are of symbolic structure1 are descriptive of the heavenly state4 ,,the ,,antichrist4 ,this word does not occur in the ,apocalypse1 nor in any other book of the ,new ,testament except the first and second epistles1 by the apostle ,john4 ,there it is found in the singular and plural form4 7#a ,john ii4 #ah1 #bb2 iv4 #c2 ii4 #g47 ,the apostles in their ministry had spoken frequently and familiarly to the disciples of this personage1 as an enemy of ,god and man4 ,ye have heard that ,antichrist shall come4 ,remember ye not1 asks ,paul1 that1 when ,i was yet with you1 ,i told you these things8 7#b ,thess4 ii4 #e47 ,paul blames his countrymen1 the ,hebrews1 that they had need that one should teach them again which be the first principles of the oracles of ,god1 7,heb4 v4 #ab47 ,and it is just so now1 in the case of most professing ,christians1 learned and illiterate2 they yet need to be taught again what is meant by ,antichrist4 ,all who are acquainted with the sentiments of the reformers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries are aware that their conceptions of this enemy were vague and confused4 ,persecuted as heretics and apostates from the only true church1 the church of ,rome1 the reformers very naturally concluded that the ,pope1 or the church of which he is the visible head1 was the ,antichrist4 ,and this opinion is very generally held at the present day4 ,mr4 ,faber1 however1 dissents from this popular notion1 and with much confidence and plausibility broaches a new theory of his own4 ,his style is always forcible1 and so perspicuous that he cannot be misunderstood4 ,in his ,dissertation on the ,prophecies1 he lays down the following canon or rule for expositors3--,before a commentator can reasonably expect his own system to be adopted by others1 he must show likewise that the expositions of his predecessors are erroneous in those points wherein he differs from them4 ,to enforce this rule he adds1--,it will be found to be the only way1 in which there is even a probability of attaining to the truth4 ,i can neither admit the justness of his rule1 nor the conclusiveness of his reason2 for by its adoption1 of making many books there would be no end2 and the world itself could not contain the books that should be written4 ,to deduce the truth from any portion of ,god's word1 it is by no means necessary that the expositor shall undertake the ,herculean task of refuting all the heresies and vagaries which men of corrupt minds have pretended or attempted to wring out of it4 ,but as ,mr4 ,faber is not to be reckoned in this category1 ,i shall pay him so much deserved respect as to apply to himself his own rule in some following particulars3-- ,by a formal syllogism ,mr4 ,faber proposes to overthrow the generally received interpretation of the term ,antichrist1 that it means1 the ,papacy1 or1 the ,church of ,rome4 ,thus he reasons3--,he is ,antichrist that denieth the ,father and the ,son3 but the ,church of ,rome never denied either the ,father or the ,son3 therefore the church of ,rome cannot be the ,antichrist intended by ,st4 ,john4 ,now1 in this argument1 which seems to be so clear and conclusive1 there is a latent sophism1 an assumption contrary to the ,scriptures4 ,the false assumption is1 that the word denieth is univocal2 that is1 that it has in the ,bible1 and on this doctrinal point in particular1 only one sense2 whereas this is not the case4 ,the ,church of ,rome does indeed profess to know the ,father and the ,son1 but in works denies both1 7#a ,tim4 v4 #h2 ,tit4 i4 #af47 ,therefore ,mr4 ,faber's conclusion is not sustained by his premises1 and the ,church of ,rome might be the ,antichrist for any thing that his syllogism says to the contrary4 ,mr4 ,faber imagined that ,republican ,france1--infidel and atheistical ,france1--was the ,antichrist2 and he labored with much ingenuity to sustain his position by applying to revolutionary ,france the latter part of the eleventh chapter of ,daniel1 together with the prophecies of ,paul1 ,peter and ,jude4 ,i presume that most divines and intelligent ,christians are long since convinced1 by the developments of ,providence1 that he was mistaken4 ,the commotions of the ,french ,revolution and the military achievements of the first ,napoleon1 however important to peninsular ,europe1 were on much too limited a scale to correspond with the magnitude and duration of the great ,antichrist's achievements4 ,they were1 however1 owing to their proximity to ,britain and their threatening aspect1 of sufficient importance to excite the alarm and rouse the political antipathies of the ,vicar of ,stockton upon ,tees6 ,mr4 ,faber's ,antichrist is an infidel king1 wilful king1 an atheistical king1 a professed atheist1 of short duration1 and his influence of limited geographical extent4 ,he is not in most of these features the ,antichrist of prophecy1 whose baleful influence is co-extensive with ,christendom1 and whose duration is to be #abfj years4 ,mr4 ,faber's erudition is to be respected1 his imagination admired1 but his political feelings to be lamented4 ,indeed1 his very ecclesiastical title of office1--,vicar1 is itself partly indicative and symbolical of the prophetic ,antichrist4 ,i do not believe that infidel ,france1 whether republican or monarchical1 nor the ,papacy1 nor the ,church of ,rome1 is the ,antichrist of the apostle ,john2 yet ,i do believe that all these are essential elements in his composition4 ,the following are the principal component parts of that complex moral person1 as defined by the ,holy ,spirit1 by which any disciple of ,christ without much learning may identify ,john's ,antichrist4 ,his elemental parts are three1 and only three1 and all presented in the thirteenth chapter of ,revelation4 ,the beast of the sea1 7vs4 #a1 #b17 the beast of the earth1 7v4 #aa17 and the image of1 or to the first beast1 7v4 #ad17 that is1 the ,roman empire1 the ,roman church and the ,pope3 all these in combination1 professing ,christianity2 these1 with their adjuncts as subordinate agencies constitute the ,apocalyptic ,antichrist4 ,besides this personage1 well defined by the inspired prophets1 ,daniel1 ,paul1 ,john and others1 there is no other ,antichrist4 ,an infidel king1 a professed atheist1 as distinct from this one and symbolized in prophetic revelation1 ,i find not4 ,i conclude that such a personage is wholly chimerical1 framed as a creature of a lively imagination4 ,,the ,,image ,,of ,,the ,,beast4 ,mr4 ,faber is unsuccessful in his interpretation of the image of the beast4 ,his reasoning is ingenious1 specious and intelligible as usual4 ,he labours to prove that the worshipping of images by the ,papists is the meaning of the symbol4 ,material images1 however1 whether of papal origin or otherwise1 are harmless vanities3 for they cannot do evil1 neither also is it in them to do good1 7,jer4 x4 #e47 ,the case is quite otherwise with this image4 ,it has life1 speaks1 and has power to kill1 7,rev4 xiii4 #ae47 ,these properties of ,john's image are so opposite to those of the ,papal images1 that they effectually confute ,mr4 ,faber's fanciful1 not to say whimsical theory4 ,it has been already shown that the image symbolizes the ,papacy1 the fac-simile of the ,roman emperor4 ,,the ,,beast',s deadly wound4 ,the ,erastian heresy1 the usual concomitant of prelacy1 will readily account for ,mr4 ,faber's explanation of the deadly wound1 which the first beast received in his sixth head4 ,constantine1 he thinks1 inflicted that wound by abolishing paganism4 ,he writes as though the beast had been actually killed1 and had lain literally dead for a period of nearly three centuries6 7viz41 from #cac till #fjf47 ,yet the apostle assures us that the deadly wound was healed4 ,the beast did not die4 ,daniel gives no hint of the death of his fourth beast1 which is the same as ,john's beast of the sea1 until his final destruction at the close of the #abfj years4 ,it was in fact under the reigns of ,constantine and his successors1 that ambitious pastors were nurtured into antichristian prelates1 and passed by a natural transition into ,popery4 ,the empire never ceased to be a beast during the whole period of its continuance4 ,the sixth head was wounded1 but the beast still survived4 ,the sixth or imperial form of government was changed1 but that change brought no advantage to the ,christian church either in her doctrine or order4 ,as a distinct horn of this beast the ,british nation with her hierarchy is easily traceable to mystic ,babylon in point of maternity4 ,since1 as well as before the time of ,henry the ,eighth1 spiritual fornication has ever been the crime of the ,british ,establishment4 ,this historical fact requires no proof4 ,mr4 ,faber seems to me to give too little prominence in his exposition to ,daniel and ,john's beast of the sea1 as an enemy to ,christ4 ,indeed1 he appears to overlook the leading idea involved in the name ,antichrist1 as a substitutionary1 false1 and therefore inimical or hostile christ4 ,instead of keeping before his mind the glorious person of the ,mediator as the special object of ,antichrist's enmity1 as prophecy requires1 he places before him the church or the gospel instead of ,christ4 ,hence he writes thus3--,we find in the predictions of ,st4 ,john1--7why not ,st ,daniel87 two great enemies of the gospel1 ,popery and ,mohammedism4 ,then he adds1--a third power is introduced1 7,preface1 p4 #g47 ,this third power he calls a wilful infidel king1 and1 as already noticed1 interprets it of atheistical ,france4 ,now1 it will be evident to the intelligent reader that among his three powers considered by him as enemies to the gospel1 he has entirely lost sight of the seven headed ten horned beast1 and his hostility to ,christ6 ,he has1 in fact1 manifestly substituted his imaginary wilful king1--infidel ,france1 for the ,roman empire1 the beast of ,daniel and ,john1 the agent that slays the witnesses1 7,rev4 xi4 #g47 ,to almost every expositor1 and in his lucid moments1 even to ,mr4 ,faber himself1 it is apparent1 that the ,roman empire is the primary element in the complex personage that wars against the ,lamb4 ,even kings are but horns of the beast1 and ,popery but a horn4 7,dan4 vii4 #bj2 ,rev4 xvii4 #ab1 #ac47 ,it is therefore a great mistake on the part of this learned author1 to feign an ,antichrist distinct from the three confederated enemies of ,christ and his witnesses1--enemies so clearly pointed out in prophecy by appropriate and intelligible symbols3--the beast with ten1 and the beast with two horns1 and the image of the first4 ,these three1 all professing the ,christian religion1 and practically denying it1 without the shadow of a doubt1 constitute the ,antichrist of ,john1 7#a ,john ii4 #ai-ba47 ,this is the identical enemy described by ,daniel1 and according to the inspired predictions of both prophets1 doomed to eternal destruction1 7,dan4 vii4 #aa2 ,rev4 xix4 #bj47 ,hence it is obvious that ,mr4 ,faber's wilful king is wholly a creature of his own fancy1 constituting no feature of the prophetic ,antichrist4 ,,the ,,little ,,book4 ,this symbol is in the tenth chapter evidently distinguished from the one in the fifth chapter4 ,it is considered by several interpreters as containing all that follows to the end of the book4 ,according to this view1 it would be larger than the sealed book1 7ch4 v4 #a47 ,such a view is altogether untenable1 involving1 as it does1 almost a palpable contradiction4 ,the little book is indeed comprehended in the sealed book1 as a part of the whole2 or it may be viewed as an appendix or codicil1 or perhaps still more correctly as a parenthesis1 interrupting the series of the trumpets1 that the object of the seventh or last woe-trumpet maybe thus described and rendered intelligible when sounded4 ,mr4 ,faber is correct in saying1 the eleventh1 twelfth1 thirteenth and fourteenth chapters1 in point of chronology run parallel to each other2 but he is mistaken when he says the little book comprehends these four chapters4 ,it comprehends only so much as intervenes between the close of the ninth chapter and the fifteenth verse of the eleventh chapter2 or1 in other words1 between the sounding of the sixth and seventh trumpet4 ,to be more correct and explicit1--the tenth chapter introduces the little book1 and the eleventh chapter1 from the first to the fourteenth verse inclusive1 exhibits an abstract of its contents1--a condensed narrative or mere outline of the contest during the #abfj years4 ,,the ,,death ,,of ,,the ,,witnesses4 ,many divines have considered the death of the two witnesses1 as consisting in a moral slaying1 equivalent to apostacy4 ,mr4 ,faber views their life and death as altogether political4 ,he censures ,mr4 ,galloway for want of strict adherence to unity of symbolical interpretation1 but he inadvertently falls into the same error4 ,assuming1 as he does1 that the two witnesses are the ,old and ,new ,testament ,churches1 where is the unity of symbolical interpretation when he tells us that the witnesses were politically slain in the disastrous battle of ,mulburgh in the year #aedg1 by the total route of the protestants under the lead of the ,elector of ,saxony and the ,landgrave of ,hesse8 ,the political death of two churches in the battle of ,mulburgh6--,such language exemplifies neither the accuracy of historic narrative1 nor the unity of symbolical interpretation3 nor does it accord with another rule of the writer1 one of his three cardinal rules1 namely1--,that no interpretation of a prophecy is valid1 except the prophecy agree in every particular with the event to which it is supposed to relate4 ,mistaking the character of the witnesses1 as one of the primary symbols in the ,apocalypse1 he is unable to ascertain in history either their identity or work1 their life or their death4 ,having imagined their political death in #aedg1 he supposes their resurrection to political life in #aeej1--;by the accession of ,edward the ,sixth to the throne of ,england6 and the defeat of the ,duke of ,mecklenburgh in the ,october of that year66 ,of course1 these witnesses1 according to ,mr4 ,faber's interpretation1 resumed their function of prophesying so soon as they were restored to political life3 but we look in vain for the prophesying of the mystic witnesses after their ascension to the symbolic heaven1 7,rev4 xi4 #ab47 ,as we have shown to the readers of these ,notes1 their lives and their testimony1 or prophesying1 terminate together1 7ch4 xi4 #g2 xii4 #aa47 ,,the ,,mark ,,of ,,the ,,beast4 ,with regard to the mark of the beast1 ,mr4 ,faber thinks1 with ,sir ,isaac ,newton1 that it is the cross1 7p4 #agf47 ,this thought has indeed been almost universal in the minds of protestants4 ,so deep-seated is this conviction in the popular belief1 that one is deemed chargeable with temerity1 if not something worse1 who would call its grounds in question4 ,popular opinion1 or belief in matters of this spiritual and mystical nature1 is1 however1 of very little weight in the estimation of such as are accustomed to try the spirits4 ,although the mark was to be received at the instance and by the authority of the two horned beast of the earth1 it was not enjoined as a mark of devotion to himself4 ,it was manifestly commanded by him as a tessera of loyalty to the ten-horned beast of the sea1 the obvious symbol of corrupt and tyrannical civil power4 ,instead therefore of the cross as a sign of devotion to ,popery1--of membership in the church of ,rome1 as identifying with the beast's mark1 this mark is evidently and demonstrably the tessera of loyalty to the ,roman empire1--immoral civil power2 and this1 too1 in any of the dependencies of that iron empire1 7,dan4 ii4 #dj2 vii4 #g47 ,from the errors and vagaries of this learned and acute expositor1 some of which have been pointed out1 it is apparent that no amount of intellectual culture1 no natural powers of discrimination1 no logical or metaphysical acumen1 will compensate for the want of early and accurate training in the knowledge of supernatural revelation4 ,on the prophetical and priestly offices of our ,redeemer1 some of the ,english prelates have written with a force1 perspicuity and zeal against the heresies of the ,romish apostacy1 not excelled by the writings of those who have dissented from the semi-papal hierarchy of the ,anglican ,church4 ,but on the royal office of ,immanuel1 their prelatic training and associations seem to have blinded their minds4 ,no bishop1 no king1 is a maxim which seems to lie at the foundation of all their political disquisitions and speculations1 and which gives a tincture to all their expositions of prophecy4 ,nevertheless1 even in this field of labor1 the diligent student may consult with much advantage the learned works of such writers as the two ,newtons1 ,kett1 ,galloway1 ,whitaker1 ,zouch1 with their predecessors1 ,lowman1 ,mede and others4 ,after all1 the best works to be obtained as helps to understand the prophetic parts of ,scripture1 will be found in the labors of those who1 from age to age1 have obeyed the gracious call of ,christ1--who have come out from mystic ,babylon1 from the ,romish communion1--from the mother and her harlot daughters1 and who have associated more or less intimately with the witnesses4 ,among these may be consulted with profit the works of ,durham1 ,mason and ,m',leod4 ,but while searching after the mind of ,god revealed in this part of his word1 let us never exercise implicit faith in the teachings of any fallible expositor4 ,let us always regard the injunction of our apostle3--,beloved1 believe not every spirit1 but try the spirits whether they are of ,god4 ,of course1 the only infallible standard by which we can try the spirits is the whole word of ,god1--comparing spiritual things with spiritual4 ,,the ,,first ,,resurrection4 ,bishop ,newton1 among those divines distinguished in ecclesiastical history as ,millenarians1 may be regarded as one of the most learned1 judicious and cautious4 ,the amount of the deductions which this class of writers draw from the scripture phrase first resurrection1 and its context1 confirmed as they suppose by many other parts of ,scripture1 appears to be the following3--,all the righteous shall be raised from their graves to meet our ,saviour coming from heaven at the beginning of the ,millennium3 he and these saints1 clothed in real human bodies1 are to dwell and reign together upon a renovated earth during that happy period4 ,indeed1 writers on this interesting subject differ so much in details1 that no well-defined theory or system can be discovered among them4 ,the literal resurrection of the bodies of the saints1 and the corporeal presence of ,christ among them1 seem to be the cardinal points of agreement with this class of expositors2 and from this literal interpretation of the resurrection of the righteous and bodily appearance of the ,saviour1 they either took or received the name ,millenarians4 ,other ,christians1 however1 who differ from them in the interpretation of symbols1 are no less believers in a millennium than they1--a thousand years of righteousness and peace on the earth4 ,bishop ,newton understands this 'first resurrection' of a particular resurrection preceding the general one at least a thousand years4 ,it is to this first resurrection1 says he1 that ,st4 ,paul alludes1 7#a ,thess4 iv4 #af17 when he affirms that the 'dead in ,christ shall rise first1' and 7#a ,cor4 xv4 #bc27 that every man shall be made alive in his own order1 ,christ the first fruits1 afterwards they that are ,christ's at his coming4 ,it is surprising that a person of the ,bishop's learning should so readily mistake the sound for the sense of the words which he quotes4 ,while the apostle is1 for the comfort of the saints1 treating of their resurrection1 he is evidently speaking of the general resurrection at the end of time4 ,in the morning of the resurrection ,christ's members will be raised after the manner and in virtue of his resurrection1--the first fruits securing the following harvest1 in obvious allusion to the ceremonial law4 ,in the other case1 when ,paul says1 the dead in ,christ shall rise first1 does he mean1--before the rest of the dead8 ,no1 but before those of their redeemed brethren who shall then be alive and remain2 for these shall not prevent 7anticipate7 them which are asleep1 7in the grave47 ,that is1 the bodies of the saints who have died shall be raised in glory1 before those then alive shall undergo a change equivalent to that of the resurrection4 ,such is manifestly the meaning of the apostle's plain language which has no reference whatever to the millennium1 not even the remotest allusion4 ,nothing but a groundless preconception of the nature of the millennium will account for the sound of words taking the place of their sense in the reader's mind1 and no degree of mere scholarship can obviate this propensity of the human mind in the things of the ,spirit of ,god4 ,not only does the learned prelate misapprehend and misapply the texts above quoted to support his theory1 but he makes a gratuitous concession1 which is at once fatal to his scheme and inconsistent with himself4 ,he says1--,indeed1 the death and resurrection of the witnesses before mentioned1 7,rev4 xi4 #g1 #aa17 appears from the concurrent circumstances of the vision to be figurative4 ,the ,bishop evidently viewed the witnesses of the eleventh chapter as a company altogether different from those of whom ,john speaks in the twentieth chapter1 7vs4 #d1 #e47 ,this is another of his surprising mistakes2 for that the identical party as a moral person appears in both parts of the symbolic and allegorical representation will readily appear to any unbiassed mind by an induction of the following particulars4 ,these witnesses are to continue prophesying #abfj days 7years17 7,rev4 xi4 #c47 ,then they are killed1 7v4 #g47 ,but we learn that in death they are victorious1 7ch4 xii4 #aa7 ,they triumph with the ,lamb on ,mount ,zion1 7ch4 xiv4 #a7 ,in a similar attitude of triumph they again appear standing on the sea of glass1 7ch4 xv4 #b47 ,they are with their victorious ,king1 7ch4 xvii4 #ad47 ,they are exhorted to retaliate upon mystic ,babylon1 7xviii4 #f47 ,they are also engaged in the last campaign with the ,captain of their salvation1 7ch4 xix4 #ad1 #ai1 #bj47 ,and at length they are advanced to thrones of civil power to rule the nations1 7ch4 xx4 #d17 in fulfilment of ,daniel's prophecy and their ,saviour's promise1 7,dan4 vii4 #bg2 ,rev4 ii4 #bf1 #bg47 ,the death and resurrection of the witnesses is compendiously stated in the former part of the eleventh chapter1 7vs4 #g-ad27 but these events1 epitomised again in the little book1 are amplified in the subsequent chapters1 where we are made acquainted more fully with their enemies1 their conflicts1 death1 resurrection1 ascension and exaltation2 and in all these respects is exhibited their conformity to the example of their ,captain and ,leader4 ,if1 therefore1 according to the ,bishop's conception1 the death and resurrection of the witnesses in the eleventh chapter be figurative1 and if the witnesses of the twentieth be the same as those of the eleventh chapter1 which identity ,i have proved1 it follows incontrovertibly1 that the first resurrection is to be understood in a figurative sense4 ,this interpretation may be abundantly confirmed in the following manner3--,the witnesses prophesy #abfj years4 ,but since no individual persons live so long1 a succession must be supposed4 ,they are1 in fact1 mystic characters1 having their real counterpart in actual history on this earth4 ,the scarlet colored beast and woman1 7ch4 xvii4 #c17 are of equal duration with the witnesses1 and of similar mystic character1 and have their real counterpart in history4 ,the witnesses are slain by the beast at the instigation of the woman2 but their death is only temporary1 7ch4 xi4 #g1 #aa27 their enemies have no more that they can do3 while1 on the other hand1 the death of the beast is perdition1--eternal death1 7ch4 xvii4 #h17 and in this death the woman1--the false prophet participates1 7ch4 xix4 #bj47 ,all this symbolical language respects ,christ's enemies as corporate or organized bodies4 ,here it is proper to notice an objection of ,bishop ,newton4 ,he asks1--,with what propriety can it be said1 that some of the dead who were beheaded lived and reigned with ,christ a thousand years2 but the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished2 unless the dying and living again be the same in both places8 ,very true1 the dying and living are doubtless the same in both places4 ,the ,bishop's mistake consists in taking these expressions in a literal sense1 a proper death and resurrection4 ,he evidently assumes that the rest of the dead1 here mentioned1 are to be literally raised at the last day4 ,this is undoubtedly true1 for there shall be a resurrection 444 of the unjust4 7,acts xxiv4 #ae17 but it is not the truth contained in the words in question4 ,from the assumption of the literal raising of the rest of the dead1 he infers the literal raising of those that were beheaded4 ,the converse of this is obviously the correct way of reasoning4 ,we have found that the witnesses are spoken of1 7xi4 #ad17 as figuratively raised by the ,bishop's own acknowledgment1 therefore it is most natural and logical to infer that the rest of the dead were to be raised in the same manner1 namely1 figuratively4 ,as at the beginning of the millennium1--the martyrs1 not some of them only1 as the ,bishop hints1 will be raised in the persons of their legitimate successors in faith and practice2 and their faith and practice will constitute the happy state of the world for a thousand years1 so1 when that period shall have expired1 ,satan1 being loosed out of his prison1 7ch4 xx4 #h17 will deceive the nations as before1 and during the little season of liberty1 will succeed in raising from the dead as it were1 a multitude of the same character as those who killed the witnesses1--,gog and ,magog4 ,this maybe called the second resurrection1 and there will never be a third of that kind1 for the ,lord will destroy them for ever1 7ch4 xx4 #i47 ,the character of the witnesses and their unparalleled conflicts with ,antichrist sufficiently identify them in the ,apocalypse throughout the #abfj years1 as also during the thousand years of their reign2 and the character of their enemies identifies them in the time of conflict for #abfj years2 but during the succeeding period of righteousness and peace for a thousand years1 they will not be permitted to lift up the head4 ,and so soon as they are organized under the conduct of ,satan1 and like ,pharaoh1 most confident of victory1 7,exod4 xv4 #i17 then sudden destruction cometh upon them1 and they shall not escape4 ,,the ,,identity ,,of ,,the ,,two ,,witnesses4 ,the late ,rev4 ,alexander ,m',leod1 ,d4 ,d41 who had the works of learned predecessors before him1 has successfully corrected many of their misinterpretations in his valuable publication1 entitled ,lectures upon the ,principal ,prophecies of the ,revelation4 ,at the time when he wrote that work1 he possessed several advantages in aid of his own expositions4 ,he had access to the most valuable works which had been issued before that date1 7#ahad474 ,he was then in the vigor of youthful manhood2 and he was also comparatively free from the trammels which in attempts to expound the ,apocalypse1 have cramped the energies of many a well-disciplined mind1 political partialities4 ,at the time of these profound studies1 he occupied a position in the wilderness1 from which as a stand point1 like ,john in ,patmos1 he could most advantageously survey the passing scenes of providence with the ardor of youthful emotion1 and with unsullied affection for the divine ,master4 ,with all these advantages1 however1 the dispassionate and impartial reviewer may discover1 in the rapid current of his thoughts1 that the active powers of the expositor some times took precedence of the intellectual4 ,two special causes may be assigned for this1 hereditary love of liberty1 and the actual condition of society at the time4 ,born in ,scotland1 the cradle of civil and religious liberty from the days of ,john ,knox1 ,dr4 ,m',leod's traditions and mental associations were necessarily imbued with the atmosphere of such surroundings4 ,to such causes may be attributed occasional declamation1 extravagant verbosity and unconscious inconsistencies1 not well comporting with the solidity and self possession so desirable on the part of an expositor4 ,yet even in such outbursts of impassioned eloquence we may sometimes discover noble conceptions commanding our admiration1 if not altogether such as to secure our approbation4 ,it ought to be considered1 moreover1 that the ,lectures came from their author in a turbulent1 if not in a revolutionary condition of society4 ,peninsular ,europe was convulsed by the successful military career of that brilliant general1 ,napoleon4 ,england and the ,united ,states were also at war4 ,the independence and even the existence of the young ,republic were apparently in peril4 ,the lecturer very naturally sympathized with the land of his adoption1 in which resided his domestic treasures and many of the excellent ones of the earth1 to whom he was bound by conjugal1 paternal and covenant ties4 ,in a condition of actual warfare1 he could not but feel most keenly the constriction of these manifold and endearing bonds1 especially when thought to be jeopardized4 ,with these preliminaries1 and expressing my obligation to the ,doctor's labors1 to whose system of interpretation as well as to most of his details1 ,i cheerfully give my approbation in preference to all other expositors whose works it has been in my power to consult2 it is proposed briefly to review some of his expositions and sentiments1 from which ,i crave liberty to dissent4 ,it is not the interest of any man to be in error4 ,in his interpretation of the seals and trumpets of the ,apocalypse1 ,dr4 ,m',leod has unquestionably corrected many misapprehensions of his learned predecessors1 especially ,bishop ,newton and ,mr4 ,faber3 and it is perhaps to be regretted that he did not favor the public with his view of the vials also1 a work which he seems to have had in contemplation when the ,lectures were published4 ,the three last named interpreters did certainly improve upon the expositions of all who went before them in this field of investigation2 and in most cases of disagreement the ,doctor excelled in accuracy the other two1 as will readily appear on careful examination4 ,in attempting to ascertain the import of the mystic witnesses1 as of the ,antichrist1 expositors widely differ4 ,bishop ,newton says positively1--,the witnesses cannot be 444 any two churches4 ,mr4 ,faber is equally peremptory1 that they must be two churches1 and he attempts to sustain his position by many citations of ,scripture1 and by much plausible argumentation4 ,the ,bishop is substantially correct in saying1 ,they are a succession of men1 and a succession of churches4 ,mr4 ,faber is also correct in the main when he says1--,the two witnesses signify the spiritual members of the catholic church3 but his notion of two churches1 the ,old and ,new ,testament churches1 betrays his imperfect conception of the essential unity of the church of ,god4 ,both he and the ,bishop overlook too often the important fact that civil magistracy is a divine ordinance1 which1 as corrupted1 constitutes the first beast of the ,apocalypse1 and the most prominent feature of the great ,antichrist4 ,doctor ,m',leod's definition or description of the witnesses is as follows3--,they are a small company of true ,christians1 defending the interests of true religion against all opposition1 and frequently sealing with their blood the testimony which they hold1 7p4 #cad47 ,this description is more definite than either of the two preceding1 and is therefore worthy of preference2 yet the reader will still wish for something more precise and tangible4 ,since the prophets of the ,old and ,new ,testaments reveal the hostility of the ,devil to ,christ and his people1 and since both ,daniel and ,john represent this hostility by appropriate and intelligible symbols1 as carried out by corrupting the two great ordinances of church and state1 would it not follow that the witnesses are those ,christians who1 for #abfj years1 apply the word of ,god to these two ordinances1 contending for a scriptural magistracy and a gospel ministry1--the ,two ,sons of ,oil2 and testifying against their ,counterfeits8 ,such appears to be the import of those mystical characters of whom we read1 ,zech4 iv4 #ad2 ,rev4 xi4 #d4 ,in tracing the witnesses through their eventful history for #abfj years as portrayed in the ,apocalypse1 and in fixing with precision their continuous identity1 ,i am constrained reluctantly to dissent from the ,doctor and agree with ,faber4 ,adopting the language of ,frazer's ,key1 ,dr4 ,m',leod says1 ,these witnesses differ as much from their cotemporaries1 the one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed ones1 7,rev4 vii4 #d17 as ,elijah differed from the seven thousand in ,israel in his time4 ,the attempt is made to prove this assertion by the following plausible argument3--,god is never for a moment without a people upon earth4 ,this is true1--,and the visible church is an indestructible society4 ,is this assertion true8 ,it is partly true1 and partly untrue3--true of her existence and moral identity1 but not of her visibility as an organized body4 ,for example1 where was the visible church while ,elijah dwelt by the brook ,cherith8 7#a ,kings xvii4 #c1 xix4 #aj27 or while the woman was in the wilderness8 7,rev4 xii4 #f47 ,is it consistent with propriety to contemplate the woman as literally visible1 when she is symbolically in the wilderness8 ,this seems to be impossible4 ,i am therefore prepared to give my decided preference to the sentiment of ,mr4 ,faber contained in the following words of his ,dissertation3 ,the one hundred and forty-four thousand here mentioned1 7,rev4 xiv4 #a17 are the immediate successors of the one hundred and forty four thousand sealed servants of ,god2 7ch4 vii4 #d47 ,they are the same in short1 as the two witnesses4444 ,they constitute the persecuted church in the wilderness4--,i cannot but think the evidence of identity here irresistible2 and in the pithy language of the ,doctor on another point1 ,i say1--,a man must shut his eyes not to see the correctness of ,mr4 ,faber's interpretation of this identity4 ,the ,doctor's censure of ,english expositors in one of his notes will too often justly apply to other divines in expounding prophecy3--,they have greatly diminished the value of their publications1 by permitting themselves to indulge so much of the spirit of political partiality4 ,doctor ,m',leod and ,mr4 ,faber ,i consider among the best expositors of the prophecies on which they severally wrote2 and therefore their valuable works have been principally contemplated in these animadversions4 ,on material points they have shed much light where those who preceded them left the reader in darkness1 or involved him in perplexing labyrinths4 ,faber preceded ,m',leod1 and the latter availed himself of all the aid furnished by the former2 yet till the mystery of ,god shall be finished1 his people will be receiving accessions of light from the sure word of prophecy4 ,,sounding ,,op ,,the ,,seventh ,,trumpet4 ,at the time when those learned divines wrote1 the political agitations in ,europe and ,america1 as already noticed1 gave a peculiar tincture to their opinions and expositions of the ,apocalyptic symbols4 ,this state of feeling on the part of these distinguished men1 and on opposite sides of the ,atlantic1 is very strikingly illustrated in their conflicting interpretations of the third woe1--the seventh trumpet4 ,amidst the conflict of arms and the booming of cannon1 in both hemispheres1 those writers thought the first blast of the seventh trumpet and third woe could be distinctly heard4 ,they differed widely1 however1 in their interpretations of its import and effects4 ,to ,mr4 ,faber1 ,napoleon1 who was the most conspicuous figure in the passing drama1 appeared as a terrific ,vandal at the head of his legions1 threatening to uproot and lay waste the fair fabric of ,european civilization4 ,to the ,doctor1 on the other hand1 ,napoleon seemed the possible minister of ,providence1 destined to prepare the way of the ,lord1 and to introduce a better1 a scriptural civilization4 ,as time has sufficiently demonstrated the fallacy of their respective expositions of the seventh trumpet1 it is needless to quote or review their speculations4 ,the principal defect pervading the ,lectures1 and one which most readers will be disposed to view in an opposite light1 appears to be1 a charity too broad1 a catholicity too expansive1 to be easily reconciled with a consistent position among the mystic witnesses4 ,their author1 however1 deriving much information from the learned labours of ,english prelates on prophecy1 could not find in his heart to exclude them from a place in the honourable roll of the witnesses4 ,i am unable to recognize any of those who are in organic fellowship with the eldest daughter of ,popery1 as entitled to rank among those who are symbolized as clothed in sackcloth4 ,the two positions and fellowships appear to be obviously incompatible and palpably irreconcilable4 ,it is true that there have been and still are in the ,english establishment divines who are strictly evangelical2 but the reigning ,mediator views and treats individuals1 as he views and treats the moral person with which individuals freely choose to associate2 and we ought to have the mind of ,christ4 7#a ,cor4 ii4 #af47 ,assuming that the third woe trumpet was sounding in his ears1 the ,doctor1 transported with the imaginary but delightful prospect1 that the kingdoms of this world were speedily to become the kingdoms of our ,lord and of his ,christ1 speaks of ,france as follows3--,she had given assistance to the sons of freedom on the plains and along the shores of ,columbia1 until the republican eagle snatched the oppressed provinces from the paw of the royal lion of ,england4--,we may admire the metaphors of the orator1 while we deplore the political feeling of the divine4 ,it is true1 as the orator in calmer moments reflects1--,the political conduct of professing ,christians is generally lamentable2 and alas6 this lamentable conduct is usually tolerated and too often exemplified by their spiritual guides4 ,it has been generally so since the days of ,jeroboam who made priests of the lowest of the people1 and thereby rendered the ministry the stipendiaries of the state4 ,and as it was then1 even so it is now1 whether in the kingdoms1 empires or republics of the earth4 ,let us1 with the ,doctor1 lament the political conduct of ,christians in the present age of the world4 ,allusion has been already made to seeming inconsistencies in the ,doctor's sentiments4 ,there is truth in the adage1--tempora mutantur et nos mutamur cum illis1--times change1 and we change with them4 ,and indeed changes are allowable in matters of a circumstantial nature which do not affect moral principle4 ,moral principle1 however1 is in its nature immutable4 ,in the early period of the ,doctor's public life he had nobly proved ,negro ,slavery ,unjustifiable4 ,but this accursed system was from the first interwoven with the very framework of that ,republican ,america1 which in his ,lectures he takes occasion thus to eulogize6 ,we never formed a street of the mystical ,babylon4444 ,let this be the asylum of the oppressed4444 ,she 7,republican ,america7 has not1 either by sea or land1 encouraged oppression 787 or despoiled of his goods him that was at peace with us8--,i confess my inability to credit these statements1 or to reconcile them with the great moral principles which the author justly tells his readers it was the object of the ,author of the ,apocalypse to illustrate before the world4 ,i have thus noticed some of the most important particulars in which ,i dissent from the interpretations of the ,doctor and others1 that the reader may be guided by all accessible way-marks in searching after the mind of ,god in this mysterious but highly instructive part of his precious word4 ,i can again cordially recommend to his attention the ,lectures of ,doctor ,m',leod1 as the best exposition of those parts of the ,apocalypse of which he treats1 that has come under my notice4 ,in the ,notes will be found minor points of dissent from the ,doctor's views1 and from multiplied aberrations of many others4 ,i have studied great plainness of speech1 abstaining from the introduction of many verbal criticisms on the original text1 and from the use of terms and phrases not familiar to the unlearned reader4 ,let no sincere ,christian be deterred by seeming difficulties from reading the ,apocalypse1 or be dissuaded from searching it1 by the discrepancies of interpreters2 for this is equally true of the other ,scriptures4 7#b ,pet4 iii1 #af47 ,,the ,,title ,,of ,,this ,,book4 ,in our authorized version of the ,bible1 this last book is correctly translated ,revelation4 ,it is otherwise designated ,the ,apocalypse1 by simply ,anglicising the ,greek title1--,apokalupsis4 ,a distinguished modern divine1 ,doctor ,seiss1 has furnished the public with a novel interpretation of the title4 ,but it is remarkable that he does not propose an interpretation at all2 he merely gives what he conceives to be a correct translation4 ,it is this3--,the ,book of the ,unvailing of ,jesus ,christ6 ,in this singular translation two things are transparent1--affectation of scholarship1 and the 7proton pseudos7 the cardinal error of ,millenarianism4 ,learned men1 however1 are not devoid of fancy4 ,of this fact those who are historically designated ,millenarians have given many illustrations from the primitive ages down to our own time4 ,the ,doctor's rendering of the name of this book discloses the predominant idea conceived in his imagination and cherished there1 that ,christ is to appear upon earth in glorified humanity at the beginning of the millennium1 and that the ,apocalypse is intended chiefly to apprize the church and the world of this momentous event4 ,the unvailing of ,jesus ,christ1 indeed6 ,why1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ was revealed1--unvailed to the faith of our first parents in the promise of the woman's seed as every intelligent ,christian knows1 7,gen4 iii4 #ae47 ,we are assured that to him give all the prophets witness1 7,acts x4 #dc47 ,abraham rejoiced to see ,christ's day1 7,john viii4 #ef47 ,his advent in the flesh was so well known that ,old ,testament believers spoke of him familiarly as of ,him that was to come1 7,matt4 xi4 #c47 ,surely he was unvailed to his disciples all the time that he went in and out among them before his death4 ,and after his resurrection he appeared unto them the third time1--was seen of ,cephas1 then of the twelve3 after that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once1 7#a ,cor4 xv4 #e1 #f47 ,after his ascension ,stephen saw ,jesus standing on the right hand of ,god1 7,acts vii4 #ef7 ,how preposterous then1 since the whole ,bible unvails the ,saviour1 to insinuate that the specific object of the ,apocalypse is to unvail ,jesus ,christ6 ,that ,doctor ,seiss and those who endorse his mistranslation1 or1 as it ought to be called1 his false exposition of the title to this book1 do totally misapprehend and misinterpret the mind of the ,holy ,spirit1 is further evident from the obvious import of the plain words in the first verse2--this ,revelation of ,jesus ,christ1 ,god gave unto him4--,christ4 ,did ,god the ,father unvail ,christ to ,christ himself8 ,how gross the absurdity6 ,we do not transgress the law of charity in pronouncing as impious1 such manifest wresting of the ,scriptures4 ,moreover1 the declared object of this book is to show unto ,god's servants things1--7not to show ,christ17 which must shortly come to pass3 namely1 events of providence which were then future1--the evolution of the purposes of ,god4 ,it is indeed true that in the sublime scenery presented in vision to ,john1 the ,lord ,jesus often appears as a very conspicuous object2 but he is only one among a multiplicity of other objects1 and generally as the principal agent in executing the divine decrees4 ,in this attitude he appears immediately on the opening of the seals of that book1 which all sober expositors consider as the symbol of ,god's purposes1 especially of those unvailed in this prophetic book4 ,when in the sixth chapter1 the four animals say in succession1 ,come and see1 is ,jesus ,christ the only object to be seen8--the exclusive object unvailed8 or even always the primary object8 ,by no means4 ,thus it is evident that at the very beginning of his career as an expositor of this sacred book1 ,doctor ,seiss gives loose reins to his fancy2 and then it is not difficult to foresee through what mazes of error the credulous reader will be conducted1 who in his simplicity1 follows such a reckless guide4 ,the hallucinations of ,millenarians of old and of late have greatly discouraged the disciples of ,christ1 and seriously hindered them in obeying his command1--,search the ,scriptures1 especially this precious book4 ,their unscriptural error1 which some might call an antiscriptural heresy1 of the pre-millennial corporeal appearance of our ,saviour1 with its carnal concomitants1 has been a temptation to not a few to look upon this part of the ,bible as wholly unintelligible1 contrary to its very name1--,,revelation1 ,the hereditary and inveterate misconception by ,millenarians of the nature of the thousand years' reign of the saints1 bears a striking analogy to that of the ,jews concerning the kingdom of their ,messiah1 and suggests a remark by that prince of divines among ,english ,dissenters1 ,doctor ,owen1 in his ,exposition of the ,epistle to the ,hebrews4 ,he says truly1--,there are precious1 useful1 significant truths in the ,scripture1 so disposed of1 so laid up1 as that if we accomplish not a diligent search1 we shall never set eye on them4 ,the common course of reading the ,scriptures1 nor the common help of expositors1 who for the most part1 go in the same track1 and scarce venture one step beyond those that are gone before them1 will not suffice1 if we intend a discovery of these hid treasures4 ,and again he says1 ,how hard it is to dispossess the minds of men of inveterate persuasions in religion6