,a ,,brief ,,commentary ,,on ,,the ,,apocalypse ,by ,,sylvester ,,bliss1 ,,author ,,of 8,,analysis ,,of ,,sacred ,,chronology10 ,,etc4 ,,second ,,edition ,,boston3 ,,published ,,by ,j4 ,v4 ,,himes1 ,no4 #h ,,chardon ,,street4 #ahec4 ,,contents ,,preface4 ,,elements ,,of ,,prophetic ,,interpretation4 ,,exposition ,,of ,,the ,,apocalypse4 ,footnotes ,,preface4 ,the ,apocalypse should be regarded as a peculiarly interesting portion of scripture3 a blessing being promised those who read1 hear1 and keep the things which are written therein4 ,it has been subjected to so many contradictory interpretations1 that any attempt to comprehend its meaning is often regarded with distrust2 and the impression has become very prevalent1 that it is a 8sealed book10--that its meaning is so hidden in unintelligible symbols1 that very little can be known respecting it2 and that to attempt to unfold its meaning1 is to tread presumptuously on forbidden ground4 ,the attention of the ,christian community has been called more of late to its study1 by the publication of several elaborate ,expositions4 ,one in two large volumes1 #hvo41 by ,prof4 ,stuart1 was published at ,andover1 ,mass41 in #ahde4 ,a large #hvo4 volume1 by ,david ,n4 ,lord1 was issued from the press of the ,harpers1 in ,new ,york1 in #ahdg2 and a smaller work1 by ,rev4 ,thomas ,wickes1 appeared in that city in #ahea4 ,these are the more important works on the subject which have been published in this country4 ,in ,england1 the 8,hor ,apocalyptic10 by the ,rev4 ,e4 ,b4 ,elliott1 ,a4,m41 late ,vicar of ,tuxford1 and fellow of ,trinity ,college1 ,cambridge1 has passed through several editions1--the fourth of which1 in four large vols4 #hvo41 was published in ,london1 in #ahea4 ,these works1 with the writings of ,habershon1 ,cunningham1 ,croly1 ,bickersteth1 ,birks1 ,brooks1 ,keith1 and other distinguished ,english writers1 have caused the study of the ,apocalypse to be regarded with more favor of late than heretofore4 ,the ,expositions of ,,mr4 ,,lord have thrown much light on the nature and laws of symbols1 by unfolding the principles in accordance with which they are used4 ,the evolving of these has removed from many passages the obscurity which had before caused them to be regarded as enigmatical4 ,there are1 doubtless1 many portions of the ,apocalypse1 the meaning of which is as yet only dimly perceived1 and which will be more clearly unfolded by the transpiring of future events2 and it would be arrogant to claim that its interpretation had been freed from all perplexities4 ,but it is believed that it may be as profitably and as satisfactorily studied as other portions of ,scripture2 and that the reader may feel an assurance of approximating to a knowledge of the true meaning of its symbolic teachings4 ,the ,bible is its own interpreter2 and when practicable1 scripture should be explained by scripture4 ,the meaning imputed to any passage must never contradict1 but must harmonize with that of parallel texts4 ,in illustrating the several references in the ,apocalypse to the same events and epochs1 a repetition of scripture is somewhat unavoidable4 ,these pages have resulted from notes prepared in a familiar course of ,bible-class instruction1 where the study of brevity was necessary4 ,without designing to speak dogmatically1 the didactic was found the more direct and simple mode of expression4 ,in presenting this exposition1 merely as the opinion of the writer1 it is with the hope that it will give1 in a small compass1 a common-sense view of the intricacies of this book1 and be acceptable to those interested in the study of prophecy4 ,,elements ,,of ,,prophetic ,,interpretation4 #a4 ,,the ,,grammar of any science is a development of the principles by which it is governed4 ,as the science of interpretation must be founded on some fixed and uniform laws1 the unfolding of these is the first step in the study of prophecy4 #b4 ,,biblical ,,exegesis and ,,sacred ,,hermeneutics1 are terms applied to the science of interpretation1 or of learning the meaning of ,biblical words and phrases4 #c4 ,,the ,,usus ,,loquendi1 is the usual mode of speaking4 ,when applied to the ,scriptures1 it denotes the general scriptural use of words4 #d4 ,to learn the meaning of scriptural terms1 their general use must be ascertained1 by comparing their contexts in the several places of their occurrence4 #e4 ,,prophecy is the prediction of a future event4 ,the term sometimes denotes a book of prophecies 7,rev4 #bb3ah72 and sometimes a history4--#b ,chron4 #i3bi4 #f4 ,,consecutive ,prophecy gives the succession of future events in the order in which they will transpire4 ,examples4--,see ,dan4 #b;d1 #gth1 #hth1 #aath1 and ,rev4 #fth and #gth1 #ith to the #aath2 #abth and #aeth1 c4 #g4 ,,discursive ,prophecy presents future events1 irrespective of the order of their occurrence4 ,examples4--,,isaiah and the minor prophets4 #h4 ,,conditional ,prophecy is when the fulfilment is dependent on the compliance of those to whom the promise is made1 with the conditions on which it is given4 ,examples4--8,if ye walk in my statutes and keep my commandments1 and do them3 then ,i will give you rain in due season1 and the land shall yield her increase1 and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit40 ,lev4 #bf3c1 #d4 8,but if ye will not hearken unto me1 and will not do all these commandments2 and if ye shall despise my statutes1 or if your soul abhor my judgments1 so that ye will not do all my commandments1 but that ye break my covenant3 ,i also will do this unto you1 ,i will even appoint over you terror1 consumption1 and the burning ague1 that shall consume the eyes1 and cause sorrow of heart3 and ye shall sow your seed in vain2 for your enemies shall eat it40 ,ib4 #ad-af4 8,and it shall come to pass1 if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the ,lord thy ,god1 to observe and to do all his commandments which ,i command thee this day3 that the ,lord thy ,god will set thee on high above all nations of the earth3 and all these blessings shall come on thee1 and overtake thee1 if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the ,lord thy ,god40 ,deut4 #bh3a1 #b4 8,but it shall come to pass1 if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the ,lord thy ,god1 to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which ,i command thee this day3 that all these curses shall come upon thee1 and overtake thee10 c4 ,ib4 #ae4 ,predictions of mere national prosperity1 or adversity1 are usually conditional4 ,when the condition is not expressed1 it is implied4 ,example4--,the ,lord said unto ,jonah1 8,arise1 go unto ,nineveh1 that great city1 and preach unto it the preaching that ,i bid thee4444 ,and ,jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey1 and he cried1 and said1 ,yet forty days1 and ,nineveh shall be overthrown4 ,so the people of ,nineveh believed ,god1 and proclaimed a fast1 and put on sackcloth1 from the greatest of them even to the least of them4444 ,and ,god saw their works1 that they turned from their evil way2 and ,god repented of the evil that he had said that he would do unto them3 and he did it not40 ,for all cases of this kind1 the ,lord has given the following general ,,rule3 8,at what instant ,i shall speak concerning a nation1 and concerning a kingdom1 to pluck up1 and to pull down1 and to destroy it3 if that nation against whom ,i have pronounced turn from their evil1 ,i will repent of the evil that ,i thought to do unto them4 ,and at what instant ,i shall speak concerning a nation1 and concerning a kingdom1 to build and to plant it2 if it do evil in my sight1 that it obey not my voice1 then ,i will repent of the good wherewith ,i said ,i would benefit them40 ,jer4 #ah3g-aj4 #i4 ,,unconditional ,prophecy includes all predictions which are absolute in their nature4 ,examples4--8,but as truly as ,i live1 all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the ,lord40 ,num4 #ad3ba4 8,for behold1 the darkness shall cover the earth1 and gross darkness the people3 but the ,lord shall arise upon thee1 and his glory shall be seen upon thee4 ,and the ,gentiles shall come to thy light1 and kings to the brightness of thy rising4444 ,for the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish2 yea1 those nations shall be utterly wasted4444 ,thy people also shall be all righteous3 they shall inherit the land for ever1 the branch of my planting1 the work of my hands1 that ,i may be glorified40 ,isa4 #fj3b1 #c1 #ab1 #ba4 8,but in the last days it shall come to pass1 that the mountain of the house of the ,lord shall be established in the top of the mountains1 and it shall be exalted above the hills2 and people shall flow unto it40 ,micah #d3a4 #aj4 ,a ,,vision is a revelation from ,,god1 supernaturally presented4 ,future events are made to pass before the mind of the seer1 as if actually transpiring4 ,examples4--,see the prophecies of ,,isaiah1 ,,amos1 ,,obadiah1 c4 #aa4 ,a ,,symbolic ,,vision is where the future events1 instead of being presented to the mind of the prophet1 are represented by analogous objects4 ,examples4--,the prophecies of ,,ezekiel1 ,,daniel1 ,,zechariah1 and ,,john1 are of this kind4 #ab4 ,a ,,literal ,prophecy is where the prediction is given in words used according to their primary and natural import4 ,examples4--,num4 #ad3ba-ce2 ,jer4 #be3a-cc4 #ac4 ,prophecy is figurative when it abounds in tropes1 as in much of ,,isaiah and the minor prophets2 and it is symbolic1 when symbols instead of the objects themselves are presented--as in ,,daniel and ,,john4 #ad4 ,,poetry is writing thus constituted by the metrical or rhythmical structure of its sentences2 and is not necessarily any more figurative or obscure than prose writing4 ,it is1 also1 a term sometimes applied to the language of excited imagination and feeling4 ,the ,poetry of the ,bible consists in ,hebrew parallelisms1 where the idea of the preceding line is repeated1 or contrasted1 in the succeeding one4 ,examples4--,the ,psalms1 ,,isaiah1 and other prophets4 #ae4 ,,highly ,,figurative1 or ,,symbolic ,prophecies--the laws and use of ,tropes and ,symbols being understood are not necessarily more equivocal1 enigmatical or obscure1 than those which are literal4 #af4 ,,literal ,,fulfilment of prophecy is prophecy fulfilled in accordance with the grammatical interpretation of its language4 #ag4 ,,literal ,,interpretation1 when technically applied to the interpretation of prophecy1 is not opposed to tropes or figures of speech1 but to spiritual interpretation4 ,it interprets the language of the ,scriptures1 as similar language would be interpreted in all other writings4 #ah4 ,,spiritual ,,interpretation 7mystical7 seeks1 in the language of ,scripture1 a meaning that is not expressed by any of the ordinary rules of language4 ,it sets at defiance all the laws of language1 and makes fancy the interpreter of prophecy4 8,it subjects clear predictions to an exegetical alembic that effectually subtilizes and evaporates their meaning40--,bush4 #ai4 ,,ultra ,,literal ,,interpretation is a disregard of the peculiarities of symbols and of the several kinds of tropes--understanding them as if they were literally expressed4 #bj4 ,,symbols and ,,tropes are literally explained1 when interpreted in accordance with the grammatical laws which respectively govern their use4 #ba4 ,,prophetic ,,symbols are objects1 real or imaginary1 representative of agents or objects possessing analogous characteristics4 ,all agents or objects seen in symbolic visions are symbols4 ,the inspired explanations of symbols are always literal1 except when they are affirmed to be the same as some other symbol which represents the same object1 as in ,rev4 #ag3i4 #bb4 ,,laws ,,of ,,symbols4 ,i4 8,the ,symbol and that which it represents resemble each other in the station they fill1 the relation they sustain1 and the agencies they exert in their respective spheres40--,lord4 ,,ii4 ,the ,symbol and that which it represents are of the same1 or they are of different species1 kinds1 or rank1 according to the nature and use of the symbol4 ,,iii4 8,when the ,symbol is of such nature1 or is used in such a relation that it can properly symbolise something different from itself1 the representative and that which it represents1 while the counterpart of each other1 are of different species1 kinds1 or rank40--,lord4 ,example4--,dan4 #g3c1 beasts2 v4 #ag1 governments4 ,,iv4 8,symbols that are of such a nature1 station or relation1 that there is nothing of an analogous kind that they can represent1 symbolize agents1 objects1 acts1 or events of their own kind40--,ib4 ,example4--,dan4 #g3i4 ,v4 8,when the ,symbol and that which it symbolizes differ from each other1 the correspondence between the representative and that which it represents1 still extends to their chief parts2 and the elements or parts of the symbols denote corresponding parts in that which is symbolized40--,ib4 ,,vi4 8,the ,names of ,symbols are their literal and proper names1 not metaphorical titles40--,ib4 ,,vii4 8,a single agent1 in many instances1 symbolizes a body and succession of agents40--,ib4 ,,viii4 ,symbols of the same kind1 and used in the same relations1 always represent one class of objects2 and when the office of a symbol has been once shown1 the same symbol1 similarly used1 always fills a like office4 ,they are never used arbitrarily4 ,,ix4 ,while like symbols represent like objects1 the same agents are often indicated by different symbols4 ,thus1 a church may be symbolized by a city and a woman2 and government1 by a beast and a mountain1 c4 #bc4 ,,inspired ,,explanations ,,of ,,symbolic ,,representations3-- ,ancient of ,days--,the ,most ,high4--,dan4 #g3i1 #bb4 ,candlesticks--,churches4--,rev4 #a3bj4 ,carpenters--,destroyers of governments4--,zech4 #a3ba4 ,days--,years4--,num4 #ad3cd4 ,ezek4 #d3d-f4 ,horns1 of a wild beast--,kings or kingdoms succeeding to a divided empire4--,dan4 #h3bb and #g3bd4 ,heads1 of a wild beast--,kings or forms of government4--,rev4 #ag3i1 #aj4 ,image1 of different metals--,a succession of governments4--,dan4 #b3cg-db4 ,incense1 or odors--,prayers4--,rev4 #e3h and #h3d4 ,lamb1 the--,christ4--,rev4 #e3f1 #i1 #aj4 ,lamb's wife--,risen saints4--,rev4 #ai3g1 #h4 ,lake of fire and brimstone--,the place of the second death4--,rev4 #bj3ae4 ,likeness of a man--,the ,lord4--,ezek4 #a3bf1 #bh1 and #h3b1 #d4 ,linen1 fine and clean--,righteousness of saints--,rev4 #ai3h4 ,mountains--,kings1 or forms of government4--,rev4 #ag3i1 #aj4 ,new ,jerusalem--,the redeemed ,church1 or the ,bride1 the ,lamb's wife4--,rev4 #ba3i1 #aj4 ,revivification of dry bones--,resurrection of the dead4--,ezek4 #cg3aa1 #ab4 ,stars--,angels1 i4e41 messengers of the churches4--,rev4 #a3bj4 ,souls of martyrs living again--,the first resurrection4--,rev4 #bj3d1 #e4 ,stone1 becoming a mountain--,kingdom of ,god4--,dan4 #b3de4 ,waters--,peoples4--,rev4 #ag3ae4 ,wild ,beasts--,governments4--,dan4 #g3ag4 ,woman--,a city4--,rev4 #ag3ah4 ,explained to be a church4--#ba3i1 #aj4 #bd4 ,,tropes are figures of various kinds1 used to illustrate the subjects to which they are applied4--,they embrace the ,simile1 ,metaphor1 ,prosopopia1 ,apostrophe1 ,synecdoche1 ,allegory1 c4 #be4 ,,laws ,,of ,,figures--7a47 8,the terms in which they are expressed are used in their ordinary and literal sense40--,lord4 7b47 8,the agents or objects to which figures are applied are always expressly mentioned4 ,figures1 in that respect1 differ wholly from symbols1 which never formally indicate1 unless an interpretation is given1 who the agents1 or what the objects are which they represent40--,ib4 7c47 8,the figurative terms are always predicates1 or are employed in affirming something of some other agent or object2 and are therefore either nouns1 verbs1 adjectives or adverbs40--,ib4 7d47 8,as their terms are used literally1 the figure lies1 when they are employed in an unusual manner1 simply in their being applied to objects to which they do not properly belong40--,ib4 7e47 8,they are used accordingly in all such cases for the purpose of illustration1 and their explication is accomplished1 not by assigning to them some new and extraordinary meaning1 but simply by conjoining with them the terms of a comparison which expresses the relation in which they are employed40--,ib4 7f47 8,it is in metaphors and personification only that acts and qualities are ascribed to agents and objects that are incompatible with their nature2 or do not properly belong to them40--,ib4 ,theo4 ,lit4 ,jour41 vol4 #a1 p4 #ced4 #bf4 ,a ,,simile1 or comparison1 is an affirmation that one agent1 object1 or act1 is like1 or as1 another1--there being a real or imaginary resemblance4 ,sometimes only the mere fact of a resemblance is affirmed4 ,at others1 the nature of the resemblance is indicated4 ,examples4--8,as for man1 his days are as grass40 ,psa4 #ajc3ae4 8,whose garment was white as snow40 ,dan4 #g3i4 #bg4 ,,antithesis is a contrast1 or placing in opposite lights things dissimilar4 ,example4--8,the wicked are overthrown and are not2 but the house of the righteous shall stand40 ,prov4 #ab3g4 #bh4 ,a ,,metaphor is a simile comprised in a word1 without the sign of comparison4 ,it is an affirmation of an object1 incompatible with its nature--i4e41 it affirms that an object is1 what literally it is only like2 or attributes to it acts1 to which its acts only bear a resemblance4 ,examples4--8,he is the ,rock40 ,deut4 #cb3d4 8,her gates shall lament and mourn40 ,isa4 #c3be4 ,a metaphor may be a simple affirmation of what an object is1 or it may embrace 8the agent1 the act1 the object1 and the effect of an action40--,lord4 7a47 ,when an object is affirmed to be what it only resembles1 that of which the affirmation is made is always literally expressed4 7b47 8,when a nature is ascribed to an object that does not belong to it1 the acts or results affirmed to it are proper to that imputed nature1 not to its own40--,lord4 7c47 8,the meaning of a metaphorical passage is precisely what it would be if a comparison only were affirmed40--,ib4 #bi4 ,,an ,,elliptical ,,metaphor is where the figure is incomplete4 ,an object1 instead of being affirmed to be what it only resembles1 is introduced by the name proper only to that resemblance4 ,the literal name of the object and the affirmation to complete the figure are to be supplied4 ,to find the meaning of an elliptical metaphor1 trace the word through the ,bible1 and find to what object such metaphorical term is applied4 ,example4--8,and in that day there shall be a ,root of ,,jesse1 which shall stand for an ensign of the people40 ,isa4 #aa3aj4 ,explanation4--8,i ,,jesus am the ,root and the offspring of ,,david40 ,rev4 #bb3af4 #cj4 ,,prosop,,ia1 or ,,personification1 is an address to an inanimate object1 as if it were a person1 and had intelligence4--,lord4 ,example4--8,give ear1 ,o ye heavens1 and ,i will speak2 and hear1 ,o earth1 the words of my mouth40 ,deut4 #cb3a4 #ca4 ,,an ,,apostrophe is a digression from the order of any discourse1 and a direct address to the persons of whom it treats1 or to those who are to form a judgment respecting the subject of which it treats4--,lord4 ,example4--8,hear the word of the ,,lord1 ye rulers of ,sodom3 give ear unto the law of our ,,god1 ye people of ,gomorrah40 ,isa4 #a3aj4 #cb4 ,,an ,,allegory is a narrative in which the subject of the discourse is described by an analogous subject1 resembling it in its characteristics and circumstances--the subject of which it is descriptive being indicated in its connection4 ,examples4--,see ,ezek4 #ca3c-i2 ,ps4 #hj3h-af2 ,jud4 #i3h-ae4 ,past historical events1 instead of supposititious ones1 are sometimes used for illustration4 ,when thus used they serve as allegories1 without affecting their original historical significance4 ,example4--,gal4 #d3 #bb-ca4 ,see also ,rom4 #i3g1 #h2 #a ,cor4 #i3i1 #aj1 and #aj3aa4 #cc4 ,a ,,parable is a similitude taken from natural things1 to instruct us in the knowledge of spiritual4 ,examples4--,matt4 #acth1 and #ba3bh-da4 ,the ,parable differs from the ,allegory in that the acts ascribed are appropriate to the agents to which they are attributed4 ,in the ,allegory1 acts may be ascribed to real objects which are not natural to those objects4 ,example4--,see ,judges #i3g-ae4 ,the ,parable is sometimes used to denote a prophecy1 7,num4 #bc3g72 sometimes a discourse1 7,job #bg3a72 sometimes a lamentation1 7,micah #b3d72 sometimes a proverb1 or wise saying1 7,prov4 #bf3g72 and sometimes to indicate that a thing is apocryphal4 ,ezek4 #bj3di4 ,the terms parable and allegory1 are often wrongfully applied4 #cd4 ,a ,,riddle is an enigma--something to be guessed4 ,example4--,see ,judges #ad3bd-ah4 ,it is sometimes used to denote an allegory4 ,ezek4 #ag3a-aj4 #ce4 ,,types are emblems--greater events in the future being prefigured by typical observances1 8which are a shadow of good things to come40 ,col4 #b3ag4 #cf4 ,,the ,,hypocatastasis1 or substitution1 is a figure introduced by ,mr4 ,,lord1 in which the objects1 or agents1 of one class are1 without any formal notice1 employed in the place of the persons or things of which the passages in which they occur treat2 and they are exhibited either as exerting1 or as subjected to an agency proper to their nature1 in order to represent by analogy1 the agency which those persons are to exert1 or of which those things are to be the subjects4 ,example4--8,o1 my people1 they which lead thee cause thee to err1 and destroy the way of thy paths40--,isa4 #c3ab1--;expressive of the manner in which they were misled by their rulers and kept from the truth4 #cg4 ,a ,,metonymy is a reversion1 or the use of a noun to express that with which it is intimately connected1 instead of using the term which would literally express the idea4 ,thus the cause is used for the effect1 the effect for the cause1 the thing containing for that which is contained in it1 c4 ,example4--8,ye have eaten up the vineyard40 ,isa4 #c3ad--meaning the fruit of the vineyard4 #ch4 ,a ,,synecdoche is the use of a word expressive of a part1 to signify the whole2 or that expressive of the whole1 to denote only a part--as the genus for the species1 or the species for the genus1 c4 ,example4--8,man dieth and wasteth away2 yea man giveth up the ghost1 and where is he80 ,job #ad3aj4 #ci4 ,a ,,hyperbole is an exaggeration in which more is expressed than is intended to be understood4 ,example4--8,i suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written40 ,john #ba3be--meaning that a great number might be written4 #dj4 ,,irony is the utterance of pointed remarks1 contrary to the actual thoughts of the speaker or writer--not to deceive1 but to add force to the remark4 ,examples4--8,no doubt but ye are the people1 and wisdom shall die with you40 ,job #ab3b4 8,and it came to pass at noon1 that ,elijah mocked them1 and said1 ,cry aloud3 for he is a god3 either he is talking1 or he is pursuing1 or he is in a journey1 or peradventure he sleepeth and must be awaked40 #a ,kings #ah3bg4 #da4 ,,the ,,interrogation--while its legitimate use is to ask a question--is also used to affirm or deny with great emphasis4 ,affirmative interrogations usually have no or not in connection with the verb4 ,example4--8,is not ,god in the height of the heavens80 ,job #bb3ab4 ,examples of a negative4--8,shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day8 or shall a nation be born at once80 ,isa4 #ff3h4 8,can the rush grow up without mire80 ,job #h3aa4 #db4 ,,exclamations are digressions from the order of a discourse or writing1 to give expression to the emotions of the speaker1 or writer4 ,example4--8,o that ,i had wings like a dove6 for then would ,i fly away and be at rest60 ,psa4 #ee3f4 #dc4 ,,fables are fictions--additions to the word of ,,god4 ,all false theories and doctrines supposed to be based on the ,bible1 all interpretations of ,scripture which do violence to the laws of language and falsify their meaning1 and all opinions which are the result of mere traditions and doctrines of men1 are to be classed as fables4 ,mark #g3h-ac2 #a ,pet4 #a3ah2 #a ,tim4 #a3d2 #d3g2 ,tit4 #a3ad4 #dd4 ,,synchronous ,,scriptures are the several passages which have reference to any one and the same event4 ,each portion of ,scripture respecting any subject1 must be considered in connection with all the ,scriptures that refer to the same subject4--,compare1 for example1 ,dan4 #b3cd1 #ce1 #dd2 #g3ah1 #bg2 ,matt4 #f3aj2 #ac3cg-dc2 #ce3cd2 #a ,tim4 #d3a2 ,rev4 #aa3ae-ah4 ,,exposition ,,of ,,the ,,apocalypse4 ,the ,title of the ,book4 8,the ,revelation of ,jesus ,christ1 which ,god gave to him1 to show to his servants things which must shortly come to pass2 and sending1 he signified them through his angel to his servant ,john3 who testified the word of ,god1 and the testimony of ,jesus ,christ1 and whatever he saw40--,rev4 #a3a1 #b4--,prof4 ,whiting's ,translation4 8,the very title of ,john's predictions1 ,apocalypse1 implies the unveiling or #8revelation' of the mystic and hidden sense of the prophetic oracles1 previously uttered by his inspired predecessors40--,,prof4 ,,bush4 8,the 1 from which we have our word ,apocalypse1 signifies1 literally1 a revelation1 or discovery1 of what was concealed1 or hidden40--,,dr4 ,,clarke4 ,the work of the apostles was 8to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery1 which1 from the beginning of the world1 hath been hid in ,god1 who created all things by ,jesus ,christ10 7,eph4 #c3i72 8even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations1 but now is made manifest to his saints10 ,col4 #a3bf4 ,the entire record of the ,new ,testament1 is a revelation that ,god 8hath in these last days spoken unto us by his ,son20 in distinction from the records of the ,old ,testament1 which ,he1 8at sundry times and in divers manners1 spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets10 ,heb4 #a3a4 ,but the closing book of the new series is called1 in distinction from the others1 8,,the ,,revelation ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ40 ,it contains the 8many things0 he had to say to his disciples1 in addition to those recorded by the evangelists2 but which they could not then bear1 ,john #af3ab4 ,it is the revelation 8which ,god gave unto him20 for 8there is a ,god in heaven that revealeth secrets1 and maketh known 444 what shall be in the latter days10 ,dan4 #b3bh4 ,god communicated by his servants the prophets what should 8come to pass hereafter10 by visions which were 8certain10 and by 8the interpretation thereof0 which was 8sure10 ,dan4 #b3df4 ,but ,daniel was commanded to 8shut up the words1 and seal the book1 even to the time of the end10 when many should 8run to and fro10 and knowledge should 8be increased40 ,and it was added1 8,go thy way1 ,daniel2 for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end3 ,many shall be purified and made white1 and tried2 but the wicked shall do wickedly3 and none of the wicked shall understand2 but the wise shall understand40 ,dan4 #ab3d1 #i1 #aj4 ,it will thus be seen1 that provision had been made for the future unveiling of what was left obscure in the predictions of the ,old ,testament writers2 and for the unsealing of what was then closed up and sealed4 ,this revelation must come from ,god2 for the ,saviour has testified1 that 8of that day and hour knoweth no man1 no1 not the angels of heaven1 but my ,father only40 ,matt4 #bd3cf4 8,the secret things belong unto the ,lord our ,god3 but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever40 ,deut4 #bi3bi4 ,as ,god had provided for a more full 8revelation0 respecting the events of the future1 it was necessary that it should be communicated through 8the appointed ,heir of all things10 by whom he was to speak in the last days1 ,heb4 #a3b4 ,the ,,baptist said of ,christ1 that 8what he hath seen and heard1 this he testifieth10 ,john #c3bb4 ,and the ,saviour said of him by whom he was sent1 8,i speak to the world those things which ,i have heard of him10 ,ib4 #h3b1 #f4 ,and again1 he saith1 8,i have not spoken of myself2 but the ,father which sent me1 he gave me a commandment2 what ,i should say1 and what ,i should speak10 ,ib4 #ab3di4 8,the ,lion of the tribe of ,judah1 the ,root of ,david1 hath prevailed to open the book1 and to loose the seven seals thereof10 ,rev4 #e3e4 ,the design of ,god in giving this additional revelation1 was that he might 8show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass20 for 8surely the ,lord ,god doeth nothing1 but he revealeth his secrets unto his servants the prophets10 ,amos #c3g4 ,and he saith1 8,i have told you before it come to pass1 that when it is come to pass ye might believe10 ,john #ad3bi4 ,when the old world was to be destroyed by water1 8,noah1 being warned of ,god of things not seen as yet1 prepared an ark to the saving of his house10 ,heb4 #aa3g4 ,and when the ,lord had purposed the destruction of ,sodom1 he said1 8,shall ,i hide from ,abraham that thing which ,i do80 and angels were sent to ,lot1 that he might say to his children1 8,up get ye out of this place2 for the ,lord will destroy this city10 ,gen4 #ah3ag1 and #ai3ad4 ,so of the times and seasons of the second advent3 while 8the day of the ,lord so cometh as a thief in the night10 he has said to his chosen ones1 8,ye brethren are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief10 #a ,thess4 #e3a-d4 ,he has condescended to give his people 8a more sure word of prophecy3 whereunto ye do well that ye take heed1 as unto a light that shineth in a dark place1 until the day dawn1 and the day star arise in your hearts10 #b ,pet4 #a3ai4 ,therefore it was said to ,john1 8,i will show thee things which must be hereafter10 ,rev4 #d3a2 which things were shortly to begin to come to pass1--they being a series of successive events1 commencing near the time in which ,john wrote1 and extending to the end of the world and the establishment of the everlasting kingdom4 ,these were shown to ,john by symbolic representations1 in a series of visions1 the import of which was signified to him by an angelic interpreter4 ,said the ,saviour1 8,i1 ,jesus1 have sent my angel to testify unto you these things in the churches10 #bb3af4 ,and these things were not to be sealed up1 like the words of ,daniel2 for ,john was commanded to 8seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book3 for the time is at hand10 #bb3aj4 ,he recorded the words which ,god thus gave him1--8the testimony of ,jesus ,christ1 and of all things that he saw40 ,he has given us1 in graphic language1 such descriptions of the visions shown1 that we can easily imagine the symbols which he saw2 and we have the inspired explanations of those which were 8signified0 to him4 ,therefore we may read1 and receive the blessings promised to those who keep this testimony of ,jesus4 ,the ,benediction4 8,happy is he1 who readeth1 and those1 who hear the words of this prophecy1 and keep the things1 written in it3 for the season is near40 ,rev4 #a3c4 ,those who teach that the ,apocalypse is a 8sealed book10 most clearly contradict the testimony of ,christ respecting it4 ,to discourage the study of it1 is to treat with neglect1 and to despise what ,god has spoken in these last days by his ,son1 ,heb4 #a3b2 of whom it is said3 8,see that ye refuse not him that speaketh2 for if they escaped not who refused him who spake on earth1 much more shall not we escape1 if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven10 ,heb4 #ab3be4 ,those who thus neglect it1 cannot regard the blessing promised to those who read1 hear1 and keep its sayings4 ,the ,apocalypse is not to be undervalued as unprofitable2 for 8all scripture is given by inspiration of ,god1 and is profitable for doctrine1 for reproof1 for correction1 for instruction in righteousness3 that the man of ,god may be perfect1 thoroughly furnished unto all good works10 #b ,tim4 #c3af1 #ag4 8,for whatsoever things were written aforetime1 were written for our learning1 that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope10 ,rom4 #ae3d4 8,search the scriptures2 for in them ye think ye have eternal life3 and they are they which testify of me10 ,john #e3ci4 8,thus saith the ,lord1 the ,holy ,one of ,israel1 and his ,maker1 ,ask me of things to come concerning my sons1 and concerning the work of my hands command ye me10 ,isa4 #de3aa4 8,behold1 ,i come quickly3 blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book10 ,rev4 #bb3g4 ,john's ,salutation to the ,churches4 8,john to the seven congregations in ,asia3 grace be to you and peace1 from ,him who is1 and who was1 and who is to be2 and from the seven ,spirits1 that are before his throne2 and from ,jesus ,christ1 the faithful ,witness1 and the ,first-born of the dead1 and the ,ruler of the kings of the earth4 ,to him who loved us1 and washed us from our sins in his own blood1 and hath made us kings and priests to ,god even his father3 to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever4 ,amen4 ,behold1 he cometh with clouds2 and every eye will see him1 and those1 who pierced him3 and all the tribes of the earth will wail because of him4 ,yea1 so be it6 ,i am the ,alpha and the ,omega1 saith the ,lord ,god1 who is1 and who was1 and who is to be1 the ,almighty40--,rev4 #a3d-h4 ,the seven churches to which ,john sends salutation1 were those of ,ephesus1 ,smyrna1 ,pergamos1 ,thyatira1 ,sardis1 ,philadelphia1 and ,laodicea1 #a3aa4 ,the ,asia1 in which they were situated1 was a province in ,asia ,minor1 distinct from ,pontus1 ,gallatia1 and ,bithynia2 which also were in ,asia ,minor1 #a ,pet4 #a3a1 and ,acts #b3i4 ,of the province of ,asia1 ,ephesus was the capital1 and was the principal place of ,john's residence4 ,the seven cities which contained those churches1 were situated in a kind of amphitheatre1 surrounded by mountains4 ,smyrna was #df miles north of ,ephesus1 and ,pergamos #fd miles2 ,thyatira was #dh miles to the east1 and ,sardis #cc miles2 ,philadelphia #bg miles to the south1 and ,laodicea #db miles4 ,these churches had all been under the general supervision of ,john's ministry2 and for this reason1 doubtless1 they are especially designated1 instead of those with which he had not been so intimately connected4 ,john writes to the seven churches1 in obedience to the command1--8,what thou seest1 write in a book1 and send it unto the seven churches which are in ,asia10 #a3aa4 ,he seems to have written what he saw1 at the time of its exhibition1 and not at the close of the entire presentation2 for when he was about to write the discordant utterances of 8the seven thunders10 he was told to 8write them not10 #aj3d4 ,john observes the oriental custom of placing his name at the commencement1 instead of the close of his communication4 ,few persons now deny that this was ,john the ,evangelist4 ,irenus1 who was born only about #cj years after the death of ,john1 speaks of the writer of the ,apocalypse1 as 8the disciple of ,christ1--that same ,john that leaned on his breast at the last supper40 ,most beautiful reference is here made to the attributes of ,,deity3 8,him who is1 and who was1 and who is to be10 can be no other than the great ,prexistent1 who said to ,moses1 8,i ,,am ,,that ,i ,,am10 ,ex4 #ac3ad4 ,the seven ,spirits1 would seem to be irrelevantly placed between the ,father and the ,son1--the place always occupied by the ,holy ,spirit1 when spoken of in connection with them1--if they were merely seven angels4 ,grace would also seem to be irreverently invoked from such1--its presence being implied where it is invoked1--unless they are expressive of the ,holy ,spirit1 in which grace is inherent1 and from whom it may be communicated2 as it may not be from angels4 ,seven is a full and perfect number1 and it may be here used because in another place 8seven lamps of fire burning before the throne0 are symbolic of 8the seven ,spirits of ,god10 7#d3e72 which1 if angels1 would be expressly named1 as in other inspired explanations1--as they are in that of the stars1 #a3bj4 ,a burning flame is often used as a symbol of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,thus1 when ,god would make a covenant with ,abraham1 and the victims between which the covenanting parties were to pass1 were divided1 the presence of ,god was symbolized by 8a burning lamp that passed between those pieces10 ,gen4 #ae3ag4 ,and the descent of the ,holy ,spirit on the day of ,pentecost1 was manifested by 8cloven tongues1 like as of fire10 which 8sat upon each of them10 ,acts #b3c4 ,in ,zechariah #c3i1 we read of the symbol of a stone laid before ,joshua1 that on it were engraved 8seven eyes10 which 8are the eyes of the ,lord which run to and fro1 through the whole earth10 7,zech4 #d3aj72--;an expressive figure of ,god's ,omniscience4 ,the same is symbolized in ,rev4 #e3f1 by the 8seven eyes0 of the ,,lamb4 ,jesus ,christ is the faithful ,witness4 ,he 8was faithful to him that appointed him10 7,heb4 #c3b72 and he was given as a ,witness to the people1 a ,leader and ,commander to the people1 ,isa4 #ee3d4 ,he is the 8first-begotten of the dead10 having 8risen from the dead1 and become the first fruits of them that slept10 #a ,cor4 #ae3bj3 he is 8declared to be the ,son of ,god1 with power according to the spirit of holiness1 by the resurrection from the dead10 ,rom4 #a3d4 ,he is 8the ,prince of the kings of the earth10 the 8,king of kings and ,lord of lords10 #ai3af2 8all kings shall fall down before him3 all nations shall serve him10 ,psa4 #gb3aa4 ,he hath shown how he 8loved us10 by giving himself for us1 7,gal4 #b3bj72 and hath cleansed his people from all sin1 not 8by the blood of goats and calves1 but by his own blood1 he entered in once into the holy place1 having obtained eternal redemption for us10 ,heb4 #i3ab4 ,he has redeemed us to ,god 8out of every kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 and nation10 ,rev4 #e3i4 ,he is the one who is to come in the clouds of heaven1 in resplendent majesty1 to reward his saints1 and to destroy those who destroy the earth1 #aa3ah4 ,the announcement that he 8cometh with clouds0 is as if ,john had said that what he was commanded to write1 was a revelation of the events which were to precede and usher in that coming4 ,christ's ,annunciation4 8,i ,john1 your brother1 and partner in the affliction1 and kingdom and patience of ,jesus ,christ1 was in the island called ,patmos1 for the word of ,god1 and for the testimony of ,jesus ,christ4 ,i was in the ,spirit on the ,lord's day1 and heard behind me a great voice1 like that of a trumpet1 saying1 ,what thou seest1 write in a book1 and send it to the seven congregations1 to ,ephesus1 and to ,smyrna1 and to ,pergamos1 and to ,thyatira1 and to ,sardis1 and to ,philadelphia1 and to ,laodicea40--,rev4 #a3i-aa4 ,this gives a clue to the date of the ,apocalypse4 ,it was written when ,john was in the ,isle of ,patmos3 8,it is the general testimony of ancient authors1 that ,st4 ,john was banished into ,patmos in the time of ,domitian1 in the latter part of his reign1 and restored by his successor1 ,nerva4 ,but the book could not be published till after ,john's release1 and return to ,ephesus1 in ,asia4 ,domitian died in #if1 and his persecution did not commence till near the close of his reign40--,,dr4 ,,clarke4 8,,domitian1 having exercised his cruelty against many1 and unjustly slain no small number of noble and illustrious men at ,rome1 444 at length established himself as the successor of ,,nero1 in his hatred and hostility to ,,god4 ,he was the second that raised a persecution against us4 ,in this persecution1 it is handed down by tradition1 that the apostle and evangelist1 ,,john1 444 was condemned to dwell on the island of ,patmos4 ,,iren,,us1 indeed1 in his fifth book against the heresies1 where he speaks of the calculation formed on the epithet of ,antichrist1 in the above-mentioned ,revelation of ,,john1 speaks in the following manner respecting him3 #8,if1 however1 it were necessary to proclaim his name 7i4e4 ,antichrist's71 openly at the present time1 it would have been declared by him who saw the ,revelation1 for it was not long since it was seen1 but almost in our own times1 at the close of ,,domitian's reign4' 0--,,eusebius4 ,prof4 ,stuart1 who dissents from the opinion1 admits that 8a majority of the older critics have been inclined to adopt the opinion of ,irenus1 viz43 that it was written during the reign of ,domitian1 i4e41 during the last part of the first century1 or in ,a4 ,d4 #ie or #if40--;,com4 ,apoc41 ,v4 ,i41 p4 #bfc4 ,john's adherence to the word and testimony of ,christ1 had caused his banishment--as others 8were slain--for the word of ,god1 and for the testimony which they held10 7#f3i72 and whose living again and reigning with ,christ1 was subsequently shown ,john in a vision1 #bj3d4 ,john was in the spirit2 i4e41 he was in a state of prophetic ecstasy1 in which he was1 as it were1 caught away from a realization of the actual and the present1 and shown 8the things which must be hereafter40 ,it was on the 8,lord's day10 the first day of the week1 which was so called because on that day the ,lord arose from the dead4 ,it was a day which has been observed by all ,christians in especial remembrance of that event4 ,john does not appear to have anticipated any such announcement1 until he was suddenly startled from his meditation by a voice in trumpet tones1 announcing itself by the titles of ,christ1 and commanding him to write to the churches what he saw4 ,hearing the voice1 he turned to see who had spoken to him1 and beheld a ,vision of ,christ4 8,and ,i turned to see the voice1 that spoke with me4 ,and having turned1 ,i saw seven golden lamp-stands2 and in the midst of the seven lamp-stands one like a ,son of man1 clothed with a garment reaching the feet1 and girded around the breasts with a golden girdle4 ,his head1 even his hair1 was white like white wool1 like snow2 and his eyes were like a flame of fire2 and his feet like fine brass1 as if they burned in a furnace2 and his voice like the sound of many waters4 ,and he had in his right hand seven stars3 and from his mouth went forth a sharp two-edged sword3 and his countenance was like the sun shining in its strength4 ,and when ,i saw him1 ,i fell at his feet as if dead4 ,and he laid his right hand on me1 saying1 ,fear not2 ,i am the first and the last1 and am he1 who liveth1 and ,i became dead2 and behold1 ,i am alive for ever and ever1 and have the keys of death and the pit4 ,therefore1 write the things1 which thou hast seen1 and the things1 which are1 and the things1 which will take place hereafter2 the secret of the seven stars1 which thou hast seen in my right hand1 and the seven golden lamp-stands4 ,the seven stars1 are the messengers of the seven congregations3 and the seven lamp-stands are the seven congregations40--,rev4 #a3ab-bj4 ,the voice1 by a metonymy1 is used for the person speaking4 ,he turned to see the glorious personage by whom the trumpet-tones were uttered4 ,being turned1 he saw the commencement of those great panoramic presentations1 by which the events of the future were revealed to him1 and the significance of which were explained by an angelic interpreter4 ,the 8seven golden candlesticks10 symbolize 8the seven churches0 7#a3bj71 to which ,john was commanded to write4 ,by this1 and other symbols which are divinely interpreted1 are unfolded the principles on which symbols are used4 ,a candle or lamp stand1 supports the light placed on it1 as churches are the recipients and dispensers of the light of the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,they are therefore appropriate symbols of churches4 8,in the midst of the candlesticks0 is one in the form of humanity1 surrounded by the insignia of ,deity4 ,it is the same appearance that ,ezekiel saw1 when he had a vision 8of the likeness of the glory of the ,lord10 7,ezek4 #a3bf-bh72 and before which ,daniel fell trembling1 ,dan4 #aj3e-i4 ,the sublime spectacle was too overwhelming for ,john's endurance1 and1 like ,isaiah1 ,ezekiel1 and ,daniel1 his strength turned to corruption4 ,but the glorified ,saviour was the same sympathetic being on whose breast ,john leaned1 at the last supper1 and he lays his endearing hand on ,john1 and1 by soothing words1 restores his confidence4 ,he explains the mystery contained in the symbols shown1 and enjoins on him to write the things he had seen--symbolic of the things which then were1 and of those which were then in the future4 ,as no created resemblance is a fit representative of ,deity1 ,christ is shown to ,john by the symbol of his own likeness4 ,the 8seven stars0 in the right hand of the ,saviour1 are the angels1--the messengers1 or pastors of the seven churches1 #a3bj4 ,as the ,saviour holds the stars in his hand1 so does he sustain all his gospel ministers1 enabling them to impart light to those who sit under their ministrations4 ,and as he walked in the midst of the golden candlesticks1 so the ,lord is ever in the midst of those who fear him1 and call upon his name4 ,epistles to the ,seven ,churches4 ,epistle to the ,church in ,ephesus4 8,to the messenger of the congregation of ,ephesus write3 ,these things saith ,he who holdeth the seven stars in his right hand1 who walketh in the midst of the seven golden lamp-stands3 ,i know thy works1 and thy toil1 and thy patience1 and that thou canst not endure the evil2 and thou hast tried those1 who say they are apostles1 and are not2 and hast found them liars2 and hast patience1 and hast endured on account of my name1 and hast not fainted4 ,nevertheless1 ,i have this against thee1 that thou hast left thy first love4 ,remember therefore whence thou hast fallen1 and repent and do the first works2 or else ,i will come to thee quickly1 and will remove thy lamp-stand out of its place1 except thou repentest4 ,but thou hast this1 that thou hatest the deeds of the ,nicolaitanes1 which ,i also hate4 ,he1 who hath an ear1 let him hear what the ,spirit saith to the congregations3 ,to him1 who overcometh1 ,i will grant to eat of the tree of life1 which is in the paradise of ,god40--,rev4 #b3a-g4 ,the seven churches are not1 themselves1 seen in vision2 they were symbolized by seven golden candlesticks4 ,consequently1 these are seven literal churches that are addressed1 and not allegorical1 as some teach4 ,the symbolic portions of the ,apocalypse1 are the descriptions of what ,john saw1 and the attendant utterances4 ,what was addressed to the ear by way of explanation and instruction1 does not come under the laws of symbolization4 ,as churches1 in all ages1 are often in the several conditions ascribed to the seven churches1 the warnings1 admonitions1 and consolations addressed to them1 may serve for instruction to all ,christians1 as implied in the declaration3 8,he that hath an ear1 let him hear what the ,spirit saith to the churches10 #b3bi4 8,by 1 angel or messenger1 we are to understand the messenger1 or person sent by ,god to preside over the church2 and to him the epistle is directed1 not as pointing out his state1 but the state of the church under his care4 ,the ,angel of the ,church1 here answers exactly to that officer of the synagogue among the ,jews1 called the messenger of the church1 whose business it was to read1 pray1 and teach in the synagogue40--,,dr4 ,,clarke4 ,timothy is supposed to have had the care of the ,ephesian church till ,a4 ,d4 #ig1 when he was martyred4 ,ephesus was a large1 idolatrous city1 8a worshipper of the great goddess ,diana1 and of the image which10 as they claimed1 8fell down from ,jupiter10 ,acts #ai3ce4 ,the gospel was first preached there by ,paul1 and with such success1 that 8,many of them also which used curious arts1 brought their books together1 and burned them before all men2 and they counted the price of them1 and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver3 ,so mightily grew the word of ,god1 and prevailed10 ,ib4 #ai1 #bj4 ,they continued a fine and prosperous church1 but had fallen away from their first love4 ,therefore ,he who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks1 and holdeth in his hand the messengers of the churches1 admonished them that1 unless they repented he would remove their candlestick1 i4e41 their church1 of which the candlestick was a symbol1 out of its place4 ,they did not repent2 and1 says ,gibbon1 8,in the year #acab1 began the captivity1 or ruin of the seven churches by the ,ottoman power4 ,in the loss of ,ephesus1 the ,christians deplored the loss of the first ,angel1 the extinction of the first candlestick of the ,revelations4 ,the desolation is complete1 and the temple of ,diana1 or the church of ,mary1 will equally elude the search of the curious traveller40 ,the ,nicolaitanes1 whose deeds ,god hated1 were a sect of heretics1 who assumed the name from ,nicholas of ,antioch1 one of the first seven deacons of the church in ,jerusalem4 ,it is believed that he was rather the innocent occasion1 than the author of the infamous practices of those who assumed his name1--who allowed a community of wives1 and ate meats offered in sacrifice to idols4 ,it was a short-lived sect4 ,for hating their deeds1 the church of ,ephesus was commended1 and also for not giving countenance to false teachers1 who claimed to be apostles1 and were proved to be liars4 ,thus are ,christians to 8believe not every spirit1 but try the spirits whether they are of ,god3 because many false prophets are gone out into the world10 #a ,john #d3a4 8,such are false apostles1 deceitful workers1 transforming themselves into the apostles of ,christ10 #b ,cor4 #aa3ac4 8,there were false prophets also among the people1 even as there shall be false teachers among you1 who privily shall bring in damnable heresies10 #b ,pet4 #b3a4 ,the promise to him that overcometh1 that he shall 8eat of the tree of life10 points to the resurrection and to the new creation4 ,as in ,eden was made to grow 8the tree of life0 7,gen4 #b3i71 so in ,eden restored1 8they that do his commandments 444 may have right to the tree of life1 and may enter in through the gates into the city10 ,rev4 #bb3b4 ,epistle to the ,church in ,smyrna4 8,and to the messenger of the congregation in ,smyrna1 write3 ,these things saith the ,first and the ,last1 who became dead and is alive3 ,i know thy works1 and affliction1 and poverty 7but thou art rich72 and ,i know the reviling of those1 who say they are ,jews1 and are not1 but are a synagogue of ,satan4 ,fear none of the things1 which thou wilt suffer4 ,behold1 the devil will cast some of you into prison1 that ye may be tried1 and ye will have affliction ten days4 ,be thou faithful to death1 and ,i will give thee the crown of life4 ,he1 who hath an ear1 let him hear what the ,spirit saith to the ,congregations3 he who overcometh1 will not be hurt by the second death40--,rev4 #b3h-aa4 ,the angel of the church in ,smyrna is supposed to have been ,polycarp1 who1 rather than to apostatize1 was burnt alive in that city about ,a4 ,d4 #aff4 ,that church had passed through the trial of poverty1 and was found 8rich toward ,god10 ,luke #ab3ba4 ,it had suffered from the blasphemy of unbelieving ,jews1 who had a synagogue there and were particularly active at the martyrdom of ,polycarp4 ,but 8,he is not a ,jew1 which is one outwardly2 neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh3 but he is a ,jew which is one inwardly2 and circumcision is that of the heart1 in the spirit and not in the letter2 whose praise is not of men1 but of ,god10 ,rom4 #b3bh1 #bi4 ,and the crucified and risen ,saviour has said1 that they are 8of the synagogue of ,satan which say they are ,jews1 and are not1 but do lie10 ,rev4 #c3i4 ,not a word of reproof is addressed to this faithful flock2 but they were to be still further tried1 and a terrible persecution was foretold1 which should continue ten prophetic days4 ,ten years was the duration of the last and bloodiest persecution under ,diocletian1 from ,a4 ,d4 #cjb to #cab1 during which all the ,asiatic churches were grievously afflicted4 ,this church passed triumphantly through all those trials2 and ,smyrna is now the most flourishing city of the ,asiatic churches4 ,it contains a population of #ajj1jjj1 and is the seat of an archbishop4 ,from #ae1jjj to #bj1jjj of its inhabitants are still professedly ,christian4 ,the 8crown of life10 promised to those who are faithful unto death1 is to be given at ,christ's second coming1 8who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and kingdom10 #b ,tim4 #d3a3 8,henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness1 which the ,lord1 the righteous ,judge1 shall give me at that day2 and not to me only1 but unto all them also that love his appearing10 ,ib4 #h4 8,blessed is the man that endureth temptation3 for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life1 which the ,lord hath promised to them that love him10 ,jam4 #a3ab4 ,those who shall not be hurt of the 8second death10 are those who shall attain unto the resurrection of the just1 at the commencement of the millennium4 8,blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection3 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 years10 ,rev4 #bj3f4 8,but the fearful1 and unbelieving1 and the abominable1 and murderers1 and whoremongers1 and sorcerers1 and idolaters1 and all liars1 shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone3 which is the second death10 #ba3h4 ,epistle to the ,church in ,pergamos4 ,and to the messenger of the congregation in ,pergamos write3 ,these things saith ,he who hath the sharp two-edged sword3 ,i know thy works1 and where thou dwellest1 even where ,satan's throne is2 and thou holdest fast my name1 and hast not denied my faith1 even in those days in which ,antipas was my faithful witness3 who was slain among you1 where ,satan dwelleth4 ,but ,i have a few things against thee1 because thou hast there those1 who hold fast the doctrine of ,balaam1 who taught ,balak to cast an enticement to sin before the children of ,israel3 to eat idol-sacrifices1 and to commit fornication4 ,so thou hast also those1 who hold fast the doctrine of the ,nicolaitanes1 in like manner4 ,repent2 or else ,i will come to thee quickly1 and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth4 ,he1 who hath an ear1 let him hear what the ,spirit saith to the congregations3 ,to him1 who overcometh1 ,i will grant to eat of the hidden manna1 and will give him a white stone1 and on the stone a new name written1 which no one knoweth1 but he1 who receiveth it4--,rev4 #b3ab-ag4 8,he which hath the sharp sword with two edges10 is the one who walked in the midst of the seven golden lamp-stands--out of whose 8mouth went a sharp two-edged sword10 #a3af4 ,this identifies him as the one who was followed by the armies of heaven1 when 8the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse3 which sword proceeded out of his mouth10 #ai3ba4 8,the sword of the ,spirit 444 is the word of ,god10 ,eph4 #f3ag4 8,he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth1 and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked10 ,isa4 #aa3d4 ,the ,one who indites this epistle is thus designated1 probably1 because1 unless they repented of the things alleged against them1 he would fight against them with the sword of his mouth4 ,the church of ,pergamos had refrained from apostasy1 although situated in a wicked and corrupt city1--even where ,satan reigned almost supreme and received the obedience of its inhabitants4 ,they had been faithful in those days when ,antipas1 a faithful ,christian1 and probably the former pastor of the church1 was slain 7,dr4 ,hales thinks7 in ,domitian's persecution1 in ,a4 ,d4 #id4 ,yet1 the ,lord had some things against them4 ,the doctrine of ,balaam is what that prophet counselled ,balak to cast as a stumbling-block before ,israel3 ,for 8the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of ,moab4 ,and they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods2 and the people did eat and bowed down to their gods4 ,and ,israel joined himself unto ,baal-peor10 ,num4 #be3a-c4 ,and ,moses said of the women of ,midian1 8,behold1 these caused the children of ,israel1 through the counsel of ,balaam1 to commit trespass against the ,lord in the matter of ,peor10 ,ib4 #ca3af4 ,this was also1 probably1 the same as the doctrine of the ,nicolaitanes1 p4 #cd4 ,the 8hidden manna0 seems to be a reference to that hidden in the ark1 where it was laid up before the ,lord 7,ex4 #af3cc71 in memory of what was sent for the sustenance of ,israel in the wilderness1 where 8man did eat angel's food10 ,ps4 #gh3be4 ,the law having a shadow of good things to come 7,heb4 #aj3a71 the manna hidden in the ark may be typical of the angelic sustenance to be revealed in the future world4 ,the ,saviour said1 8,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 ,he that believeth on me hath everlasting life4 ,i am that bread of life4 ,this is the bread which cometh down from heaven1 that a man may eat thereof1 and not die10 ,john #f3dg1 #dh1 #ej4 ,the 8white stone0 has received divers interpretations4 ,in ancient trials1 the votes of the judges were given by white and black pebbles4 ,the former signified acquittal1 and the latter condemnation4 ,conquerors in public games sometimes received a white stone with their name inscribed on it1 which entitled them1 during the remainder of their life1 to be maintained at the public expense4 ,persons were sometimes invited to feasts or banquets1 by the presentation of a white stone1 with their name on it in connection with that of their hosts4 ,the possession of the white stone evidently entitles the possessor to all the privileges of the heavenly inheritance4 ,the 8new name0 is unknown to all but its possessor2 who1 on its possession1 becomes a child of ,god1 and will receive1 saith ,god1 8in my house and within my walls1 a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters3 ,i will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off10 ,isa4 #ef3e4 ,the ,saviour has promised that 8him 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 name10 ,rev4 #c3ab4 ,and his new 8name0 8no man knew but he himself10 ,ib4 #ai3ab4 ,pergamos still contains a few thousand inhabitants4 ,epistle to the ,church in ,thyatira4 8,and to the messenger of the congregation in ,thyatira write3 ,these things saith the ,son of ,god1 who hath his eyes like a flame of fire1 and his feet like fine brass3 ,i know thy works1 and love1 and faith1 and service1 and thy patience1 and thy works2 and thy last works to be greater than the first4 ,notwithstanding1 ,i have something against thee1 because thou allowest thy woman ,jezebel1 who calleth herself a prophetess1 to teach and seduce my servants to commit fornication1 and to eat idol sacrifices4 ,and ,i gave her time to repent1 and she would not repent of her fornication4 ,behold1 ,i will cast her into a bed1 and those1 who commit adultery with her1 into great affliction1 unless they repent of their deeds4 ,and ,i will kill her children with pestilence2 and all the congregations will know that ,i am he1 who searcheth the reins and hearts3 and ,i will give to each of you according to your works4 ,but to you ,i say1 and to the rest in ,thyatira1 ,as many as have not this doctrine1 and who have not known the depths of ,satan1 as 7they say27 ,i will not put on you another burden3 but what ye have1 hold fast till ,i come4 ,and he1 who overcometh1 and keepeth my works to the end1 to him1 ,i will give power over the nations3 7and he will rule them with a rod of iron2 like the vessels of a potter they will be dashed in pieces37 even as ,i received of my ,father4 ,and ,i will give him the morning-star4 ,he1 who hath an ear1 let him hear what the ,spirit saith to the congregations0--,rev4 #b3ah-bi4 ,in commending the general piety of this church1 they are censured for permitting a woman to teach false doctrines among them4 ,the church is not only made responsible for what it teaches1 but also for what it suffers others to teach4 ,in this particular the church in ,thyatira appears in contrast with the church in ,ephesus4 ,the doctrines which this wicked woman taught appear to be similar to those of the ,nicolaitanes1 p4 #cd4 ,she is probably called ,jezebel1 from her being a woman of power and influence1 like the wife of ,ahab1 who 8did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the ,lord3 whom ,jezebel his wife stirred up10 #a ,kings #ba3be4 ,they who had not fallen into those depths of ,satan1 and should continue faithful to the end1 were to have 8power over the nations40 8,the saints of the ,most ,high shall take the kingdom1 and possess the kingdom for ever1 even for ever and ever4 ,and the kingdom and dominion1 and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven1 shall be given to the people of the saints of the ,most ,high1 whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom1 and all dominions shall serve and obey him10 ,dan4 #g3ah1 #bg4 8,ask of me1 and ,i shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance1 and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession4 ,thou shalt break them with a rod of iron2 thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel10 ,ps4 #b3h1 #i4 8,to execute vengeance upon the heathen1 and punishments upon the people2 ,to execute upon them the judgment written3 this honor have all the saints4 ,praise ye the ,lord10 ,ib4 #adi3g1 #i4 ,to receive the morning star1 is to receive ,christ1 who testifieth of himself4 8,i am 444 the bright and morning star10 ,rev4 #bb3af4 ,we are commanded to take heed to the 8sure word of prophecy 444 as unto a light that shineth in a dark place1 until the day dawn1 and the day-star arise in your hearts10 #b ,pet4 #a3ai4 ,as 8the testimony of ,jesus is the spirit of prophecy0 7#ai3aj71 those who refuse to consider the revelation he has given of things which shortly after began to come to pass1 and which must now be verging towards their consummation1 may fail of becoming illuminated by the day-star in their hearts4 ,says ,gibbon3 8,the ,god of ,mahomet1 without a rival or a ,son1 is invoked in the mosques of ,thyatira and ,pergamos40 ,epistle to the ,church in ,sardis4 8,and to the messenger of the congregation in ,sardis write3 ,these things saith ,he1 who hath the seven ,spirits of ,god1 and the seven stars3 ,i know thy works1 that thou hast a name that thou livest1 and art dead4 ,be watchful1 and strengthen the things1 which remain1 which are about to die3 for ,i have not found thy works complete before ,god4 ,remember therefore how thou hast received and heard1 and hold fast and repent4 ,if therefore thou shalt not watch1 ,i will come on thee like a thief1 and thou wilt not know what hour ,i will come on thee4 ,but thou hast a few names in ,sardis1 that have not defiled their garments2 and they will walk with me in white3 for they are worthy4 ,he1 who overcometh1 the same one will be clothed in white raiment2 and ,i will not blot out his name from the book of life1 but ,i will acknowledge his name before my ,father1 and before his angels4 ,he1 who hath an ear1 let him hear what the ,spirit saith unto the congregations40--,rev4 #c3a-f4 ,the church in ,sardis was ,christian in name1 but was destitute of spiritual life1 with the exception of a few names who had not defiled their garments4 ,having become dead to the revivifying influences of the ,holy ,spirit1 they are reminded that he who addresses them is the one who holds their messenger in his hand1 and who hath the seven ,spirits of ,god2 i4e41 that it was from the ,one who said of 8the ,comforter1 which is the ,holy ,ghost0 7,john #ad3bf71 8when the ,comforter is come1 whom ,i will send unto you from the ,father1 even the ,spirit of truth which proceedeth from the ,father1 he shall testify of me10 ,ib4 #ae3bf4 ,they had doubtless become greatly conformed to the corrupt worldly influences by which they were surrounded1 without having actually denied the faith1 or embraced the hated doctrines of the ,nicolaitanes4 ,therefore they were exhorted to hold fast all that they still retained1 and1 by repentance1 to recover what they had lost2 and they were admonished that if they neglected those precautions1 they would be suddenly visited2 without its being designated what would be the precise nature1 time1 or manner1 of their visitation3 which made the threatening the more terrible4 ,the 8few names0 which had not defiled their garments1 were used by a metonymy to signify persons4 ,when an apostle was to be chosen in the place of ,judas1 8the number of the names together were about one hundred and twenty10 ,acts #a3ae4 ,purity of raiment is significant of purity of character3 8,blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments10 #af3ae4 ,white is an emblem of purity4 ,to the 8bride10 it 8was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen clean and white3 for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints10 #ai3h4 ,those who came out of great tribulation1 had 8washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the ,lamb10 7#g3ac72 and therefore they were symbolized as standing before the throne and before the ,lamb1 clothed with white robes1 and palms of victory in their hands1 #g3i4 ,to be clothed in white raiment1 is therefore to be accepted of the ,saviour4 ,to blot one's name out of the book of life1 is to erase his title to heaven4 ,the figure seems to be an allusion to the ancient custom of enrolling in a book the names of all free citizens4 ,if their names were confessedly written there1 they were entitled to all the privileges and immunities of citizenship2 but if blotted out1 they had forfeited these4 8,they that dwell on the earth shall wonder1 whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world1 when they behold the beast that was1 and is not1 and yet is10 #ag3h4 ,moses said1 if ,god would not forgive ,israel1 8blot me1 ,i pray thee1 out of thy book which thou hast written10 ,ex4 #cb3cb4 ,of his enemies1 ,david said1 8,let them be blotted out of the book of the living1 and not be written with the righteous10 ,ps4 #fg3bh4 ,those only enter the ,new ,jerusalem1 8which are written in the ,lamb's book of life10 #ba3bg4 ,the church in ,sardis1 has long been utterly extinct2 and what remains of the city is a miserable ,turkish village4 ,epistle to the ,church in ,philadelphia4 8,and to the messenger of the congregation in ,philadelphia write3 ,these things saith the ,holy1 the ,true ,one1 he who hath the key of ,david1 he who openeth1 and no one shutteth2 and shutteth1 and no one openeth3 ,i know thy works3 behold1 ,i have set before thee an open door1 and no one can shut it2 for thou hast a little strength1 and hast held fast my word1 and hast not denied my name4 ,behold1 ,i will make those of the synagogue of ,satan1 who say they are ,jews1 and are not1 but who lie2 behold1 ,i will make them come and bow down before thy feet1 and know that ,i have loved thee4 ,because thou hast kept the word of my patience1 ,i also will keep thee from the hour of trial1 which will come on all the world1 to try those1 who dwell on the earth4 ,i come quickly3 hold fast that which thou hast1 that no one take thy crown4 ,i will make him1 who overcometh1 a pillar in the temple of my ,god1 and he will go out no more3 and ,i will write on him the name of my ,god1 and the name of the city of my ,god1 the new ,jerusalem1 7which cometh down out of heaven from my ,god37 and my new name4 ,he1 who hath an ear1 let him hear what the ,spirit saith to the congregations40--,rev4 #c3g-ac4 ,the church of ,philadelphia had maintained her integrity1 and is therefore addressed in the language of commendation1 without the rebukes which were directed to her sister churches4 ,having remained true to ,him who 8was called ,faithful and ,true0 7#ai3aa71 the epistle to this church makes mention of the ,saviour by those titles1 which are significant of his own faithfulness and inherent holiness4 8,the key of ,david10 brings to view the prediction of that which was to be laid 8upon his shoulder20 so that 8he shall open1 and none shall shut2 and he shall shut1 and none shall open10 ,isa4 #bb3bb4 ,a key symbolizes that which will open or unlock1 or will close fast3 therefore said the ,saviour1 8,i 444 have the keys of hell and of death40 ,by virtue of this power1 an open door was set before the church of ,philadelphia1 which no man should be able to close4 ,the ,jews in ,philadelphia1 who had claimed to be the only true church of ,god1 but who were in reality of the synagogue of ,satan1 were to cease their opposition to the ,christians1 and to seek instruction and protection from them--recognizing the love of ,god to ,gentiles as well as to ,jews4 ,history is silent respecting the fulfilment of this2 but there is no reason to suppose that it was not literally fulfilled4 ,the 8hour of temptation10 which was to 8come upon all the world1 to try them that dwell on the earth10 was to be one of peculiar trial4 ,some suppose it had reference to the persecution under ,trajan1 which was more severe and extensive than those under ,nero1 or ,domitian3 and others that it was the ,mohammedan delusion4 ,in such times there are peculiar temptations to apostatize1 and the less faithful are in more danger of apostasy than others4 ,but because the ,philadelphian church had been faithful thus far1 they were to be kept from that trying hour4 ,when the scourge of ,mohammedanism swept over all the other churches of ,asia1 this church maintained its integrity4 ,says ,gibbon3 8,among the ,greek colonies and churches of ,asia1 ,philadelphia is still erect1 a column in a scene of ruins4 ,at a distance from the sea1 forgotten by the emperors1 encompassed on all sides by the ,turks1 her valiant citizens defended their religion and their freedom above fourscore years1 and at length capitulated with the proudest of the ,ottomans40 ,philadelphia is still the seat of an archbishop1 and contains from six hundred to seven hundred ,greek houses1 and several places of ,christian worship4 8,the ,lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations10 #b ,pet4 #b3i4 ,they are encouraged to constancy by the prospect of the coming coronation day1 when 8the ,lord2 the righteous ,judge shall give0 a 8crown of righteousness10 8unto all them that love his appearing10 #b ,tim4 #d3h4 ,he has said 8,be thou faithful unto death1 and ,i will give thee a crown of life0 7#b3aj72 and therefore 8when the chief ,shepherd shall appear1 ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away10 #a ,pet4 #e3d4 ,a pillar in the temple of ,god1 is expressive of a position which shall give support to the church1 which is erected 8upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets1 ,jesus ,christ himself being the chief corner-stone2 ,in whom the building1 fitly framed together1 groweth unto a holy temple in the ,lord3 ,in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of ,god through the ,spirit10 ,eph4 #b3bj-bb4 ,to receive the name of ,god1 is to be recognized as belonging to ,god4 ,as masters designated their servants by branding their name on them1 or by some peculiar mark1 so the children of ,god are referred to by the same figure4 ,in a subsequent vision ,john saw with the ,lamb on ,mount ,zion1 8an hundred and forty and four thousand1 having his ,father's name written in their foreheads10 #ad3a4 ,their connection with new ,jerusalem is similarly designated4 ,epistle to the ,church in ,laodicea4 8,and to the messenger of the congregation in ,laodicea write3 ,these things saith the ,amen1 the faithful and true ,witness1 the ,ruler of the creation of ,god3 ,i know thy works1 that thou art neither cold nor hot3 ,i would that thou wast cold or hot4 ,so1 because thou art lukewarm1 and neither cold nor hot1 ,i will cast thee out of my mouth3 because thou sayest1 ,i am rich1 and have become wealthy1 and have need of nothing2 and knowest not that thou art wretched1 and miserable1 and poor1 and blind1 and naked3 ,i counsel thee to buy of me gold tried by fire1 that thou mayest be rich2 and white raiment1 that thou mayest be clothed1 and that the shame of thy nakedness may not appear2 and to anoint thine eyes with eye-salve1 that thou mayest see4 ,as many as ,i love1 ,i rebuke and chastise3 be fervent therefore1 and repent4 ,behold1 ,i stand at the door1 and knock3 if any one heareth my voice1 and openeth the door1 ,i will come in to him1 and will sup with him1 and he shall sup with me4 ,to him1 who overcometh ,i will grant to sit with me in my throne1 even as ,i also overcame1 and have sat down with my ,father in his throne4 ,he1 who hath an ear1 let him hear what the ,spirit saith to the congregations40--,rev4 #c3ad-bb4 ,by his titles of truth and verity1 the ,saviour prepares the ,laodiceans for the humiliating threatenings1 which are uttered against them4 ,by that of 8the beginning of the creation of ,god10 is indicated ,christ's kingship as head and governor of all2 and hence the authority on which his declarations are founded4 ,the ,laodiceans seemed to have been very well satisfied with their own condition1 without possessing any very marked characteristics4 ,they were neither good1 nor very wicked2 but supposed that they abounded in all spiritual wealth1 when they were destitute of all the ,christian graces4 ,they could not appreciate their own condition2 and not realizing their need1 were unlikely to heed the counsel given them1 and therefore they have long since ceased to have a name and a place on the earth4 ,says ,gibbon3 8,the circus and three stately temples of ,laodicea1 are now peopled with wolves and foxes40 ,the great majority of them seemed to have become unworthy even of the chastisement which ,god bestows on those he loves4 8,behold1 happy is the man whom ,god correcteth2 therefore despise not the chastening of the ,almighty10 ,job #e3ag4 8,my son1 despise not the chastening of the ,lord3 neither be weary of his correction3 ,for whom the ,lord loveth he correcteth1 even as a father the son in whom he delighteth10 ,prov4 #c3aa1 #ab4 8,blessed is the man that endureth temptation3 for when he is tried1 he shall receive the crown of life1 which the ,lord hath promised to them that love him10 ,jas4 #a3ab4 ,the ,saviour shows his readiness to receive those who will open unto him4 ,he is saying1 8,open to me 444 for my head is filled with dew1 and my locks with the drops of the night10 ,cant4 #e3b4 8,blessed are those servants1 whom the ,lord1 when he cometh1 shall find watching3 verily ,i say unto you1 ,that he shall gird himself1 and make them to sit down to meat1 and will come forth and serve them10 ,luke #ab3cg4 ,said ,jesus1 8,if any man love me1 he will keep my words3 and my ,father will love him1 and we will come unto him1 and make our abode with him10 ,john #ad3bc4 ,to him that overcometh1 as in another place he is promised a crown1 so now there is the promise of a seat with the ,saviour in his throne4 ,said the ,saviour1 8,ye which have followed me1 in the regeneration when the ,son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory1 ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones1 judging the twelve tribes of ,israel10 ,matt4 #ai3bh4 8,and ,i appoint unto you a kingdom1 as my ,father hath appointed unto me10 ,luke #bb3bi4 8,if we suffer0 i4e4 with ,christ1 8we shall also reign with him10 #b ,tim4 #b3ab4 ,vision of the ,deity4 8,after this1 ,i looked1 and behold1 a door opened in heaven3 and the first voice1 which ,i heard1 was like a trumpet talking with me2 saying1 ,ascend here1 and ,i will show thee things1 which must take place hereafter4 ,and immediately ,i was in the ,spirit3 and behold1 a throne was set in heaven1 and ,one sat on the throne4 ,and1 ,he1 who sat1 was in appearance like a jasper and a cornelian stone3 and there was a rainbow around the throne1 in appearance1 like an emerald4 ,and around the throne were twenty-four thrones2 and on the thrones ,i saw twenty-four elders sitting1 clothed in white raiment2 and crowns of gold on their heads4 ,and from the throne came forth lightnings1 and voices and thunders4 ,and seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne1 which are the seven ,spirits of ,god4 ,and before the throne there was a transparent sea like crystal3 and in the midst of the throne1 and around the throne1 were four living beings1 full of eyes before and behind4 ,and the first living being was like a lion1 and the second living being like a calf1 and the third living being had a face like a man1 and the fourth living being was like a flying eagle4 ,and each of the four living beings had six wings around him2 and within they were full of eyes3 and they rest not day or night1 saying1 ,holy1 holy1 holy1 ,lord ,god ,almighty1 who was1 and is1 and is to be6 ,and when the living beings give glory1 and honor1 and thanks to ,him seated on the throne1 who liveth for ever and ever1 the four and twenty elders fall down before ,him seated on the throne1 and worship ,him1 who liveth for ever and ever1 and cast their crowns before the throne1 saying1 ,worthy art thou1 ,o ,lord1 our ,god1 to receive glory1 and honor1 and power3 for thou hast created all things1 and for thy pleasure they existed and were created40--,rev4 #d3a-aa4 ,this vision is preparatory to the revelations of 8things which must be hereafter10 which were given ,john in the series of visions following4 ,their divine origin1 and1 consequently1 the deference with which they are to be received as a revelation from ,god1 are demonstrated by this symbolization of the presence chamber of the ,almighty4 ,the revelator had before heard a voice speaking to him1 7#a3aj72 and turning to look1 he beheld the risen ,saviour4 ,he then writes the epistles which the ,saviour dictated to the churches2 and again he turns his eyes to the place where the voice spake to him4 ,the opening of a door in heaven1 appears to be no part of the 8things which must be hereafter20 and is1 therefore1 no symbol4 ,it was doubtless an appearance of an aperture in the sky above1 through which the revelator saw the vision4 ,it indicates that he looked through and beyond the limits prescribed to human vision2 and the summons to 8come up hither10 indicates that he was to have free access to the secrets there to be unfolded4 ,a 8throne set in heaven10 is a symbol of sovereignty there4 ,consequently the one who sits thereon is the ,almighty--his greatness1 glory and majesty1 being indicated by the 8lightnings1 thunderings and voices10 the 8rainbow round about the throne10 and the resemblance to brilliant gems4 ,it is the same ,being1 seen in vision by ,ezekiel 7#a3bh71 round about whom was 8as the appearance of the bow in the day of rain20 and who was explained to be 8the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the ,lord40 ,the 8elders0 seated about the throne1 and the 8four living creatures10 improperly rendered beasts1 are representatives of the redeemed of our race2 for they subsequently unite in the new song1 saying to ,christ1 8,thou wast slain1 and hast redeemed us to ,god by thy blood1 out of every kindred and tongue1 and people and nation2 and hast made us unto our ,god kings and priests1 and we shall reign on the earth10 #e3h-aj4 ,the difference between the two orders1 is not fully apparent4 ,they have 8vials full of odors1 which are the prayers of saints40 ,the four beasts are evidently of the same order as the 8living creatures0 in ,ezek4 #a3e2 the cherubim of ,ezek4 #aj3bj1 and the seraphim of ,isa4 #f3a4 ,the entire hosts of the redeemed are thus represented as interested spectators in the visions which are to be unfolded4 ,the 8seven lamps of fire10 are explained to be 8the seven ,spirits of ,god10 which1 as before shown1 is expressive of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the 8sea of glass10 corresponds to the brazen sea1 or laver1 under the law1 which stood at the door of the tabernacle1 ,ex4 #ch3h4 ,it was an emblem of purity4 ,before entering the tabernacle the priest must there wash4 ,those admitted on the sea of glass1 are those who are purified and made white in the blood of the ,lamb1 #ae3b4 ,with this preliminary representation1 the first series of events extending to the final consummation1 is shown under the symbol of3 ,the ,sealed ,book4 8,and ,i saw in the right hand of ,him seated on the throne1 a book written within and without1 sealed with seven seals4 ,and ,i saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice1 ,who is worthy to open the book1 and to loose its seals8 and no one in heaven1 or on the earth1 or under the earth1 was able to open the book nor to look in it4 ,and ,i was weeping much1 because no one was found worthy to open1 and to read the book1 nor to look in it4 ,and one of the elders saith to me1 ,weep not3 behold1 the ,lion of the tribe of ,judah1 the ,root of ,david1 hath prevailed to open the book1 and to loose its seven seals4 ,and ,i saw in the midst of the throne1 and of the four living beings1 and in the midst of the elders1 the ,lamb standing1 as having been slain1 having seven horns1 and seven eyes1 which are the seven ,spirits of ,god sent forth into all the earth4 ,and he came and took the book out of the right hand of ,him seated on the throne4 ,and when he took the book1 the living beings1 and twenty-four elders fell down before the ,lamb1 all of them having harps1 and golden bowls full of incense1 which are the prayers of saints4 ,and they sung a new song1 saying1 ,worthy art thou to take the book and to open its seals3 for thou wast slain1 and hast redeemed us to ,god by thy blood out of every tribe1 and tongue1 and people1 and nation2 and hast made us kings and priests to our ,god1 and we shall reign on the earth6 ,and ,i beheld1 and ,i heard the voice of many angels around the throne1 and the living beings1 and the elders3 and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand1 and thousands of thousands2 saying with a loud voice1 ,worthy is the ,lamb1 that was slain1 to receive power1 and riches1 and wisdom1 and strength1 and honor1 and glory1 and blessing4 ,and every creature which is in heaven1 and on the earth1 and under the earth1 and those on the sea1 even all that are in them1 ,i heard saying1 ,blessing1 and honor1 and glory1 and power1 be to ,him sitting on the throne1 and to the ,lamb1 for ever and ever6 ,and the four living beings said1 ,amen4 ,and the elders fell down and worshipped40--,rev4 #e3a-ad4 ,the written book1 must symbolize ,god's purposes1 which were about to be unfolded on the loosening of the seals4 ,its being written within and without1 indicates the fulness of its contents1 the completeness of the record3--,god's purposes being fully and unalterably formed4 ,in like manner ,ezekiel was shown 8a roll of a book 444 written within and without10 symbolizing the 8lamentations1 mourning and woe0 7,ezek4 #b3i71 which were soon to overtake ,israel4 ,a sealed book is one whose contents are hidden3 8,the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed1 which men deliver to one that is learned1 saying1 ,read this ,i pray thee3 and he saith1 ,i cannot2 for it is sealed10 ,isa4 #bi3aa4 ,god said to ,daniel1 8,shut up the words1 and seal the book1 till the time of the end10 ,dan4 #ab3d4 ,to open the seals1 no one was found worthy4 ,there was no being in heaven among the angels1 no human being on the earth1 and no disembodied spirit1 or demon1 under the earth1 who was able to unfold the future4 ,the tears of the revelator are1 however1 dried1 and his drooping spirits cheered1 by the announcement of one of the elders1 that 8the ,,lion of the tribe of ,,judah1 the ,,root of ,,david1 hath prevailed to open the book10 and to unfold its mysteries4 ,he stood in the midst of the assembled intelligences1--his human nature and sacrificial office1 being designated by his metaphorical title of the 8,lamb30--,john seeing ,jesus coming to him said1 8,behold the ,lamb of ,god1 which taketh away the sin of the world10 ,john #a3bi4 ,his sovereignty is shown by the 8seven horns10 the symbols of power2 and his relation to the ,godhead1 by the seven eyes1 the seven ,spirits of ,god2--expressive of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,see p4 #be4 ,the rejoicings on the announcement of ,christ's ability to take the book1 and to open the seals1 indicate the greatness of the blessing which ,god gives the church1 when he thus reveals a knowledge of the future4 ,all creatures should join in these hosannas1 and praise the ,lord for his great condescension1 in showing his servants the things which must shortly come to pass4 ,to neglect this revelation1 is not joining in the ascription of praise4 ,the golden vials1 full of odors1 symbolize the prayers of saints4 ,under the ,mosaic dispensation1 the frankincense and odors offered at the tabernacle were emblematic of prayer and praise to ,god4 8,let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense2 and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice10 ,psa4 #ada3b4 ,christ takes the book from the hand of him who sits on the throne1 and opens the seals4 ,thus he makes known unto his servants the revelation which ,god had given him1 #a3a4 ,as each successive seal is opened1 successive portions of the writing in the book become accessible1--an epoch is marked1 following which1 and previous to that symbolized by the opening of the next seal1 are to be fulfilled1 the events symbolized under it4 ,the ,first ,seal4 8,and ,i saw when the ,lamb opened one of the seven seals1 and ,i heard one of the four living beings1 saying1 with a voice like thunder1 ,come6 ,and ,i saw1 and behold1 a white horse3 and he1 who sat on him1 had a bow2 and a crown was given him3 and he went forth conquering and to conquer40--,rev4 #f3a1 #b4 ,the voice is evidently addressed to the personage on the white horse1 or to the agencies thus symbolized4 ,it is the signal for their appearance on the stage of action4 ,the symbol is that of a victorious warrior1 armed with weapons of conquest1--success being indicated by the crown given him4 ,as there is no analogous order1 except in the religious world1 ,mr4 ,lord very properly regards it as a symbol of the body of religious teachers1 those faithful soldiers of the cross1 who1 from the middle of the first to the middle of the third century1 as 8soldiers of ,jesus ,christ0 7#b ,tim4 #b3c71 went forth to war 8against principalities and powers1 against the rulers of the darkness of this world1 against spiritual wickedness in high places10 ,eph4 #f3ab4 ,the apostle1 when they received their commission1 said to them1 8,take unto you the whole armor of ,god1 that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day1 and having done all1 to stand4 ,stand1 therefore1 having your loins girt about with truth1 and having on the breast-plate of righteousness2 and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace2 above all1 taking the shield of faith1 wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked4 ,and take the helmet of salvation1 and the sword of the ,spirit1 which is the word of ,god10 ,ib4 #ac-ag4 ,thus equipped1 they went forth1 conquering and to conquer4 ,they assailed the strong-holds of sin and ,satan1 and planted the standard of the cross in all portions of the then civilized world4 ,and at the end of their warfare thousands of them could say with the apostle3 8,i have fought a good fight1 ,i have finished my course1 ,i have kept the faith3 henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness1 which the ,lord1 the righteous ,judge1 shall give me at that day3 and not to me only1 but unto all them also that love his appearing10 #b ,tim4 #d3g1 #h4 ,the period symbolized under this seal1 was distinguished for purity of faith in the church1 and devotion to the cause of ,christ1--indicated by the whiteness of the horse that the warrior rides4 ,the ,second ,seal4 8,and when he opened the second seal1 ,i heard the second living being say1 ,come6 ,and there went out another horse that was red3 and power was given to him1 who sat on him1 to take peace from the earth1 and that they should kill each other3 and a great sword was given to him40--,rev4 #f3c1 #d4 ,this symbol1 like the former1 is that of a mounted warrior1 and must also symbolize a body of religious teachers4 ,the color of the horse1 indicates that the doctrine and character of the body symbolized will have lost the original purity of the church1 and become more sanguinary2 which is also indicated by the great sword given him4 ,the warfare under this seal is not against outside enemies2 for they kill each other4 ,this1 then1 indicates an era when the church shall be disquieted1 and her peace interrupted by internal dissensions4 ,such was its history during the third1 fourth1 and fifth centuries4 ,this period was distinguished for the contentions of the clergy2 their usurpation of power not conferred by the apostles2 their divisions and sub-divisions into parties2 their opposing councils2 their collisions and distractions2 their love of power2 their pride1 discord1 strife1 and tyranny2 their mutual anathemas and excommunications2 the envy1 jealousy1 and detraction they indulged in1 and the other hateful passions which they exercised4 ,thus they marred the peace of the church2 and by causing many to apostatize1 killed each other with spiritual death4 ,the ,third ,seal4 8,and when he opened the third seal ,i heard the third living being say1 ,come6 ,and ,i beheld1 and lo1 a black horse2 and he1 who sat on him1 had a balance in his hand4 ,and ,i heard a voice in the midst of the four living beings say1 ,a measure of wheat for a penny1 and three measures of barley for a penny2 and injure thou not the oil and the wine40--,rev4 #f3e1 #f4 ,this foreshadows a period of great scarcity and cruel exactions4 ,applying it to the only department of society which is analogous to civil life1 and the famine symbolized1 is like that predicted by ,amos3 8,behold1 the days come1 saith the ,lord ,god1 that ,i will send a famine into the land1 not a famine of bread1 nor a thirst for water1 but of hearing the words of the ,lord3 and they shall wander from sea to sea1 and from the north even to the east2 they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the ,lord1 and shall not find it10 ,amos #h3aa1 #ab4 ,this1 then1 marks a period when the traditions and opinions of men are substituted for the word of ,god4 ,with ,origen was introduced a new mode of interpreting scripture1 which afterwards became prevalent4 ,the scriptures1 instead of being received in their natural and obvious sense1 were regarded as mystical and allegorical4 ,milner1 in his ,church ,history1 says3 8,from the fanciful mode of allegory1 introduced by him1 and uncontrolled by scriptural rule and order1 there arose a vitiated method of commenting on the sacred pages40 ,and ,mosheim says3 8,the few who explained the sacred writings with judgment and a true spirit of criticism1 could not oppose1 with any success1 the torrent of allegory that was overflowing the church40 ,following this example1 ,luther says1 8men make just what they please of the ,scriptures1 until some accommodate the word of ,god to the most extravagant absurdities40 ,substituting the conceptions of their own fancy for the word of ,god1 they withheld from the people the bread of life1 and produced a famine for the word of the ,lord4 ,crude notions took the place of ,bible doctrines2 and pernicious speculations were substituted for the teachings of ,christ and his apostles4 ,baptism and the ,lord's supper1 lost their emblematic significance1 and were regarded as saving ordinances4 ,heaven was sought to be merited by works1 and sanctification was supposed to be gained by penance and mortification of the flesh4 ,in short1 all the corruptions of the apostasy were substituted for the primitive faith1 and the ,bible became a sealed book to the great mass of the people4 ,the ,fourth ,seal4 8,and when he opened the fourth seal1 ,i heard the voice of the fourth living being saying1 ,come6 ,and ,i looked1 and behold1 a pale horse3 and his name1 who sat on him1 was ,death1 and the pit followed with him4 ,and power was given to them over the fourth part of the earth1 to kill with sword1 and with famine1 and with pestilence1 and with the wild beasts of the earth40--,rev4 #f3g1 #h4 ,the ,christian church alone being analogous to the civil power1 it is within its pale that the fulfilment of this symbol is to be looked for4 ,during this period1 violence is substituted for famine2 and men are compelled to apostatize1 which results in spiritual death4 ,the ,papacy having the power to enforce her decrees1 ,christians had to embrace her faith1 or be handed over to the secular power for punishment4 ,they produced death by compelling men to apostatize1 by withholding from them the word of life1 by infusing into their minds pestiferous doctrines1 and by the fear of the civil power1--symbolized by the sword1 famine1 pestilence1 and beasts of the earth4 ,the ,fifth ,seal4 8,and when he opened the fifth seal1 ,i saw under the altar the souls of those slain on account of the word of ,god1 and on account of the testimony1 which they held3 and they cried with a loud voice1 saying1 ,how long1 ,o ,lord1 holy and true1 dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on those1 who dwell on the earth8 ,and a white robe was given to each of them2 and it was said to them1 that they should rest yet for a short time1 until their fellow-servants also and their brethren1 that were to be slain as they were1 should be filled up40--,rev4 #f3i-aa4 ,this symbolized a period intervening between the time of the martyrdom1 of those whose souls are seen in vision1 and another time of persecution to follow4 ,consequently1 the symbol represents the disembodied spirits of those who had already been slain4 ,they symbolize the souls of martyrs who counted not their lives dear unto themselves for the sake of ,christ2 and being faithful unto death1 were in expectation of a crown of life4 ,says ,mr4 ,lord3 8,the term is used in the prophecy to denote the dead bodies of the martyrs 7chap4 #aa3i71 and 7#bj3d7 to denote their disembodied spirits4 ,they are represented as having been slain1 and as uttering their appeal to ,god because of their blood having been shed40 ,also3 8,the martyr souls are exhibited in their own persons2 and obviously because no others could serve as their symbol1--there being no others that have undergone a change from a bodied to a disembodied life1 nor that sustain such relations to ,god1 of forgiveness1 acceptance1 and assurance of a resurrection from death1 and a priesthood with ,christ during his victorious reign on the earth10 ,ex4 ,apoc4 p4 #aee4 ,the altar1 symbolizes the atonement made by ,christ for sin2 and1 consequently1 the position of the souls of the martyrs under it1 indicates their reliance on him for an inheritance in his everlasting kingdom1--when 8he shall come to be glorified in his saints10 and to 8take vengeance on them that know not ,god1 and obey not the gospel10 #b ,thess4 #a3h1 #aj4 ,the presentation of white robes to them1 symbolizes their acceptance and justification4 ,the declaration that they must rest till their fellow-servants are killed1 as they have been1 implies another persecution1 to be subsequent to the period symbolized by the opening of this seal4 ,the persecutions which followed the ,reformation1 in which the fires of ,smithfield were lighted in ,england1 the ,huguenots were driven from ,france1 and thousands suffered martyrdom1 probably fulfilled this4 ,the interest taken by the souls of the martyrs in the avenging of their blood on the earth1 shows that the spirits of departed saints look forward with intense interest to the time of their glorification4 ,and although the dead who die in the ,lord are blessed1 the glories of the resurrection morn are not less desired by those who are absent from the body and present with the ,lord1 than by humble1 devoted1 waiting ,christians here4 ,the opening of this seal evidently synchronizes with the commencement of the reformation1 when they might have supposed the kingdom of ,god would immediately appear4 ,the ,sixth ,seal4 8,and ,i beheld when he opened the sixth seal1 and there was a great earthquake2 and the sun became black like sackcloth of hair1 and the moon became like blood3 and the stars of heaven fell to the earth1 as a fig-tree casteth its unripe figs1 when shaken by a mighty wind4 ,and the heaven departed like a scroll rolled together2 and every mountain and island were removed from their places4 ,and the kings of the earth1 and the nobles1 and the rich1 and the commanders1 and the strong men1 and every bond-man1 and every freeman1 hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains2 and said to the mountains and rocks1 ,fall on us1 and hide us from the face of ,him seated on the throne1 and from the wrath of the ,lamb3 for the great day of his wrath is come2 and who can stand80--,rev4 #f3ab-ag4 ,the laws of symbolization require that symbols should not be representatives of their own order when there is any analogous order to be representatives of4 ,in other places in the ,apocalypse1 these symbols are used1 under circumstances where it is impossible to regard them as symbols of their own order4 ,and here1 as the kings of the earth call on the rocks and mountains to fall on them after the heaven has departed as a scroll and every mountain and island is moved out of its place1 it is necessary to regard them as symbols of objects of analogous orders4 ,the earthquake1 then1 as in corresponding ,scriptures1 symbolizes a political revolution4 ,the darkening of the sun and moon1 would represent a change in the character of the rulers and legislators of the world1 so that instead of extending a genial influence over their subjects1 they should exert a deleterious one2 and the fall of the stars1 their ejection from their stations--synchronizing with the first five vials 7#af3a-aa71 and fulfilled in the political revolutions of ,europe during the past century4 ,by the passing away of the heavens and the removal of mountains and islands from their places1 is symbolized the total dissolution of all human governments--corresponding to the seventh vial 7#af3bj74 ,on the occurrence of this unprecedented state of anarchy1 the inhabitants of earth will be aware of the proximity of the ,advent4 ,they flee from the face of the ,lamb1 which indicates his appearance in the clouds of heaven at his personal advent4 ,the great day of wrath will have come2 but before the infliction of merited punishment on his enemies1 the servants of ,god are to be designated1 the righteous dead are to be raised1 and they with the righteous living are to be caught up to meet the ,lord in the air1 #a ,thess4 #d3ag4 ,the living righteous are designated by3 ,the ,sealing of the ,servants of ,god4 8,and after these things ,i saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth1 holding fast the four winds of the earth1 that a wind might not blow on the earth1 nor on the sea1 nor on any tree4 ,and ,i saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun1 having a seal of the living ,god3 and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels1 to whom it was given to injure the earth and the sea1 saying1 ,injure not the earth1 nor the sea1 nor the trees1 till we have sealed the servants of our ,god on their foreheads6 ,and ,i heard the number of those sealed3 a hundred and forty-four thousand were sealed out of all the tribes of the children of ,israel4 ,of the tribe of ,judah1 twelve thousand were sealed4 ,of the tribe of ,reuben twelve thousand were sealed4 ,of the tribe of ,gad twelve thousand were sealed4 ,of the tribe of ,asher twelve thousand were sealed4 ,of the tribe of ,naphtali1 twelve thousand were sealed4 ,of the tribe of ,manasseh twelve thousand were sealed4 ,of the tribe of ,simeon twelve thousand were sealed4 ,of the tribe of ,levi twelve thousand were sealed4 ,of the tribe of ,issachar twelve thousand were sealed4 ,of the tribe of ,zebulon twelve thousand were sealed4 ,of the tribe of ,joseph twelve thousand were sealed4 ,of the tribe of ,benjamin twelve thousand were sealed40--,rev4 #g3a-h4 ,the symbols here presented1 were seen immediately subsequent to the exhibition of the preceding ones4 ,this alone would not prove that the events symbolized follow in order1 but it is indicated by their being a continuation of the symbolization under the sixth seal1 and before the opening of the seventh4 ,in the sixth chapter1 the great men and rich men1 as well as bond-men1 are aware of the proximity of the day of the ,lord1 and seek for a refuge from the face of the ,lamb4 ,the next events in consecutive order1 would be the resurrection of the righteous dead1 the change of the living1 their ascension to meet the ,lord in the air1 and the infliction of the wrath of ,god on the wicked4 ,after the wicked seek to escape from ,god's presence1 the righteous are still unchanged upon the earth4 ,but before the wrath of ,god is poured upon his enemies1 the winds of heaven are to be holden while the angel of the living ,god seals his servants in their foreheads4 ,the holding of the winds and the sealing are1 consequently1 subsequent to the terror of the wicked1 at the appearance of the ,saviour4 ,the four winds are the winds coming from all directions2 and symbolize strife1 war1 and commotion among men1 analogous to the violent action of the winds of heaven4 ,in ,dan4 #g3b1 the striving of the four winds upon the great sea preceded the rising of the four beasts3 in other words1 the various contests and strifes among the different people and tongues of earth resulted in the establishment of the successive empires which have arisen to universal dominion4 ,the blowing of the wind seems to be any influence exerted upon men4 ,in ,ezek4 #cg3i the breathing of the wind revives the dead2 and in ,zech4 #e3i it symbolizes the removal of the wickedness of the ,jews4 ,the angels holding the winds1 consequently1 must symbolize the agencies which have the power to excite or quell these disturbing influences4 ,they do the bidding of the ,lord in restraining or exerting the influences which should produce the effect symbolized4 ,the holding of them indicates the proximity and certainty of their blowing unless they are restrained4 ,the earth1 sea1 and trees1 which would be hurt by the blowing of the wind1 evidently symbolize the different classes of inhabitants of the earth1 on whom an effect would be produced by the blowing of the winds1 analogous to the effect produced on those elements by a violent tempest1 or hurricane4 ,the storm here symbolized is evidently that of which the ,scriptures speak4 8,on the wicked he shall rain snares1 fire and brimstone1 and an horrible tempest10 ,psa4 #aa3f4 8,thou shalt be visited of the ,lord of hosts with thunder1 and with earthquake1 and great noise1 with storm and tempest1 and the flame of devouring fire10 ,isa4 #bi3f4 8,the ,lord hath a mighty and strong one1 which as a tempest of hail1 and a destroying storm1 as flood of waters overflowing1 shall cast down to the earth with the hand10 ,ib4 #bh3b4 ,the sealing of the servants of ,god in their foreheads1 designates them1 but does not constitute them such2 for none are sealed1 only those who are previously his4 ,this is in allusion to the ancient custom of stamping with a hot iron the name of the owner on the forehead or shoulder of his slave4 ,before the final destruction of ,jerusalem by the ,babylonians1 ,ezekiel saw in vision a man clothed in linen1 with a writer's ink-horn by his side1 who was commissioned to go through the midst of ,jerusalem and set a mark on the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof4 ,and the destroying angels who were commanded to slay all1 both old and young1 to spare not1 nor to have pity1 were expressly told to 8come not near any man upon whom is the mark10 ,ezek4 #i3b-f4 ,when the destroying angel passed through ,egypt1 on the night of the ,passover1 8to slay all the first-born of that nation1 the houses of the ,israelites were indicated by the blood of the ,paschal ,lamb sprinkled on their lintels and door-posts2 and by these the angels passed10 ,ex4 #ab3bc4 ,thus in the present instance1 before the descent of the impending storm1 the servants of the ,lord are to be indicated by the seal of the living ,god in their foreheads1 and will be spared the horrible tempest which will 8hurt0 all those on whom it shall fall4 ,the #add1jjj1--the whole number sealed1 is a perfect number1--an appropriate symbol of all the living righteous on the earth4 ,the twelve tribes1 then1 would symbolize all the branches of ,christ's mystical body in which the servants of ,god are found4 ,the pious dead would need no mark indicative of their acceptance1 having previously1 in the white robes given them1 received the symbols of their justification1 #f3aa4 ,that their resurrection and the changing of the living1 immediately succeeded1 is evident from3 ,the ,palm-bearing ,multitude4 8,after these things ,i looked1 and lo1 a great crowd1 which no one could number1 out of all nations1 and tribes1 and people1 and tongues1 stood before the throne1 and before the ,lamb1 clothed with white robes1 and palm-branches in their hands2 and they cried with a loud voice1 saying1 ,salvation to our ,god seated on the throne1 and to the ,lamb6 ,and all the angels stood around the throne1 and the elders and the four living beings1 and fell before the throne on their faces1 and worshipped ,god1 saying1 ,amen3 blessing and glory1 and wisdom1 and thanksgiving1 and honor1 and power1 and might1 be to our ,god for ever and ever4 ,amen6 ,and one of the elders answered1 saying to me1 ,who are these arrayed in white robes8 and whence came they8 ,and ,i said to him1 ,my ,lord1 thou knowest4 ,and he said to me1 ,these are they who came out of great affliction1 and have washed their robes1 and made them white in the blood of the ,lamb4 ,for this1 they are before the throne of ,god1 and serve him day and night in his temple3 and ,he1 who sitteth on the throne1 will dwell among them4 ,they will hunger no more1 and will thirst no more2 nor will the sun light on them1 nor any heat4 ,for the ,lamb1 who is in the midst of the throne1 will tend them1 and lead them to fountains of living waters3 and ,god will wipe away every tear from their eyes40--,rev4 #g3i-ag4 ,this great multitude of white-robed palm-bearers1 must include those who1 under the preceding seal1 anxiously inquired how long was to be deferred the avenging of their blood on those who dwell on the earth4 ,that epoch had now arrived2 and they come forth arrayed in the white robes then given them4 ,the palm-branches in their hands1 are emblems of victory4 ,they symbolize the subjects of the first resurrection1 caught up to meet the ,lord in the air4 ,that they are gathered from every land and every age1 is asserted when it is said they are from every kindred1 tongue1 and people2 and that they triumph over death and the grave1 is evident from the answer of one of the elders to the questions3 8,what are these80 and 8,whence came they80 ,the epoch1 is a point of time intervening between the first resurrection1 and the descent of the new ,jerusalem1 #ba3b4 ,the loud and united voice1 with which the redeemed multitude cry 8,salvation to our ,god which sitteth upon the throne1 and unto the ,lamb10--synchronizes with that of the 8great multitude10 which1 like the voice of many waters1 and of 8mighty thunderings10 shouted 8,alleluia3 for the ,lord ,god omnipotent reigneth0 7#ai3f71 immediately preceding the marriage-supper of the ,lamb 7#ai3f-i74 ,they are removed above the troubles of earth1 which are impending upon the wicked1 under3 ,the ,seventh ,seal4 8,and when he opened the seventh seal1 silence took place in heaven for about half an hour4 ,and ,i saw the seven angels1 who stood before ,god2 and seven trumpets were given to them4 ,and another angel came and stood by the altar1 having a golden censer2 and much incense was given to him1 that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne4 ,and the smoke of the incense1 with the prayers of the saints1 ascended before ,god from the angel's hand4 ,and the angel took the censer1 and filled it with the fire of the altar1 and out it into the earth3 and there were voices1 and thunders1 and lightnings1 and an earthquake40--,rev4 #h3a-e4 ,the epoch of this seal1 is sometimes regarded as anterior to that of the trumpets2 and those are often supposed to be included in the events of this seal2 but no conclusive reason has ever been given for removing it from its obvious position as the closing one1 of a series of successive periods1 commencing with the gospel1 and extending to the end of the world4 ,if the first six are successive in their respective order1 analogy would require that the seventh be thus considered4 ,under the sixth seal1 the great men and rich1 are seen fleeing to the rocks for refuge from the wrath of the ,lamb2 and the risen saints symbolized1 are in the ,saviour's presence2 but the infliction of the wrath of ,god on the wicked is not there symbolized4 ,the events of that seal come down as far as those in the #aith chapter1 which precede the marriage of the ,lamb1 #ai3g4 ,the half-hour's silence1 is the first thing indicated under the seventh seal4 ,being so expressly noticed1 it would seem to be of some significance4 ,as a period of symbolic time1 on the scale of a day for a year1 8about half an hour10 would equal a week's duration--corresponding to the time which intervened between the entrance of ,noah into the ark1 and the commencement of the deluge1 ,gen4 #g3a-d4 ,as the period evidently synchronizes with the parable of the ,saviour1 when 8the ,bridegroom came2 and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage1 and the door was shut0 7,matt4 #be3aj71--the others being still without1--it would seem to symbolize the time1 between the entrance to the marriage of the ,lamb 7#ai3g71 and the going forth of the ,word of ,god with his armies1 to judge1 make war1 and to slay the remnant with the sword1 #ai3aa-ba4 ,it would be a period of holy joy to the righteous in the ,saviour's presence1 and of awful suspense to the wicked4 ,the seven angels1 to whom were given seven trumpets1 being introduced here1 have doubtless caused the events of this seal to be regarded as anterior to the first trumpet4 ,as those immediately following1 evidently synchronize with occurrences of the closing epoch1 the angels can only be introduced here in anticipation of the symbolization which they are to unfold under the sounding of the successive trumpets--the same as the seven angels with the last plagues are introduced1 before the epoch of the commencement of their allotted work1 #ae3a4 ,the golden censer was the instrument in which incense was burned in the ,jewish worship4 ,incense symbolizes prayers 7#e3h74 ,the offering of much incense with the prayers of all saints and the smoke of the incense ascending up before ,god1 indicates the acceptance of their offerings in heaven--the act being before the throne1 and not on the earth4 ,the acceptance of their prayers1 also implies their own acceptance1 when presented 8faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy10 ,jude #bd4 ,the fire from the altar1 symbolizes the instruments of divine justice2 and the filling the censer with coals after the acceptance of the saints1 and the casting of both the censer and fire to the earth1 indicate that thenceforth there would be no more acceptance of prayer from those left on the earth1 but the speedy infliction of impending judgments4 ,the 8voices1 and thunderings1 and lightnings1 and an earthquake10 which followed1 evidently synchronize with the same events which follow the seventh trumpet3 when the 8wrath of ,god0 has come1 with 8the time of the dead that they should be judged20 and when those are to be destroyed who have destroyed the earth1 #aa3ai4 ,they are the same1 also1 as those under the seventh vial1 7#af3ah72 and symbolize the final overturn and commotion1 previous to the cleansing of the earth and the ushering in of a better day3 ,then will the 8fire purge all things new1 ,both ,heaven and ,earth1 wherein the just shall dwell40--,,milton1 ,,book ,,xi4 ,the ,seven ,trumpets4 8,and the seven angels having seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound40--,rev4 #h3f4 ,the sounding of each successive trumpet marks the commencement of an era1 of a longer or shorter duration1 as the striking of a clock does the succession of hours4 ,during each era1 were to be fulfilled the events symbolized in connection with its respective trumpet4 ,those under the trumpets are more of a political character than those presented in connection with the seals4 ,the ,first ,trumpet4 8,and the first angel sounded1 and there was hail and fire mingled with blood1 and they were cast into the earth2 and the third part of the earth was burnt up1 and the third part of the trees was burnt up1 and every green herb was burnt up40--,rev4 #h3g4 ,the earth of the ,apocalypse is regarded by most expositors as the ,roman empire1 in a state of comparative quiet4 ,as no tornado like this described has ever happened1 its correspondence must be sought for in the political relations of the empire4 ,there is great unanimity among commentators respecting the period and the agents here symbolized1--that it refers to the invasions of the ,goths and other barbarians1 from ,a4 ,d4 #cfc to #daj4 ,after #cie1 their incursions were more severe than during the earlier portion of that period4 ,the third part of the earth1 would be the third part of the ,roman empire1 in distinction from the other two-thirds4 ,the green grass of the earth1 the trees1 c41 are distinguished from 8those men which have not the seal of ,god in their foreheads0 7#i3d71 and must therefore symbolize the people of ,god in the third part of the empire4 ,as all the green grass is burnt up1 while only one-third of the trees suffer1 the latter cannot include one-third of all the trees in the empire1 but only one-third in the parts affected1--the grass indicating the more weakly1 and the trees the more hardy classes of ,christians4 ,the infidel historian1 ,gibbon1 has given the events which fitly correspond with the symbolization of these trumpets4 ,after the death of ,theodosius1 in ,january1 ,a4 ,d4 #cie1 ,alaric1 the bold leader of the ,gothic nation1 took arms against the empire4 ,the terrible effects of this invasion1 are thus described3-- 8,the barbarian auxiliaries erected their independent standard2 and boldly avowed hostile designs1 which they had long cherished in their ferocious minds4 ,their countrymen1 who had been condemned1 by the conditions of the last treaty1 to a life of tranquillity and labor1 deserted their farms at the first sound of the trumpet1 and eagerly assumed the weapons which they had reluctantly laid down4 ,the barriers of the ,danube were thrown open2 the savage warriors of ,scythia issued from their forest2 and the uncommon severity of the winter1 allowed the poet to remark1 that #8they rolled their ponderous wagons over the broad and icy back of the indignant river4' ,the unhappy nations of the provinces to the south of the ,danube1 submitted to the calamities1 which1 in the course of twenty years1 were almost grown familiar to their imagination2 and the various troops of barbarians1 who gloried in the ,gothic name1 were irregularly spread from the woody shores of ,dalmatia1 to the walls of ,constantinople4 ,the ,goths were directed by the bold and artful genius of ,alaric4 ,in the midst of a divided court1 and a discontented people1 the emperor1 ,arcadius1 was terrified by the aspect of the ,gothic arms4 ,alaric disdained to trample any longer on the prostrate and ruined countries of ,thrace and ,dacia1 and he resolved to seek a plentiful harvest of fame and riches in a province which had hitherto escaped the ravages of war4 8,alaric traversed1 without resistance1 the plains of ,macedonia and ,thessaly4 ,the troops which had been posted to defend the ,straits of ,thermopyl1 retired1 as they were directed1 without attempting to disturb the secure and rapid passage of ,alaric2 and the fertile fields of ,phocis and ,botia were instantly covered with a deluge of barbarians1 who massacred the males of an age to bear arms1 and drove away the beautiful females1 with the spoil and cattle of the flaming villages4 ,the travellers who visited ,greece several years afterwards1 could easily discover the deep and bloody traces of the march of the ,goths4 ,the whole territory of ,attica was blasted by his baneful presence2 and if we may use the comparison of a cotemporary philosopher1 ,athens itself resembled the bleeding and empty skin of a slaughtered victim4 ,corinth1 ,argos1 ,sparta1 yielded without resistance to the arms of the ,goths2 and the most fortunate of the inhabitants were saved1 by death1 from beholding the slavery of their families1 and the conflagration of their cities40--,gibbon's ,rome1 vol4 v41 p4 #agg4 ,being tempted by the fame of ,rome1 ,alaric hastened to subjugate it4 ,he put to flight the ,emperor of the ,west2 but deliverance soon came1 and ,rome was saved from his hands4 ,alaric was first conquered in #djc4 ,but another cloud was gathering1 and is thus described by ,gibbon3-- 8,about four years after the victorious ,toulan had assumed the title of ,khan of the ,geougen1 another barbarian1 the haughty ,rhodogast1 or ,radagaisus1 marched from the northern extremities of ,germany almost to the gates of ,rome1 and left the remains of his army to achieve the destruction of the ,west4 ,the ,vandals1 the ,suevi1 and the ,burgundians1 formed the strength of this mighty host2 but the ,alani1 who had found a hospitable reception in their new seats1 added their active cavalry to the heavy infantry of the ,germans2 and the ,gothic adventurers crowded so eagerly to the standard of ,radagaisus1 that1 by some historians1 he has been styled the ,king of the ,goths4 ,twelve thousand warriors1 distinguished above the vulgar by their noble birth1 or their valiant deeds1 glittered in the van2 and the whole multitude1 which was not less than two hundred thousand fighting men1 might be increased by the accession of women1 of children1 and of slaves1 to the amount of four hundred thousand persons4 8,the correspondence of nations was1 in that age1 so imperfect and precarious1 that the revolutions of the ,north might escape the knowledge of the court of ,ravenna1 till the dark cloud1 which was collected along the coast of the ,baltic1 burst in thunder upon the banks of the ,upper ,danube1 c4 ,many cities of ,italy were pillaged or destroyed2 and the siege of ,florence by ,radagaisus1 is one of the earliest events in the history of that celebrated republic1 whose firmness checked or delayed the unskilful fury of the barbarians4 8,while the peace of ,germany was secured by the attachment of the ,franks1 and the neutrality of the ,alemanni1 the subjects of ,rome1 unconscious of the approaching calamities1 enjoyed a state of quiet and prosperity1 which had seldom blessed the frontiers of ,gaul4 ,their flocks and herds were permitted to graze in the pastures of the barbarians3 their huntsmen penetrated1 without fear or danger1 into the darkest recesses of the ,hercynian wood4 ,the banks of the ,rhine were crowded1 like those of the ,tiber1 with elegant houses and well-cultivated farms2 and if the poet descended the river1 he might express his doubt on which side was situated the territory of the ,romans4 ,this scene of peace and plenty was suddenly changed into a desert2 and the prospect of the smoking ruins1 could alone distinguish the solitude of nature1 from the desolation of man4 ,the flourishing city of ,mentz was surprised and destroyed2 and many thousand ,christians were inhumanly massacred in the church4 ,worms perished1 after a long and obstinate siege2 ,strasburg1 ,spires1 ,rheims1 ,tournay1 ,arras1 ,amiens1 experienced the cruel oppression of the ,german yoke2 and the consuming flames of war spread from the banks of the ,rhine over the greatest part of the seventeen provinces of ,gaul4 ,that rich and extensive country1 as far as the ocean1 the ,alps1 and the ,pyrenees1 was delivered to the barbarians1 who drove before them1 in a promiscuous crowd1 the bishop1 the senator1 and the virgin1 laden with the spoils of their houses and altars40--,ibid41 vol4 v41 p4 #bbd4 ,after this invasion of the empire by ,radagaisus1 ,alaric again returned1 invaded ,italy in #djh1 and in #daj he besieged1 took1 and sacked ,rome1 and died the same year4 ,in #dab the ,goths voluntarily retired from ,italy4 ,in this last year1 8a public conference was held in ,carthage1 by order of the magistrate20 and it was there agreed to inflict the most severe penalties on those who dissented from the ,catholic doctrines1 in the ,african part of the ,roman empire4 ,says ,gibbon3--8,three hundred bishops1 with many thousands of the inferior clergy1 were torn from their churches1 stripped of their ecclesiastical possessions1 banished to the islands1 and proscribed by the laws1 if they presumed to conceal themselves in the provinces of ,africa4 ,their numerous congregations1 both in the cities and country1 were deprived of the rights of citizens1 and of the exercise of religious worship40 ,the ,second ,trumpet4 8,and the second angel sounded1 and it was as if a great mountain burning with fire were cast into the sea3 and the third part of the sea became blood2 and the third part of the creatures in the sea1 and having life1 died2 and the third part of the ships was destroyed40--,rev4 #h3h1 #i4 ,a mountain differs from a tornado1 and must symbolize a compact1 organized body of invaders4 ,its being of a volcanic nature1 renders it so much the more terrible and destructive4 ,as waters symbolize 8peoples1 multitudes1 nations1 and tongues10 the sea into which the mountain is cast1 is a people already agitated by previous commotions4 ,the ships and fish in the sea1 must necessarily symbolize agents sustaining a relation to the ,roman ,sea1 analogous to the relation of such to the literal sea4 ,they are those who live upon1 and are supported by1 the people3--the rulers and the officers of state4 ,the symbol of a burning mountain fitly represents the armed invaders under ,genseric4 ,in the year #dbi1 with fifty thousand effective men he landed on the shores of ,africa1 established an independent government in that part of the ,roman empire1 and from thence1 harassed the southern shores of ,europe and the intermediate islands1 by perpetual incursions4 ,says ,gibbon3--8,the ,vandals1 who1 in twenty years1 had penetrated from the ,elbe to ,mount ,atlas1 were united under the command of their warlike king2 and he reigned with equal authority over the ,alarici1 who had passed within the term of human life1 from the cold of ,scythia1 to the excessive heat of an ,african climate4 8,the ,vandals and ,alarici1 who followed the successful standard of ,genseric1 had acquired a rich and fertile territory1 which stretched along the coast from ,tangiers to ,tripoli2 but their narrow limits were pressed and confined on either side by the sandy desert and the ,mediterranean4 ,the discovery and conquest of the black nations that might dwell beneath the torrid zone1 could not tempt the rational ambition of ,genseric2 but he cast his eyes towards the sea2 he resolved to create a new naval power1 and his bold enterprise was executed with steady and active perseverance4 ,the woods of ,mount ,atlas afforded an inexhaustible nursery of timber2 his new subjects were skilled in the art of navigation and ship-building2 he animated his daring ,vandals to embrace a mode of warfare which would render every maritime country accessible to their arms2 the ,moors and ,africans were allured by the hope of plunder2 and1 after an interval of six centuries1 the fleet that issued from the port of ,carthage again claimed the empire of the ,mediterranean4 ,the success of the ,vandals1 the conquest of ,sicily1 the sack of ,palermo1 and the frequent descents on the coast of ,lucania1 awakened and alarmed the mother of ,valentinian1 and the sister of ,theodosius40 8,the naval power of ,rome was unequal to the task of saving even the imperial city from the ravages of the ,vandals4 ,sailing from ,africa1 they disembarked at the port of ,ostia1 and ,rome and its inhabitants were delivered to the licentiousness of ,vandals and ,moors1 whose blind passions revenged the injuries of ,carthage4 ,the pillage lasted fourteen days and nights2 and all that yet remained of public and private wealth1 of sacred or profane treasure1 was diligently transported to the vessels of ,genseric4 ,in the forty-five years that had elapsed since the ,gothic invasion1 the pomp and luxury of ,rome were in some measure restored2 and it was difficult either to escape1 or to satisfy the avarice of a conqueror1 who possessed leisure to collect1 and ships to transport1 the wealth of the capital40--,gibbon4 ,the ,third ,trumpet4 8,and the third angel sounded1 and a great star fell from heaven1 burning like a torch1 and it fell on the third part of the rivers1 and on the fountains of waters2 and the name of the star is called ,wormwood3 and the third part of the waters became wormwood2 and many men died by the waters1 because they were made bitter40--,rev4 #h3aj1 #aa4 ,the sounding of the third trumpet marks the advent of a third invader of the ,roman empire4 ,and such was ,attila1 the king of the ,huns1 who invaded ,gaul ,a4 ,d4 #dea4 ,gibbon says3-- 8,the kings and nations of ,germany and ,scythia1 from the ,volga perhaps to the ,danube1 obeyed the warlike summons of ,attila4 ,from the royal village in the plains of ,hungary1 his standard moved towards the west2 and1 after a march of seven or eight hundred miles1 he reached the conflux of the ,rhine and the ,necker40 8,the hostile myriads were poured with resistless violence into the ,belgic provinces40 8,the consternation of ,gaul was universal40 8,from the ,rhine and the ,moselle1 ,attila advanced into the heart of ,gaul1 crossed the ,seine at ,auxerre1 and1 after a long and laborious march1 fixed his camp under the walls of ,orleans40 8,an alliance was formed between the ,romans and ,visigoths40 ,the hostile armies approached4 8 #8,i myself1' said ,attila1 #8will throw the first javelin1 and the wretch who refuses to imitate the example of his sovereign1 is devoted to inevitable death4' ,the spirit of the barbarians was rekindled by the presence1 the voice1 and the example1 of their intrepid leader2 and ,attila1 yielding to their impatience1 immediately formed his order of battle4 ,at the head of his brave and faithful ,huns1 ,attila occupied1 in person1 the centre of the line40 ,the nations from the ,volga to the ,atlantic were assembled on the plains of ,chalons2 and there fought a battle1 8fierce1 various1 obstinate1 and bloody1 such as could not be paralleled1 either in the present1 or in past ages6 ,the number of the slain amounted to one hundred and sixty-two thousand1 or according to another account1 three hundred thousand persons2 and these incredible exaggerations suppose a real or effective loss1 sufficient to justify the historian's remark1 that whole generations may be swept away1 by the madness of kings1 in the space of a single hour40 ,attila was compelled to retreat2 but neither his forces nor reputation suffered4 ,he 8passed the ,alps1 invaded ,italy1 and besieged ,aquileia with an innumerable host of barbarians40 8,the succeeding generation could scarcely discover the ruins of ,aquileia4 ,after this dreadful chastisement1 ,attila pursued his march2 and1 as he passed1 the cities of ,altinum1 ,concordia1 and ,padua were reduced into heaps of stones and ashes4 ,the inland towns1 ,vicenza1 ,verona1 and ,bergamo1 were exposed to the rapacious cruelty of the ,huns4 ,milan and ,pavia submitted1 without resistance1 to the loss of their wealth20 and 8applauded the unusual clemency which preserved from the flames the public as well as private buildings1 and spared the lives of the captive multitude40 8,attila spread his ravages over the rich plains of modern ,lombardy2 which are divided by the ,po1 and bounded by the ,alps and ,apennines40 ,he took possession of the royal palace of ,milan4 8,it is a saying worthy of the ferocious pride of ,attila1 that the grass never grew on the spot where his horse had trod40 ,he advanced into ,italy1 only as far as the plains of ,lombardy and the banks of the ,po1 reducing the cities he passed to stones and ashes2 but there his ravages ceased4 ,he concluded a peace with the ,romans in the year of his invasion of ,italy 7#dea71 and the next year he died4 ,thus he appeared like a fiery meteor1 exerted his appointed influence upon the tongues and people1 who were tributary to the ,romans1--as rivers and fountains of waters are to the sea2 and like a burning star1 he as suddenly expired4 ,as a specimen of the bitterness which followed his course1 it is recorded of the ,thuringians who served in his army1 and who traversed1 both in their march and in their return1 the territories of the ,franks1 8that they massacred their hostages as well as their captives4 ,two hundred young maidens were tortured with exquisite and unrelenting rage2 their bodies were torn asunder by wild horses1 or were crushed under the weight of rolling wagons2 and their unburied limbs were abandoned on public roads1 as a prey to dogs and vultures40 ,the ,fourth ,trumpet4 8,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 that the third part of them was darkened1 and the day shone not for a third part of it1 and the night in like manner40--,rev4 #h3ab4 ,the sun1 moon1 and stars cannot here1 any more than under the sixth seal 7#f3ab1ac71 symbolize agents of their own order1 but must represent the rulers of the ,roman empire4 ,says ,dr4 ,keith3-- 8,at the voice of the first angel1 and the blast of his trumpet1 the whole ,roman world was in agitation1 and #8the storms of war' passed over it all4 #8,the union of the empire was dissolved2' a third part of it fell2 and the #8transalpine provinces were separated from the empire4' ,under the second trumpet1 the provinces of ,africa1 another1 or the maritime1 part1 was in like manner reft from ,rome1 and the ,roman ships were destroyed in the sea1 and even in their harbors4 ,the empire of ,rome1 hemmed in on every side1 was then limited to the kingdom of ,italy4 ,within its bounds1 and along the fountains and rivers of waters1 the third trumpet rechoed from the ,alps to the ,apennines4 ,the last barrier of the empire of ,rome was broken4 ,the plains of ,lombardy were ravaged by a foreign foe3 and from thence new enemies arose to bring to an end the strife of the world with the imperial city4 8 #8,in the space of twenty years since the death of ,valentinian' 7two years subsequent to the death of ,attila71 #8nine emperors had successively disappeared2 and the son of ,orestes1 a youth recommended only by his beauty1 would be the least entitled to the notice of posterity1 if his reign1 which was marked by the extinction of the ,roman empire in the west1 did not leave a memorable era in the history of mankind4' 0 ,the throne of the ,csars had been for ages the sun of the world2 while other kings were designated as stars4 ,the imperial power had first been transferred to ,constantinople by ,constantine2 and it was afterwards divided between the east and the west2 but the eastern empire was not yet doomed to destruction4 ,the precise year in which the western empire was extinguished1 is not positively ascertained1 but it is usually assigned to ,a4 ,d4 #dgf4 ,some place it in #dgi4 ,the imperial ,roman power1 of which either ,rome or ,constantinople had been jointly or singly the seat1 whether in the ,west or the ,east1 ceased to be recognized in ,italy2 and the third part of the sun was smitten1 till it emitted no longer the faintest rays4 ,the power of the ,csars became unknown in ,italy2 and a ,gothic king reigned over ,rome4 ,dr4 ,keith considers that 8the concluding words of the fourth trumpet imply the future restoration of the ,western empire3 #8,the day shone not for a third part of it1 and the night likewise4' ,in respect to civil authority1 ,rome became subject to ,ravenna2 and ,italy was a conquered province of the ,eastern empire4 ,but1 as more appropriately pertaining to other prophecies1 the defence of the worship of images first brought the spiritual and temporal powers of the ,pope and of the emperor into violent collision2 and1 by conferring on the ,pope all authority over the churches1 ,justinian laid his helping hand to the promotion of the papal supremacy1 which afterwards assumed the power of creating monarchs4 ,in the year of our ,lord #hjj1 the ,pope conferred on ,charlemagne the title of ,emperor of the ,romans4 ,the title was again transferred from the ,king of ,france to the ,emperor of ,germany4 ,by the latter it was formally renounced1 within the memory of the existing generation4 ,in our own days the iron crown of ,italy was on the head of another #8emperor4' 0 ,then the sun was suddenly darkened1 as symbolized under the sixth seal1 #f3ab4 p4 #ff4 ,the ,woe-denouncing ,angel4 8,and ,i beheld1 and heard an eagle flying in the midst of heaven1 saying with a loud voice1 ,woe1 woe1 woe1 to the inhabitants of the earth1 from the remaining voices of the trumpet of the three angels1 who are to sound40--,rev4 #h3ac4 ,the word eagle1 instead of angel1 is in accordance with the more recent revised editions of the ,greek4 ,it must symbolize persons peculiarly apprehensive at this crisis1 of disasters to follow the extinction of the ,roman empire in the west4 ,during the first half of the sixth century1 the ,sclavonians invaded the east1 8spread from the suburbs of ,constantinople to the ,ionian ,gulf1 destroyed thirty-two cities or castles1 razed ,potida1 which ,athens had built1 and ,philip had besieged1 and repassed the ,danube1 dragging at their horses' heels one hundred and twenty thousand of the subjects of ,justinian40--,gibbon4 ,and they continued their inroads1 until the citizens became apprehensive that the ,empire of the ,east would be extinguished like that of the ,west4 ,this symbol also indicates that the events under the trumpets which were to follow1 would be far more dreadful and terrible than those of the preceding ones4 ,for this reason1 the last three are sometimes denominated ,,the ,,woe ,,trumpets4 ,the ,fifth ,trumpet4 8,and the fifth angel sounded1 and ,i saw a star1 which had fallen from heaven to the earth3 and to him was given the key of the pit of the abyss4 ,and he opened the pit of the abyss3 and a smoke arose out of the pit1 like the smoke of a great furnace2 and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit4 ,and locusts came out of the smoke into the earth3 and power was given to them1 as the scorpions of the earth have power4 ,and it was said to them that they should not injure the herbage of the earth1 nor any green thing1 nor any tree2 but only those men who have not the seal of ,god on their foreheads4 ,and they were not allowed to kill them1 but to torment them five months3 and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion1 when he striketh a man4 ,and in those days men will seek death1 and will not find it2 and will desire to die1 and death will flee from them4 ,and the shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared for battle2 and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold1 and their faces were like the faces of men4 ,and they had hair like the hair of women1 and their teeth were like those of lions4 ,and they had breast-plates1 like breast-plates of iron2 and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses rushing into battle4 ,and they had tails like scorpions1 and there were stings in their tails3 and their power was to injure men five months4 ,they had a king over them1 the messenger of the abyss1 whose name in ,hebrew is ,abaddon1 but in the ,greek tongue he hath the name ,apollyon4 ,one woe is past away2 and behold1 there come yet two woes hereafter40--,rev4 #i3a-ab4 ,the previous trumpets reveal the agencies which effected the dismemberment and overthrow of ,western ,rome4 ,the fifth and sixth unfold those which terminated that empire in the east1 embracing the territory between the ,adriatic and ,euphrates1 the ,lybian desert and the ,danube4 ,a star 7#a3bj7 symbolizes a messenger1 or head of a religious body1 p4 #ca4 ,mohammed is generally regarded as represented by this symbol4 ,he was1 by birth1 of the princely house of the ,koreish1 ,governors of ,mecca1 a family of eminence4 ,the star had fallen to the earth before opening the pit of the abyss1 which illustrates the flight of ,mohammed from ,mecca1 and the seeming termination of all his hopes4 ,to save his life1 he took refuge1 with one companion1 in a cave near ,medina1 in ,a4 ,d4 #fbb1 which forms the epoch of the ,hegira1 i4e41 of his flight4 ,the bottomless pit1 is where ,satan is subsequently cast 7#bj3c72 and the key of it being given to this agent1 symbolizes his power to open and to cause the smoke to issue from it2 the ,satanic origin of which is thus indicated3 ,smoke is an appropriate representative of error1 and symbolizes the ,mohammedan doctrines2 which1 like the smoke of a great furnace1 were disseminated far and wide1 subverting the religion1 and1 in time1 effecting the overthrow of the remaining portion of the ,roman empire--the sun1 one-third of which was smitten under the fourth trumpet4 ,the locusts were generated in the smoke from whence they issued4 ,in a corresponding manner1 the spread of ,mohammedanism resulted in the organization of hordes of ,saracens1 who propagated the religion of the false prophet by the sword1 and founded the famous ,arabian empire1 which extended from the ,atlantic ocean to the river ,euphrates4 ,the shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared for battle2 and the ,saracenic hordes1 thus symbolized1 were mounted horsemen1 famous for the swiftness of their flight or pursuit1 and ever ready for the contest4 ,their crowns1 faces1 hair1 teeth1 breast-plates1 c41 seem to be indicative of their personal appearance3 on their heads they wore yellow turbans1 like coronets2 their demeanor was grave and firm2 their hair1 like that of women1 was suffered to grow uncut2 they were defended by the cuirass or breast-plate2 and in rushing to battle1 their onset was like that of chariots and many horses4 ,they had a king over them1 named ,abaddon in the ,hebrew1 and ,apollyon in the ,greek1 both of which signified the ,destroyer4 ,the ,saracens acknowledged the authority of ,mohammed during the whole period of their conquests2 not only recognizing him as their prophet and king during his lifetime1 but his successors1 after his death1 considered and called themselves ,mohammed's ,caliphs1 or ,vicars4 ,their mission was not against the grass1 green things1 and trees1 but had express reference to the men who had not the seal of ,god in their foreheads4 ,the antithesis here expressed1 shows that by the former were symbolized the servants of ,god1 and that these locust-warriors were particularly commissioned against infidels and apostates4 ,christians were not to be molested2 and provision was made for their protection1 in the circular letter which ,abubekir sent to the ,arabian tribes1 ,a4 ,d4 #fcc4 ,he said3 8 #8,remember1 that you are always in the presence of ,god1 on the verge of death1 in the assurance of judgment1 and the hope of paradise3 avoid injustice and oppression2 consult with your brethren1 and study to preserve the love and confidence of your troops4 ,when you fight the battles of the ,lord1 acquit yourselves like men1 without turning your backs2 but let not your victory be stained with the blood of women and children4 ,destroy no palm-trees1 nor burn any fields of corn4 ,cut down no fruit-trees1 nor do any mischief to cattle1 only such as you kill to eat4 ,when you make any covenant1 or article1 stand to it1 and be as good as your word4 ,as you go on1 you will find some religious persons who live in retired monasteries1 and propose to themselves to serve ,god that way2 let them alone1 and neither kill them nor destroy their monasteries2 and you will find another sort of people that belong to the synagogue of ,satan1 who have shaven crowns2 be sure you cleave their skulls1 and give them no quarter till they either turn ,mohammedans or pay tribute4' 0 ,at this epoch1 the ,greek church at ,constantinople had been preserved from the reproach of image worship1 and still later it made strenuous efforts against it2 but the churches of the north of ,africa1 and the ,asiatic portion of the ,eastern empire1 had become greatly debased1 and worshipped saints and images4 ,and while the territories of these were speedily subverted to ,mohammedanism1 and became a part of the ,arabian empire1 the east of ,europe was wonderfully preserved from their inroads4 ,their power was not to kill1 but to torment men five months4 ,to kill1 symbolically1 according to the significance of the second seal1 p4 #fj1 is to compel men to apostasize2 and they could not be in a condition to force their religion on the men of the eastern empire1 without first subjecting it by force of arms4 ,the time of this torment was limited to five prophetic months4 ,in one hundred and fifty years from the ,hegira the ,saracen empire had ceased to be aggressive4 ,in #gfb ,bagdad1 the city of peace1 was founded on the ,tigris1 by ,al-,mansur1 who died in #ggd4 8,from this time10 says ,,rottick1 8the ,arabian history assumes an entirely different character40 ,it was no longer progressive2 the proud ,saracen empire became dismembered1 and three independent and hostile ,caliphates1 and several fragments of kingdoms1 were formed from its ruins4 ,in #hda1 the reigning ,caliph at ,bagdad1 distrusting the spirit of his own troops1 hired a body of fifty thousand ,turkish soldiers1 which he distributed in his dominions4 ,these accelerated the ruin of the ,caliphate1 and1 in time1 the whole of the ,saracen territory became subject to the ,tartar rule1 which had become ,mohammedan1 and also aimed to subject the eastern empire4 ,the declaration that 8one woe is past10 v4 #ab1 implies an interval between that and the woe following4 ,in a corresponding manner1 the crusaders from ,europe1 like the successive overflowing of a mighty river1 restrained the ,tartars from the conquest of ,constantinople1 which had now consented to image worship1 till the sounding of3 ,the ,sixth ,trumpet4 8,and the sixth angel sounded1 and ,i heard a voice out of the four horns of the golden altar before ,god1 saying to the sixth angel having the trumpet1 ,loose the four messengers bound near the great river ,euphrates4 ,and the four messengers were loosed1 prepared for an hour1 and day1 and month1 and year1 to slay the third part of men4 ,and the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand3 ,i heard the number of them4 ,and thus ,i saw on the horses in the vision1 and those1 who sat on them1 having red1 blue and yellow breast-plates3 and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions2 and fire1 and smoke1 and brimstone issued from their mouths4 ,by these three plagues the third part of men was killed2 by the fire1 and by the smoke1 and by the brimstone1 which issued from their mouths4 ,for the power of the horses is in their mouth1 and in their tails3 for their tails having heads were like serpents1 and they injure with them4 ,and the rest of the men1 who were not killed by these plagues1 yet repented not of the works of their hands1 that they should not worship demons1 and idols of gold1 and silver1 and brass1 and stone1 and of wood3 which can neither see1 nor hear1 nor walk2 nor did they repent of their murders1 nor of their sorceries1 nor of their fornication1 nor of their thefts40--,rev4 #i3ac-ba4 ,the great river1 the ,euphrates1--waters being a symbol of people1 7#ag3ae7--must symbolize those who sustain a relation to the ,roman hierarchy1 as its defenders and supporters2 analogous to that sustained by the river ,euphrates to the city of ,babylon2 which was situated on1 and drew its wealth and support from it4 ,the angels bound near the ,euphrates1 must then be those powers1 which1 approaching and attacking the ,roman ,empire1 were restrained from effecting its conquest and enforcing the profession of ,mohammedanism4 ,their being loosed1 signifies the removal of those restraints4 ,mr4 ,lord suggests that they symbolize leaders of the four armies of the ,tartars1 which successively overran the surrounding provinces4 ,he says3 8,the first horde were the ,seljukians1 who invaded the ,eastern empire about the middle of the eleventh century1 under ,togrul ,beg4 ,he suddenly overran1 with myriads of cavalry1 the frontier1 from ,taurus to ,arzeroum1 and spread it with blood and devastation4 ,alp ,arslan1 his successor1 soon renewed the invasion1 conquered ,armenia and ,georgia1 penetrated into ,cappadocia and ,phrygia1 and scattered detachments over the whole of lesser ,asia4 ,his troops being subsequently driven back1 he renewed the war1 and recovered those provinces4 ,his descendants1 and others of the race1 soon after extended their conquests1 and established the kingdoms in the east of ,persia and ,syria1 and ,roum1 in lesser ,asia1 which they maintained through many generations1 and made their sway a scorpion scourge to the idolatrous inhabitants4 ,the ,christians were allowed the exercise of their religion on the conditions of tribute and servitude1 but were compelled to endure the scorn of the victors1 to submit to the abuse of their priests and bishops1 and to witness the apostasy of their brethren1 the compulsory circumcision of many thousands of their children1 and the subjection of many thousands to a debasing and hopeless slavery4 8,the second army was that of the ,moguls1 who1 in the thirteenth century1 after the conquest of ,persia1 passed the ,euphrates1 plundered and devastated ,syria1 subdued ,armenia1 ,iconium1 and ,anatolia1 and extinguished the ,seljukian dynasty4 ,another army advancing to the west1 devastated the country on both sides of the ,danube1 ,thrace1 ,bulgaria1 ,servia1 ,bosnia1 ,hungary1 ,austria1 and spread them with the ruins of their cities and churches1 and the bones of their inhabitants4 ,this horde had been prepared for this invasion by vast conquests in the ,east4 8,the third were the ,ottomans1 who in the beginning of the fourteenth century conquered ,bithynia1 ,lydia1 ,ionia1 ,thrace1 ,bulgaria1 ,servia1 and in the following century ,constantinople itself1 and have maintained their empire to the present time4 ,they were released from restraint on the one hand by the decay of the ,mogul ,khans1 to whom they had been subject1 and on the other by the dissensions and weakness of the ,greeks4 8,the last was that of the ,moguls under ,tamerlane1 who in the beginning of the fifteenth century overran ,georgia1 ,syria1 and ,anatolia1 and spread them with slaughter and desolation4 ,he also had been prepared for this incursion by his previous victories and conquests40--,ex4 ,apoc41 pp4 #bbe1 #bbf4 ,these armies1 the number of which is literally 8myriads of myriads10 were not all subsequent to the time when they had power to subject the ,eastern ,roman empire2 but may be the four1 from the fact that the ,mohammedan power was extended by these armies1 which till this time had been restrained from accomplishing the subjugation of ,constantinople4 ,the restraints being removed1 they were now to have power to kill1 by compelling the third part of men to embrace the doctrines of ,mohammed1--evident reference being had to the men of the eastern empire2 the conquest of which was now to be effected1 the dial of heaven having indicated the arrival of the predicted epoch4 ,in #addi ,constantine ,deacoses1 being entitled to the throne of ,constantinople by the death of ,john ,paleologus1 did not venture to take possession till he had sent ambassadors and gained the consent of ,amurath1 the ,turkish ,sultan4 ,from this fact1 ,ducas1 the historian1 counts ,paleologus as the last ,greek emperor--for he did not consider as such1 a prince who did not dare to reign without permission of his enemy4 ,amurath died and was succeeded in the empire1 in #adea1 by ,,mahomet ,,ii41 who set his heart on ,constantinople1 and made preparations for besieging the city4 ,the siege commenced on the #fth of ,april1 #adec1 and ended in the taking of the city1 and death of the last of the ,constantines1 on the #afth of ,may following1 when the eastern city of the ,csars became the seat of the ,ottoman empire2 and its 8religion was trampled in the dust by the ,moslem conquerors40 ,thus the two-horned beast 7#ac3aa71 became merged in1 and identified with the false prophet1 #af3ac1 and #ai3bj4 ,the description of the horses1 and those who sat on them 7v4 #ag71 is strikingly emblematic of the ,turkish warriors who subjugated ,constantinople4 ,says ,dr4 ,keith3 8,the breast-plates of the horsemen1 in reference to the more destructive implements of war1 might then1 for the first time1 be said to be fire1 and jacinth1 and brimstone4 ,the musket had recently supplied the place of the bow4 ,fire emanated from their breasts4 ,brimstone1 the flame of which is jacinth1 was an ingredient both of the liquid fire and of gunpowder4444 ,a new mode of warfare was at that time introduced1 which has changed the nature of war itself1 in regard to the form of its instrument of destruction2 and sounds and sights unheard of and unknown before1 were the death-knell and doom of the ,roman empire4 ,invention outrivalled force1 and a new power was introduced1 that of musketry as well as of artillery1 in the art of war1 before which the old ,macedonian phalanx would not have remained unbroken1 nor the ,roman legions stood4 ,that which ,,john saw #8in the vision1' is read in the history of the times40 ,by these three1 the fire1 smoke1 and brimstone1 were the third part of men killed 7v4 #ah71 and by these was the conquest of ,constantinople effected4 ,says ,gibbon3 8,at the request of ,mahomet ,,ii41 ,urban produced a piece of brass ordnance of stupendous and almost incredible magnitude4 ,a measure of twelve palms was assigned to the bore1 and the stone bullet weighed about six hundred pounds4 ,a vacant place before the new palace was chosen for the first experiment2 but to prevent the sudden and mischievous effects of astonishment and fear1 a proclamation was issued that the cannon would be discharged the ensuing day4 ,the explosion was felt or heard in a circuit of a hundred furlongs2 the ball1 by the force of the gunpowder1 was driven about a mile1 and on the spot where it fell1 it buried itself a fathom deep in the ground4 ,for the conveyance of this destructive engine1 a frame or carriage of thirty wagons was linked together1 and drawn along by a train of sixty oxen2 two hundred men1 on both sides1 were stationed to poise or support the rolling weight2 two hundred and fifty workmen marched before to smooth the way and repair the bridges1 and near two months were employed in a laborious journey of a hundred and fifty miles4 8,in the siege1 the incessant volleys of lances and arrows were accompanied with the smoke1 the sound1 and the fire of their musketry and cannon4 ,their small arms discharged at the same time five or even ten balls of lead of the size of a walnut1 and according to the closeness of the ranks1 and the force of the powder1 several breast-plates and bodies were transpierced by the same shot4 ,but the ,turkish approaches were soon sunk into trenches1 or covered with ruins4 ,each day added to the science of the ,christians1 but their inadequate stock of gunpowder was wasted in the operation of each day4 ,their ordnance was not powerful either in size or number1 and if they possessed some heavy cannon1 they feared to plant them on the walls1 lest the aged structure should be shaken and overthrown by the explosion4 ,the same destructive secret had been revealed to the ,moslems1 by whom it was employed with the superior energy of zeal1 riches1 and despotism4 ,the great cannon of ,,mahomet was flanked by two fellows almost of equal magnitude3 the long order of the ,turkish artillery was pointed against the walls3 fourteen batteries thundered at once on the most accessible places1 and of one of these it is ambiguously expressed that it was mounted with one hundred and thirty guns1 or that it discharged one hundred and thirty bullets40 ,the conquest of ,constantinople being accomplished1 they were to have power to kill men during an hour1 day1 month1 and year of prophetic time--i4e4 three hundred and ninety-one years1 fifteen days4 ,if reckoned from the conquest of the city1 this would extend to ,june #ahdd4 ,whether any particular act has transpired to mark the precise point of its termination1 may not be important2 but it is interesting to consider that within a few years the ,mohammedan government has formally granted permission for the full enjoyment of the ,protestant religion2 and has renounced the right of punishing by death1 apostates from ,islamism4 ,in ,august #ahdc1 an ,armenian1 who had become a ,mussulman and subsequently returned to the religion of his fathers1 was beheaded at ,constantinople4 ,the ,christian powers of ,europe immediately remonstrated1 and it was hoped that the law against apostates from ,mohammedanism would be permitted to become a dead letter4 ,in a few months1 however1 a firman issued from the government ordering the decapitation of a young man near ,brooza1 who was put to death for having promised in a passion1 but had afterwards refused1 to become a ,mohammedan4 ,lord ,aberdeen1 the ,british ,secretary of ,foreign ,affairs1 then demanded of the ,turkish ,sultan that the ,porte should not insult and trample on ,christianity1 8by treating as a criminal any person who embraces it20 but should 8renounce1 absolutely and without equivocation1 the barbarous practice which has called forth the remonstrance now addressed to it40 ,to this communication the following answer was made early in #ahdd3 8,the ,sublime ,porte engages to take effectual measures to prevent1 henceforward1 the execution and putting to death of the ,christian who is an apostate40 ,on the #aeth of ,november1 #ahdg1 for the first time1 a firman was issued recognizing ,protestant ,christians as a distinct community1 forbidding any molestation or interference 8in their temporal or spiritual concerns10 and permitting them 8to exercise the profession of their creed in security40 ,this coming from the ,vizier1 did not necessarily survive a change of ministry2 but in ,november1 #ahej1 a firman was issued from the ,sultan himself1 establishing the policy of the empire in respect to ,protestants1 and confirming them in all needed civil and religious privileges4 ,thus has the ,mohammedan government formally and forever renounced the power it had so long wielded1 of causing spiritual death by compelling men to apostatize from ,christianity4 ,the rest of the men not killed1 must be those in portions of the ,roman territory not included in the eastern third4 ,the ,roman ,catholics in the western parts1 were not reformed by the judgments inflicted on the east4 ,they continued to worship the canonized dead1 and to bow down to images of the saints4 ,under this trumpet1 a mighty movement was to be there effected1 which was symbolized by the descent of3 ,the ,rainbow ,angel4 8,and ,i saw another mighty angel descending from heaven1 clothed with a cloud3 and the rainbow was over his head1 and his face was like the sun1 and his feet like pillars of fire2 and he had in his hand a little book opened3 and he set his right foot on the sea1 and his left foot on the land4 ,and shouted with a loud voice1 as a lion roareth3 and when he shouted1 seven thunders uttered their voices4 ,and when the seven thunders had uttered their voices1 ,i was about to write3 and ,i heard a voice from heaven saying1 ,seal up those things1 which the seven thunders uttered1 and write them not4 ,and the angel1 whom ,i saw standing on the sea and on the land1 raised his hand to heaven1 and swore by him who liveth for ever and ever1 who created heaven1 and the things in it1 and the earth1 and the things in it1 and the sea1 and the things in it1 that the time should not yet be2 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel1 when he will sound1 the secret of ,god will be finished1 as he hath announced to his servants the prophets4 ,and the voice1 which ,i heard from heaven1 spoke with me again1 and said1 ,go1 take the little book1 which is opened in the hand of the angel1 who standeth on the sea and on the land4 ,and ,i went away to the angel1 and said to him1 ,give me the little book4 ,and he said to me1 ,take1 and eat it up2 and it will make thy stomach bitter1 but in thy mouth1 it will be sweet as honey4 ,and ,i took the little book from the angel's hand1 and ate it up2 and it was in my mouth sweet as honey3 and when ,i had eaten it my stomach was bitter4 ,and he said to me1 ,thou must prophesy again concerning many people1 and nations1 and tongues1 and kings40--,rev4 #aj3a-aa4 ,this angel1 like those in corresponding passages1 must symbolize a body of men1 whose importance is indicated by the might and splendor of the symbol4 ,his descent from heaven1 the cloud1 the rainbow1 the sun-like face1 and the fire-like feet of the ,mighty ,messenger1 attest the heaven-inspired origin of his utterances4 ,his 8eyes as a flame of fire1 and his feet like unto fine brass1 as if they burned in a furnace10 would not be given to one who came to announce other than heaven-inspired truths4 ,the open book in the hand of the angel1 fixes the chronology of the fulfilment of this vision at an epoch when the ,scriptures cease to be a closed and sealed book1 and the people are permitted to have free access to them4 ,his position--one foot resting on the sea1 and one on the land--attests the universality of the movement which is to date from that epoch4 ,his lion voice1 must symbolize the manner in which would be announced the great truths1 at which the whole world would be startled4 ,the singleness of his cry1 is also symbolic of the simplicity of the truth1 which is never symbolized by discordant multitudinous sounds4 ,the responsive thunders1 unlike the single voice of the angel1 are multitudinous and discordant2 and consequently symbolize errors4 ,their following so immediately on the shout of the angel1 shows the proximity of their promulgation to the utterance of the truths to which they are responsive4 ,,john',s readiness to write what the seven thunders uttered1 shows that what they uttered was professedly in harmony with the truths previously announced1 and that men would be liable to be deceived1 by their promulgation4 ,his being forbidden by the cloud-robed angel1 to write what they uttered--while he was commanded to 8seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book0 7#bb3aj71--shows that their utterances were not heaven-inspired1 and constituted no part of 8the word of ,,god1 and of the testimony of ,,jesus ,,christ10 which ,,john bare record of4 ,the subsequent oath of the angel1 by ,him who liveth forever1 that 8the time is not yet10 shows that those thunders1 however erroneous in their form manner and connection with other errors1 had respect to some great event foretold in ,scripture2 but which the thunders had antedated and presented in an unscriptural form4 ,his further announcement that it would be fulfilled under the sounding of the 8seventh trumpet10 and that then the mystery of ,,god should be finished in the manner foretold to his servants the prophets1 shows that the great event1 the time of which was 8not yet10--i4e41 under the sixth trumpet1 was the coming of the kingdom of ,,god--the fifth universal empire2 that at a period anterior to the time when it might rationally be expected1 it would be proclaimed in a form repugnant to the teachings of the prophets2 and that when thus heralded1 it would be met by the party uttering the heaven-inspired truths1 with the denial that the time had arrived1 and by arguments to show its true nature and epoch1 under the seventh trumpet4 ,the command to take and eat the little book1 shows that its contents were such as the soul might feed on2 which should be sweet to the believer's taste1 but would subject him to bitter persecution4 ,and the announcement that they were to prophesy again before many nations and peoples and tongues and kings1 marks this as the commencement of an era when the ,gospel should again begin to go forth into distant lands4 ,all of the above particulars harmonize in the time of the reformation of ,,luther in the sixteenth century1 and with no other epoch4 ,the great truths then promulgated1 of which 8justification by faith0 was the cardinal one1 electrified the whole world1 as the loud roaring of a lion would startle the passer-by4 ,these were immediately responded to by the multitudinous errors of the ,anabaptists and others1 who thought to set up the kingdom of ,,god in this world1 and before the resurrection1 by putting to death the ungodly and sparing only the saints4 ,as in all efforts for good ,satan is careful to attempt a counterfeit1 or to mingle impure elements to the injury of the truth1 so in the ,reformation there were false reformers4 ,,thomas ,,munzer1 and others1 in #aebe1 incited vast numbers on the borders of the ,danube to make physical war on the ,papal ecclesiastics4 ,he denounced ,,luther1 also1 with the same violence that he did the ,pope4 ,in his mad attempt to slay the ungodly1 he took possession of ,muhlhausen1 appointed a new city council1 pillaged the houses of the rich1 proclaimed a community of goods1 and committed various excesses2 but they were finally defeated in a pitched battle1 with a loss of from five thousand to seven thousand killed4 ,others succeeded him1 teaching that ,,god spake to them in person1 instructing them how to act4 ,they professed the most extravagant doctrines1 setting aside both ,,luther and the ,bible4 ,the former did not go near far enough for them2 and the latter was in their view insufficient for man's instruction1 who could only be taught of ,god4 ,they taught that the world was to be immediately devastated2 and no priest or ungodly person be left alive2 and that then the kingdom of ,,god would commence1 and the saints possess the earth4 ,those who adhered to ,,luther1 united with him in bearing a faithful testimony against such extravagances1 adhered to the written word1 denounced new revelations1 and showed from the ,bible that ,antichrist was to be overthrown by the personal advent of ,,christ1 and not by the sword of man4 ,the following extracts are from ,,mr4 ,,lord3 8,the pretences of the ,anabaptists to inspiration were in like manner denounced by ,melancthon4 #8,the ,anabaptists1 infatuated by the devil1 have boasted a new species of sanctity1 as though they had left the earth1 and ascended to the skies2 and given out1 moreover1 that they enjoy extraordinary inspiration4 ,but as the pretence was hypocritical1 and designed merely to subserve appetite and ambition1 they soon plunged into debauchery1 and then excited seditions1 and undertook to establish a ,new ,jerusalem1 as other enthusiasts have often attempted4 ,a like tragedy was formerly acted at ,pepuza in ,phrygia1 which fanatical prophets denominated the new ,jerusalem4' 8,he also refuted by the ,scriptures1 the expectation of the ,anabaptists of the immediate establishment of ,christ's millennial kingdom4 ,he regarded the term ,antichrist as denoting both the ,mohammedan empire and the ,papacy1 and held that they were not to be overthrown till the time of the resurrection of the dead1 and that a considerable period was to pass before that event4 #8,god showed to ,daniel a series of monarchies and kingdoms1 which it is certain has already run to the end4 ,four monarchies have passed away4 ,the cruel kingdom of the ,turks1 which arose out of the fourth1 still remains1 and as it is not to equal the ,roman in power1 and has certainly1 therefore1 already nearly reached its height1 must soon decline1 and then will dawn the day in which the dead shall be recalled to life4' ,he then repeats the saying ascribed to ,elias1 that six thousand years were to pass before the advent of ,christ2 two thousand before the law1 two under the law1 and two under the gospel2 and proceeds to show that four hundred and fifty-eight years were1 therefore1 to intervene before the advent of the ,redeemer1 the destruction of ,antichrist1 and the establishment of the kingdom of the saints4 #8,it is known that ,christ was born about the end of the fourth millenary17#a7 and one thousand five hundred and forty-two years have since revolved4 ,we are not1 therefore in #aedb1 far from the end4' 8,these views corresponding so conspicuously with the symbol1 continued to be repeated by a crowd of writers1 till at the distance of sixty-seven years from the death of ,melancthon1 the celebrated ,joseph ,mede published his #8,clavis ,apocalyptica1' in which he showed from the coincidence of the periods of the wild beast and the witnesses1 that the advent of the ,redeemer1 and the destruction of the anti-,christian powers were not to be expected until twelve hundred and sixty years had passed from the rise of the ten kingdoms1 and that near one hundred of them1 therefore1 were still to revolve4 ,as that period expired and the knowledge of the prophecy advanced1 the catastrophe of the wild beast was referred to a later time4 ,many recent expositors regard the twelve hundred and sixty years as having reached their end in #agib2 and most refer the fall of the anti-,christian powers to the last half of the present1 or the beginning of the next century40--,ex4 of ,apoc41 pp4 #bch-bdj4 ,all the vagaries of the various sects of heretics were connected with an expectation of the immediate establishment of ,,christ',s kingdom4 ,that the seven thunders gave utterance to such an expectation1 is evident from the response of the angel1 when he lifted up his hand to heaven and with the solemnity of an oath1 by ,him who liveth forever1 affirmed that 8the time should not yet be20 but that 8in the days of the voice of the seventh angel1 when he delays to sound17#b7 the secret of ,,god will be finished1 as he hath announced to his servants the prophets40 ,why such an annunciation at this stage of the vision8 ,it must be to correct a misapprehension which would exist at a corresponding time in its fulfilment1 respecting the immediate appearance of the kingdom4 ,thus did ,,paul correct the ,thessalonian brethren1 when he wrote to them in his second epistle not to be shaken in mind1 as that the day of the ,,lord was then impending1 #b ,th4 #b3b4 ,the ,bible1 was1 at this epoch1 first opened to the common people4 ,before1 it was only found in languages which they were entirely ignorant of4 ,it was translated by ,,luther into their own language1 and thus made accessible4 ,the art of printing1 discovered at about that time1 enabled all who wished1 to avail themselves of its unsealed contents4 ,they feasted on the words of inspiration1 which were sweeter to them than honey1 or the honey-comb4 ,but afterwards1 they had to endure bitterness for the sake of the ,gospel4 ,divisions and subdivisions followed1 parties multiplied1 and heresies abounded1 accompanied with bitter and mischievous discussions1 and fierce and rancorous contentions4 ,these being based on the understanding which the several parties attached to portions of scripture1 were fitly symbolized by the bitterness that followed the eating of the book4 ,at this time1 also1 was revived a system of religious teachings which has gone forth into many lands4 ,the rerganization of the church at this epoch1 is next symbolized4 ,the ,measuring ,reed1 ,temple1 c4 8,and there was given me a measuring reed like a rod1 and it was said1 ,arise1 and measure the temple of ,god1 7and the altar17 and those who worship in it4 ,but the court which is without the temple1 leave out1 and measure it not2 for it is given to the ,gentiles3 and they will tread the holy city under foot forty-two months40--,rev4 #aa3a1 #b4 ,these symbols are evidently taken from the temple and altar of ,jewish worship1 and represent corresponding analogies under the ,christian dispensation4 ,to measure anything1 is to examine and take notice of its parts and proportions2 and that by which it is measured1 is the standard or rule to which it should conform4 ,the temple1 is a proper symbol of the church of ,god2 which is 8built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets1 ,jesus ,christ himself being the ,chief ,corner ,stone1 in whom all the building1 fitly framed together1 groweth unto a holy temple in the ,lord10 ,eph4 #b3bj1 #ba4 ,at the epoch of the ,reformation1 the nominal church was subjected to the scrutiny of the word of ,god2 and its pretensions were measured by the scriptural rule4 ,the reformers found the ,man of ,sin1 8as ,god sitting in the temple of ,god10 7#b ,thess4 #b3d72 and they had to re-model their church relationship1 in accordance with the pattern presented in the ,new ,testament4 ,this involved the consideration of what constituted the church1--its organization1 its ministry1 its sacraments1 and its membership1--their mutual relation to ,god1 and to each other4 ,the altar1 must symbolize the sacrifice and atonement of ,christ1--the 8altar whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle10 ,heb4 #ac3aj4 ,the great question1 of justification by faith in the death of ,christ1 was the rallying cry of the ,reformation4 ,the fundamental principles of ,christian truth were then unfolded anew1 and the doctrines of the ,papacy1 including the sacrifice of the mass1 were rejected as contrary to ,bible teachings4 ,the worshippers in the temple1 who were to be measured by the same rule1 are ,christians4 ,all who were to be recognized as such1 were to give evidence of conformity to the ,bible standard4 ,regeneration by the ,holy ,ghost1 was held by the reformers to be necessary to church membership4 ,the ,papists required only baptism and confirmation4 ,the court without the temple1 was that to which the ,gentiles had access1 and beyond which their entrance was prohibited4 ,devout foreigners were there permitted to pay their devotions to the ,god of heaven4 ,as the ,gentiles must symbolize those who are not ,christians1 the occupants of the outer court1 must be the congregation--the nominal worshippers who throng the outer courts of the ,lord1 in distinction from the true worshippers4 ,such were to have free and unrestricted access to the places of ,christian worship4 ,the holy city is that in which the temple is situated1 and must embrace the church as a whole1 subjected to ,gentile rule4 ,its being trodden under foot1 indicates that the civil polity under which the church would subsist1 should1 during the period specified1 be under the control of those who worship only in the outer court4 ,the forty and two months1 is a period of time1 corresponding with the thousand two hundred and three score days of the verse following1 the time and times and half a time of ,rev4 #ab3ad1 and the corresponding periods of ,rev4 #ab3f2 #ac3e2 ,dan4 #g3be2 and #ab3g2 symbolizing a period of twelve hundred and sixty years1 according to the almost unanimous opinion of ,protestant writers4 ,this period does not commence with this epoch1 but began with the subjection of ,christianity to the power of the civil arm1 which was to continue during the time predicted1--notwithstanding the redjustment of the temple-worship1--when ,christians should cease to be responsible to any human tribunal for the orthodoxy of their faith4 ,during the same period1 also1 power to prophesy1 though shrouded in sackcloth1 was to be given to3 ,christ's ,two ,witnesses4 8,and ,i will give charge to my two witnesses1 and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days1 clothed in sackcloth4 ,these are the two olive-trees1 and the two lamp-stands1 standing before the ,lord of the earth4 ,and if any one wisheth to injure them1 fire proceedeth from their mouth1 and devoureth their enemies3 and if anyone wisheth to injure them1 he must thus be killed4 ,these have power to shut heaven1 that it may not rain in the days of their prophecy3 and they have power over the waters to turn them to blood1 and to smite the earth with every plague1 as often as they wish4 ,and when they shall have finished their testimony1 the wild beast that ascendeth out of the abyss will make war with them1 and will overcome them1 and kill them4 ,and their dead body will lie on the wide street of the great city1 which is spiritually called ,sodom and ,egypt1 where also their ,lord was crucified4 ,and those of the people1 and tribes1 and tongues1 and nations1 will see their dead body three days and a half1 and will not allow their dead body to be put into a tomb4 ,and those1 who dwell on the earth1 will rejoice over them1 and exult1 and send gifts to each other2 because these two prophets tormented those1 who dwell on the earth4 ,and after the three days and a half the ,spirit of life from ,god entered them1 and they stood on their feet2 and great fear fell on those1 who saw them4 ,and they heard a great voice from heaven1 saying to them1 ,ascend here6 ,and they ascended into heaven in a cloud2 and their enemies saw them4 ,and in that hour there was a great earthquake1 and the tenth part of the city fell1 and in the earthquake seven thousand names of men were slain3 and the remnant became terrified1 and gave glory to the ,god of heaven4 ,the second woe is past away2 behold1 the third woe cometh quickly40--,rev4 #aa3c-ad4 ,the two witnesses are not symbolically exhibited1 but are referred to by an elliptical metaphor1 and are explained to be the 8two olive-trees1 and the two candlesticks40 ,therefore1 they are not two living men1 as some suppose1 shown to ,john in vision1 symbolizing analogous agents2 but their nature is to be determined by a consideration of the olive-trees and candlesticks which symbolize them4 ,candlesticks symbolize churches4 ,thus the ,saviour said to ,john3 8,the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches10 #a3bj4 ,when 8men light a candle10 they put 8it on a candlestick1 and it giveth light unto all that are in the house10 ,matt4 #e3ae4 ,the candlestick does not originate1 but sustains the light in a position to be seen and exert a beneficial influence4 ,it is thus that the church is said to be 8the light of the world10 and is required to let her light 8shine before men10 ,ib4 vs4 #ad-af1--;i4e4 ,she is to disseminate the light committed to her2 and in so doing1 she becomes a witness for ,jesus4 ,the church comprises all the holy persons who have lived on earth1 and is symbolized by two candlesticks1 corresponding to the two dispensations of its existence4 ,those who lived under the former dispensation1 are called 8a great cloud of witnesses10 ,heb4 #ab3a4 ,of ,christ1 8give all the prophets witness10 ,acts #aj3dc4 ,they constitute the voice of the church in that age4 ,under the gospel dispensation1 also1 ,christ had chosen witnesses of himself4 ,he said to his disciples1 8,ye shall be witnesses unto me1 both in ,jerusalem and in all ,judea1 and in ,samaria1 and unto the uttermost parts of the earth10 7,ib4 #a3h72 and they said1 8,we are his witnesses10 ,ib4 #e3cb4 8,we are witnesses of all things which he did1 444 witnesses chosen before of ,god10 7,ib4 #aj3ci-da72--8;his witnesses unto the people10 ,ib4 #ac3ca4 ,they and their successors have 8testified and preached the word of the ,lord10 7,ib4 #h3be71 overcoming 8by the word of their testimony10 7,rev4 #ab3aa71--many of them being 8slain for the word of ,god1 and for the testimony which they held10 #f3i4 ,the church1 one in all ages1 symbolized by the two candlesticks1 is thus a witness of ,jesus4 ,the two olive-trees1 symbolize the other witness1 which must sustain a relation to the church1 analogous to that sustained by the olive-trees to the candlesticks4 ,the declaration1 that the witnesses are the two olive-trees and candlesticks1 implies the existence of some previous symbolization1 where those objects and their relation to each other are presented4 ,and the connection shows clearly that reference is made to the vision1 wherein ,zechariah beheld 8a candlestick all of gold1 with a bowl upon the top of it1 and his seven lamps thereon1 and seven pipes to the seven lamps1 which are upon the top thereof2 and two olive-trees by it1 one upon the right side of the bowl1 and the other upon the left side thereof10 ,zech4 #d3b1 #c4 ,the relation which the olive-trees sustain to the candlestick1 is shown by the questions of the prophet3 8,what are these1 my ,lord80 7,ib4 v4 #d72 8,what are these two olive-trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof8 ,what be these two olive-branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves80 ,ib4 vs4 #aa1 #ab4 ,the office of the olive-trees1 was to supply the candlestick with oil which alone enabled them to give light4 ,the oil of the olive-tree1 was burned before the ,lord continually4 ,the light committed to the church1 is the truth of ,god's word4 ,and thus the angel explains the meaning of the olive-trees3 8,this is the word of the ,lord unto ,zerubbabel10 7,ib4 v4 #f72 8,these are the two anointed ones mar1 sons of oil1 that stand by the ,lord of the whole earth10 ,ib4 v4 #ad4 ,and this expression1 corresponding with that in ,rev4 #aa3d1 shows that this vision of ,zechariah is the one referred to1 and that it is explanatory of the witnesses4 ,the ,scriptures1 as well as the church1 testify of ,christ3 8,search the ,scriptures10 said the ,saviour1 speaking of those then written2 8they are they which testify or bear witness of me10 7,john #e3ci72 and of the ,new ,testament1 he said3 8,this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations10 ,matt4 #bd3d4 ,like two olive-trees supplying the candlesticks with oil1 the ,scriptures of the ,old1 and of the ,new ,testament give light to the church1 and testify of ,christ4 ,they stand on either side of him1--the one beginning with the creation and pointing to a ,messiah to come1 testifying of him by types and shadows2 and the other looking back to the death and resurrection of ,christ1 and cheering the heart of the believer by the evidence of his second coming at the end of the world4 ,thus stood within the oracle of the temple the two cherubim1 which ,solomon made 8of olive-tree10 and whose wings met over the ark of the covenant3 8,he set the cherubim within the inner house1 and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubim1 so that the wing of the one touched the one wall1 and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall2 and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house10 #a ,kings #f1 #bg4 ,thus symbolized1 the ,scriptures and the church are ,christ's two witnesses4 ,to prophesy1 is to make known the truths of ,god4 ,thus1 at the epoch of the ,reformation1 they were to prophesy again before many peoples1 and nations1 and tongues and kings1 #aj3aa4 ,it was to enable the witnesses to do this1 that the necessary power was to be given them4 ,sackcloth1 is a symbol of humiliation and sorrow2 and the witnesses being thus clothed1 indicates that during the time specified1 they should be in a despised and oppressed condition4 ,the one thousand two hundred and sixty days1 symbolize years4 ,god said to ,israel1 after the evil report of the twelve spies3 8,your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years 444 after the number of the days which ye searched the land10 ,num4 #ad3cc1 #cd4 ,and to ,ezekiel1 8,this shall be a sign to the house of ,israel3 ,lie thou upon thy left side1 and lay the iniquity of the house of ,israel upon it1 444 for ,i have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity1 according to the number of the days1 three hundred and ninety days4444 ,and when thou hast accomplished them1 lie again on thy right side1 and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of ,judah forty days3 ,i have appointed thee each day for a year10 ,ezek4 #d3c-f4 ,this period of one thousand two hundred and sixty years1 is not the whole time in which the witnesses prophesy1 but marks the duration of their prophesying in sackcloth4 ,it commenced when the light of the ,bible began to be obscured by the secondary place which was accorded to it in the estimation of the ,papal church1 and the living witnesses were no longer permitted to preach the gospel in its purity4 ,in ,a4 ,d4 #ecc1 the ,emperor ,justinian1 wrote a letter to the ,pope declaring him to be 8the head of all the holy churches10 and subjecting to his control 8all the priests of the whole ,east40 ,by the edicts and mandates of ,justinian1 who was master of the ,roman world1 the supremacy of the ,pope received the fullest sanction2 and the highest authorities among the civilians and annalists of ,rome1 refer to these as evidence of the right of the ,pope to the title of 8,universal ,bishop10 and date it from ,a4 ,d4 #ecc4 p4 #bjj4 ,with this supremacy1 the power of the ,papacy commenced4 ,the ,bible was permitted only in a dead language1 and the faithful ,christian was obliged to seek refuge in the wilderness4 ,false doctrines obscuring the ,bible1 and persecuting enactments oppressing the church1 clothed the witnesses in sackcloth2 and thus only did they testify1 till the power of the papacy was broken4 ,fire proceeded out of their mouth1 when they made known the fiery judgments predicted in the ,scriptures against all their enemies4 ,and they shut heaven1 smite with plagues1 turn water to blood1 c41 when1 in accordance with the inspired record1 are fulfilled the predictions which1 in various places1 are thus symbolized4--,see ,rev4 #ae3f2 #af3d1 c4 ,the finishing of their testimony1 refers to the termination of the sackcloth period1--twelve hundred and sixty years from ,a4 ,d4 #ecc2 i4e4 in #agic1--;if the former date is correct4 ,the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit1 is that on which1 in a subsequent vision1 the woman is seated1 #ag3g1 #h4 ,john saw this beast arise out of the sea1 7#ac3a72 and the subsequent exposition given of it1 will show that it symbolized the civil power of the ,roman empire in its divided form4--,see p4 #afi4 ,as the ten kingdoms constitute the beast1 what is done by any of these kingdoms1 is done by the beast4 ,france was one of the more prominent of these kingdoms1 and at one period1 under ,napoleon1 controlled the greater portion of the whole4 ,to war against the witnesses1 is to oppose1 resist1 and endeavor to crush them2 and to overcome them1 is to be successful in such efforts4 ,to kill1 when used symbolically and applied to ,christians1 is to cause them to apostatize--producing spiritual death1 #i3e4 ,when applied to the ,scriptures1 it can only denote their prohibition4 ,the great city1 as shown in connection with ,rev4 #af3ai1 p4 #bij1 is the ,roman hierarchy3--symbolized by ,babylon1 and 8spiritually called ,sodom and ,egypt40 ,by being thus 8spiritually called ,sodom10 some understand that it is a 8spiritual ,sodom10 c41 which would be a contradiction of terms2 others understand that it is called figuratively by those names1 and deduce from it an argument for spiritualizing the ,scriptures2 but the use of the word 8spiritually10 it is believed1 will not sanction any such meaning4 ,it occurs only in two other passages3--in ,rom4 #h3g1 to be 8spiritually minded10 is to have a mind in accordance with the will of the ,spirit2 and in #a ,cor4 #b3ad1 things 8spiritually discerned10 signifies that they are discerned by the aid of the ,spirit4 ,the great city1 then1 is called by the ,spirit1 8,sodom and ,egypt20 and is so called because of her licentiousness and idolatries1 and her subjecting the saints to bondage4 ,to crucify the ,lord afresh1 is to apostatize from his teachings1 ,heb4 #f3f4 ,in #agic1 twelve hundred and sixty years from the date of the ,papal supremacy1 the ,bible was abolished in ,france1 by the solemn decree of the government1 which declared that the nation acknowledged no ,god4 ,a copy of the ,bible could not be found in a single bookstore in ,paris4 ,inquiry also was made for it in ,rome1 in all the book establishments of that city1 and the invariable reply was1 that it was prohibited4 ,all the churches of ,paris were shut1 and the church plate was declared the property of the nation4 ,professors of religion1 at the same time1 in large numbers openly apostatized and embraced infidelity4 ,says ,dr4 ,croley3-- 8,on the #ast of ,november1 #agic1 ,gobet1 with the republican priests of ,paris1 had thrown off the gown and abjured religion4 ,on the #aath1 a #8grand festival1' dedicated to #8,reason and ,truth1' was celebrated instead of divine service in the ancient cathedral of ,notre ,dame1 which had been desecrated1 and been named1 #8the ,temple of ,reason2' a pyramid was erected in the centre of the church1 surmounted by a temple1 inscribed1 #8,to ,philosophy4' ,the torch of #8,truth' was on the altar of #8,reason1' spreading light1 c4 ,the ,national ,convention1 and all the authorities1 attended at this burlesque and insulting ceremony4 ,in ,february1 #agid1 a grand fte was ordered by the convention1 in which hymns to ,liberty were chanted1 and a pageant in honor of the abolition of slavery in the colonies1 was displayed in the #8,temple of ,reason4' ,in ,june another festival was ordered--to the ,supreme ,being3 the ,god of ,philosophy4 ,but the most superb exhibition was the #8general festival1' in honor of the republic4 ,it was distinguished by a more audacious spirit of scoffing and profanation than the former4 ,robespierre acted the #8high-priest of ,reason' on the day1 and made himself conspicuous in blasphemy4 ,he was then at the summit of power1--actual sovereign of ,france40 ,the dead bodies of the witnesses1 would be their existence in that prohibited condition1 when1 in ,france1 neither the ,scriptures1 nor the church showed any symptoms of life4 ,in the street1 would be the conspicuous and public manner in which indignities should be heaped on them4 ,france had been one of the principal states yielding homage to the ,roman church4 ,surrounding nations beheld1 but would not permit the extermination of the ,bible and ,christianity4 ,the ,french made merry over their blasphemous work4 ,says ,dr4 ,croley3-- 8,a very remarkable and prophetic distinction of this period1 was the spirit of frenzied festivity which seized upon ,france4 ,the capital1 and all the republican towns1 were the scene of civic feasts1 processions1 and shows of the most extravagant kind4 ,the most festive times of peace under the most expensive kings were thrown into the shade by the frequency1 variety1 and extent of the republican exhibitions4 ,yet this was a time of perpetual miseries throughout ,france4 ,the guillotine was bloody from morn till night4 ,in the single month of ,july1 #agid1 nearly eight hundred persons1 the majority1 principal individuals of the state1 and all possessing some respectability of situation1 were guillotined in ,paris alone4 ,in the midst of this horror1 there were twenty-six theatres open1 filled with the most profane and profligate displays in honor of the #8triumph of reason4' 0 ,in ,lyons a ,bible was tied to the tail of an ass and dragged in a procession through the streets of that city4 ,thus they rejoiced over the supposed end of religion in ,france2 and congratulated themselves that the terrors of ,god's word1 and the church would no more torment them4 8,after three days and a half10 would be that number of years from the suppression of ,christianity in ,november1 #agic4 ,on the #agth day of ,june1 #agig1 three and a half years from the abolition of the ,bible and religious worship1 ,,camille ,,jourdan1 in the ,council of ,five ,hundred1 brought up the memorable report on the ,revision of the ,laws ,relative to ,religious ,worship1 by which ,france gave permission to all citizens to buy or hire edifices for the free exercise of it2 repealing all opposing laws1 and subjecting those to a heavy fine who should in any way impede or interrupt any religious service4 ,the ,bible and the church again stood erect1 to the dismay of all who had rejoiced over their overthrow4 ,those two witnesses were again in a position to resume their testimony4 ,they were not only to be thus restored1 but were to be elevated far above their former position4 ,since that epoch1 have been made all those great efforts to evangelize the world1 by means of missionary1 tract1 ,bible1 and other benevolent societies1 which have caused the ,scriptures to be translated into nearly all known languages1 and carried by the living preacher to the ends of the earth4 ,the very room in which ,voltaire uttered his famous prediction--that 8the time would arrive when the ,bible would be regarded only in the light of an old curiosity10--is now used for a ,bible depository1 and is 8piled to the ceiling with that rare old book40 ,copies of the ,bible have been multiplied a million fold1 and scattered broadcast over the earth4 ,the other witness1--the church1 has since then1 also1 been greatly magnified4 ,in this age of missions and ,bibles1 the number of believers has been greatly multiplied2 and missionaries have penetrated all lands4 ,the last half-century has been distinguished for its wonderful revivals2 and the servants of the cross have 8prophesied or testified again before many peoples1 and nations1 and tongues1 and kings10 #aj3aa4 ,the same hour1 is the time of the slaughter of the witnesses4 ,its epoch was to be marked by a great political revolution1 which1 in the ,apocalypse1 is symbolized by an earthquake4 ,in the year in which ,christianity was suppressed by ,france1 they beheaded their king1 abolished the monarchy1 and entirely revolutionized the government4 ,in the reign of terror following1 the best blood of the nation was shed like water1 and no man of influence could consider his life secure4 ,men1 women and children were dragged before the revolutionary tribunals1 had their accusations read to them1 and were immediately condemned1 and hurried off in crowds without a trial1 to be shot1 drowned or beheaded4 ,at ,lyons thirty-one thousand persons were thus slain2 at ,nantes thirty-two thousand1--and throughout ,france in proportion4 ,the number thus slain1 has been estimated at over one million1--a number hardly credible1 and which might well be symbolized by seven thousand--a perfect number4 ,well might the remnant be affrighted1 and hasten to give glory to the ,,god of heaven1 by the restoration of that book1 the setting aside of which had involved them in such dire calamities4 ,the tenth of the city which fell1 must be the tenth of the ,roman hierarchy1 which is symbolized by the city4 ,with the suppression of religion1 the ,catholic church was prohibited1 with all others4 ,france was one of the ten kingdoms1 and the overthrow of the church in ,france1 would be the fall of one-tenth of that city4 ,thus passed the second woe--the prelude to the third woe1 which cometh quickly4 ,the ,seventh ,trumpet4 8,and the seventh angel sounded2 and there were loud voices in heaven1 saying1 ,the kingdom of the world hath become the kingdom of our ,lord1 and of his ,anointed2 and he will reign for ever and ever4 ,and the twenty-four elders1 who sat before ,god on their thrones1 fell on their faces1 and worshipped ,god1 saying1 ,we thank thee1 ,o ,lord ,god ,almighty1 who art1 and who wast1 because thou hast taken to thyself thy great power1 and reigned4 ,and the nations were enraged1 and thy wrath is come1 and the season of the dead1 when they should be judged1 and a reward should be given to thy servants the prophets1 and to the saints1 and to those who fear thy name1 small and great2 and when thou shouldest destroy those1 who destroy the earth4 ,and the temple of ,god was opened in heaven1 and the ark of his covenant in his temple appeared1 and there were lightnings1 and voices1 and thunders1 and an earthquake1 and great hail40--,rev4 #aa3ae-ai4 ,the seventh1 like the preceding trumpets1 marks an epoch from which an era dates4 8,the days of the voice of the seventh angel0 7#aj3g71 are indicative of a period of time to follow its sounding1 in which will be fulfilled the events predicted of that era4 ,the voices in heaven1 which immediately follow its sounding1 are prophetic utterances of events then to transpire2 and are distinct from the response of the elders4 ,when ,christ 8shall be revealed from heaven10 he will be accompanied 8with his mighty angels10 #b ,thess4 #a3g4 ,he will descend 8with a shout1 with the voice of the archangel1 and with the trump of ,god10 7#a ,thess4 #d3af72 and the shout is evidently that of the attending angels1 symbolized by those voices1 which will announce the revolution which is to be made in the empire of the earth1 and of the substitution of the kingdom of ,god in the place of human governments4 ,the kingdom here established1 is the long promised consummation1 foretold by prophets1 and anticipated by saints of every age4 ,it is that predicted by ,daniel1 when he says3 8,in the days of these kings shall the ,,god of heaven set up a kingdom1 which shall never be destroyed3 and the kingdom shall not be left to other people1 but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms1 and it shall stand forever40 ,dan4 #b3dd4 ,he also 8saw in the night visions1 and behold1 one like the ,son of ,man came with the clouds of heaven1 and came to the ,ancient of ,days1 and they brought him near before him4 ,and there was given him dominion1 and glory1 and a kingdom1 that all people1 nations1 and languages1 should serve him3 his dominion is an everlasting dominion1 which shall not pass away1 and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed4444 ,and the kingdom and dominion1 and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven1 shall be given to the people of the saints of the ,most ,high1 whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom1 and all dominions shall serve and obey him40 ,ib4 #g3ac1 #ad1 #bg4 ,it is that referred to in the simple petition1 8,thy kingdom come0 7,matt4 #f3aj71 which was to be the great object of our prayer till the final consummation2 which the disciples thought was to appear immediately1 when they journeyed towards1 and were nigh to1 ,jerusalem1 and which misapprehension the ,saviour corrected by the parable of a nobleman going into a far country to receive for himself kingly authority1 and to return1 ,luke #bj3ab4 ,it is that respecting which they inquired1 as the ,,saviour was about to be taken from them1 if he would at that time restore it to ,israel1 7,acts #a3f72 and to which the apostle refers1 when he declares to ,,timothy that the ,lord ,,jesus ,,christ will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and kingdom1 #b ,tim4 #d3a4 8,thy kingdom come6 ,thus1 day by day ,we lift our hands to ,god and pray2 ,but who has ever duly weighed ,the meaning of the words he said80 ,this kingdom is to be an eternal kingdom3 8,he will reign for ever and ever40 ,this is in accordance with the declaration in ,daniel1 that 8the saints of the ,most ,high shall take the kingdom1 and possess the kingdom forever1 even for ever and ever10 ,dan4 #g3ah4 ,to its eternity ,nathan testifies when he says to ,david1 8,thy house and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee3 thy throne shall be established forever10 #b ,sam4 #g3af4 ,though this was spoken to ,david1 it was to be fulfilled in ,christ2 for we read in ,luke 7#a3cb1 #cc71 8,he shall be great1 and shall be called the ,son of the ,highest3 and the ,lord ,god shall give unto him the throne of his father ,david3 and he shall reign over the house of ,jacob forever2 and of his kingdom there shall be no end40 ,it is predicted in ,isaiah1 that 8,unto us a child is born1 unto us a son is given1 and the government shall be upon his shoulder2 and his name shall be called ,wonderful1 ,counsellor1 the ,mighty ,god1 the ,everlasting ,father1 the ,prince of ,peace4 ,of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end2 upon the throne of ,david1 and upon his kingdom1 to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice1 from henceforth1 even forever10 ,isa4 #i3f1 #g4 ,to the ,son the ,father saith1 8,thy throne1 ,o ,god1 is for ever and ever10 7,heb4 #a3h72 and the blood-washed throng ascribe to him 8glory and dominion for ever and ever10 #a3e1 #f4 8,thy kingdom come6 ,o day of joy1 ,when praise shall every tongue employ2 ,when hate and strife and war shall cease1 ,and man with man shall be at peace4 ,jesus shall reign on ,zion's hill1 ,and all the earth with glory fill2 ,his word shall ,paradise restore1 ,and sin and death afflict no more4 ,god's holy will shall then be done ,by all who live beneath the sun2 ,for saints shall then as angels be1 ,all changed to immortality40 ,the four-and-twenty elders1--symbolizing those who are redeemed 8out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation10 #e3h1 #i1--;at the establishment of the kingdom1 are to be made 8kings and priests10 and are to 8reign on the earth10 #e3aj4 ,they are 8saints of the ,most ,high10 who are to 8take the kingdom10 and possess it 8forever40 ,with the announcement of its establishment1 they immediately respond with glad hosannas1 which spontaneously and unitedly burst forth from the enraptured hosts of the ransomed ones1 as they find themselves clothed upon with immortality1 and in the joyful presence of their ,lord4 ,they are raised from the dead at this epoch2 or are among the living who will then be translated1 as says the apostle3 8,behold ,i show you a mystery2 we shall not all sleep1 but we shall all be changed1 in a moment1 in the twinkling of an eye1 at the last trump10--the last of the seven2--8for the trumpet shall sound1 and the dead shall be raised incorruptible1 and we shall be changed40 ,the nations who are angry1 will be the nations out from whom the righteous are taken1 and who are left to the recompense of their reward2--8when the ,lord ,jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels1 in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not ,god and obey not the gospel of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ3 who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the ,lord1 and from the glory of his power2 when he shall come to be glorified in his saints1 and to be admired in all them that believe10 #b ,thess4 #a3g-aj4 ,the heathen had raged1 and the people imagined a vain thing4 ,the kings of the earth had set themselves1 and the rulers taken counsel against the ,lord1 and against his anointed4 ,now the time of their anger is to end3 the time for the exercise of the wrath of ,jehovah upon them1 has arrived1 and they are filled with fear1 consternation1 and shame4 ,the time has come when the dead are to be avenged1--when those who had been slain for the word of ,god1 and for the testimony which they held1 whose souls under the altar during the fifth seal1 cried with a loud voice1 saying1 8,how long1 ,o ,lord1 holy and true1 dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth80 7#f3aj7 find their expectations answered1 and the destroyers1 or perverters of the earth1 in like manner perverted and destroyed4 ,this winds up the kingdom of ,satan on earth2 his reign terminates1 and his subjects are banished4 ,the absence of all the wicked1 with the transfiguration of all the righteous living and resurrection of the just1 leave for subjects only those who have passed the period of their probation1 and are introduced into the everlasting kingdom of ,god4 ,the opening of the temple in heaven1 and the presentation of the ,ark of the ,covenant1 symbolize the unfolding of the mystery1 in which the administration of ,god may have been shrouded1 making apparent all which may have been inexplicable in his dealings with men2 and rendering evident the verity of his promises to his chosen ones4 ,the voices1 lightnings1 thunders1 earthquake1 and hail1 are appropriate symbols of the plagues which will fall upon the wicked4 ,these are fearfully depicted in the ,scriptures4 ,god says to ,job1 8,hast thou seen the treasures of hail which ,i have reserved against the time of trouble1 against the day of battle and war10 #ch3bb1 #bc4 ,judgment then will be laid 8to the line1 and righteousness to the plummet1 and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies4 ,the ,lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard1 and shall show the lighting down of his arm with the indignation of his anger1 and with the flame of devouring fire1 with scattering1 and tempest1 and hailstones10 ,isa4 #bh3ag4 ,this prepares the way for the purification of the earth as foretold by ,peter 7#b ,pet4 #c3ab1 #ac71 the restitution of all things 7#c3ba71 the new heavens and new earth 7#ba3a71 the descent of the saints 7#ba3b71 and the kingdom of ,god on the earth1 #ba3c4 ,assuming the correctness of the view here given1 how near to the time now present does it seem to fix the consummation6 8,so shall the world go on1 ,to good malignant1 to bad men benign1 ,under her own weight groaning3 till the day ,appear1 of respiration to the just1 ,and vengeance to the wicked2 at return ,of him--thy ,saviour and thy ,lord3 ,last in the clouds from heaven1 to be revealed ,in glory of the ,father1 to dissolve ,satan1 with his perverted world2 then raise ,from the conflagrant mass1 purged and refined1 ,new heavens1 new earth1 ages of endless date1 ,founded in righteousness1 and peace1 and love1 ,to bring forth fruits1 joy1 and eternal bliss40--,milton4 8,the world shall burn1 and from her ashes spring ,new heavens and earth1 wherein the just shall dwell1 ,and after all their tribulations long1 ,see golden days1 fruitful of golden deeds1 ,with joy and love triumphing1 and fair truth40--,ib4 ,the ,woman and ,dragon4 8,and a great sign appeared in heaven3 a woman clothed with the sun1 and the moon was under her feet1 and on her head a crown of twelve stars2 and she1 being with child1 cried1 travailing in birth1 and pained to be delivered4 ,and another sign appeared in heaven3 and behold1 a great red dragon1 having seven heads and ten horns1 and seven diadems on his heads4 ,and his tail dragged the third part of the stars of heaven1 and cast them to the earth3 and the dragon stood before the woman1 who was about to be delivered1 to devour her child as soon as it was born4 ,and she brought forth a male child1 who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron2 and her child was snatched up to ,god1 and to his throne4 ,and the woman fled into the desert1 where she hath a place there prepared of ,god1 that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days40--,rev4 #ab3a-f4 ,with this chapter commences a new series of events1 extending through the entire gospel dispensation2 the former series being terminated by the events of the last trumpet4 ,the heaven1 where these great 8wonders0 are exhibited1 must symbolize the theatre of their fulfilment--the station to be occupied by the agents symbolized1 which must be as conspicuous as heaven is relatively high above the earth4 ,the woman1 according to the use of the symbol in other places1 must be a representative of the church4 ,as the harlot on a scarlet-colored beast 7#ag3c71 is a symbol of a corrupt and apostate church1 so a virtuous woman is a chosen symbol of the true church4 ,the 8,jerusalem which is above is the mother0 of all true ,christians 7,gal4 #d3bf72 she is also 8the bride1 the ,lamb's wife0 7#ba3i72 and 8the remnant of her seed10 are those 8which keep the commandments of ,god1 and have the testimony of ,jesus ,christ10 v4 #ag4 ,her robe of light1 her position above the moon1 and her crown of stars1 indicate her greatness and glory4 ,the epoch symbolized1 as appears from the relative position of the woman and dragon1 is evidently just prior to the first advent of the ,messiah1 when his coming was eagerly anticipated and ardently desired by the church1 and the ,roman power had thereby been excited to jealousy4 ,the church is the same in all ages1 comprising only the true people of ,god2 all of whom will have part in the first resurrection1 #bj3f4 ,the ,jewish church was continued by the breaking off of unbelieving branches1 and the grafting in of believing ,gentiles with believing ,jews1 who alike partake of the root and fatness of the same olive-tree1 ,rom4 #aa3ag4 ,previous to the first advent1 the ,jewish church occupied a high political position1 above that of the inferior officers of state1 and was in the enjoyment of imperial favor4 ,patriarchs and prophets--the messengers of the church--were stars in her crown of rejoicing1 #a3bj4 ,from the utterance of the prediction that the woman's seed should bruise the serpent's head 7,gen4 #c3ae71 the coming of the promised deliverer was the great desire of the church4 ,even ,eve exclaimed1 at the birth of her first-born 7literally71 8,i have gotten the man from the ,lord10 ,gen4 #d3a4 ,for his coming1 8,kings and prophets waited long ,but died without the sight40 ,they 8inquired and searched diligently1 who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you3 searching what1 or what manner of time the spirit of ,christ which was in them did signify1 when it testified beforehand the sufferings of ,christ1 and the glory that should follow10 #a ,pet4 #a3aj1 #aa4 8,many righteous men desired0 to see his day 7,matt4 #ac3ag72 ,abraham rejoiced and was made glad at its prospect1 when in the distant future 7,john1 #h3ef72 and ,hezekiah lamented that because of death he should not see 8the ,lord in the land of the living10 ,isa4 #ch3aa4 ,the seventy weeks indicated to the ,jews the time of 8the ,messiah1 the ,prince10 ,dan4 #i3bf-bg4 ,when these were near their termination1 to the pious and devout ,simeon who was 8waiting for the consolation of ,israel10 it 8was revealed by the ,holy ,ghost1 that he should not see death before he had seen the ,lord's ,christ10 ,luke #b3be1 #bf4 ,and the opinion was so general1 that when the ,baptist preceded him1 8the people were in expectation1 and all men mused in their hearts of ,john1 whether he were the ,christ or no10 ,luke #c3ae4 ,this expectation is testified to by the ,jewish historians ,philo and ,josephus2 and it was that which so troubled ,herod1 when wise men came1 saying1 8,where is he that is born ,king of the ,jews80 ,matt4 #b3a-c4 ,the belief that some remarkable personage was about to appear in ,judea1 was not confined to ,palestine1 but extended to ,egypt1 ,rome1 ,greece1 and wherever the ,jews were scattered abroad4 ,says ,suetonius1 a ,roman historian3 8,an ancient and settled persuasion prevailed throughout the ,east1 that the ,fates had decreed some one to proceed from ,judea1 who should attain universal empire40 ,and ,tacitus1 another ,roman historian1 says3 8,many were persuaded that it was contained in the ancient books of their priests1 that at that very time the ,east should prevail1 and that some one should proceed from ,judea1 and possess the dominion40 ,the great red dragon sustains a relation to the woman1 analogous to that sustained by the nondescript beast 7of ,dan4 #g3g71 to the saints of the ,most ,high2 and his position respecting the man-child is like that of the exceeding great horn 7,dan4 #h3i71 to the ,prince of princes1 ,dan4 #h3be4 ,like the beast referred to1 the dragon has ten horns2 and its characteristics indicate that it also symbolizes the ,roman empire1--8the fourth kingdom upon earth10 ,dan4 #g3bc4 ,the dragon is a monster serpent4 8,that old serpent0 who seduced ,eve 7,gen4 #c3e71 8called the devil0 7,matt4 #d3a-ab71 and 8,satan0 7#b ,cor4 #b3aa71 8who deceiveth the whole world10 is an appropriate representative of ,rome4 ,the 8head0 of a beast1 sustains a relation to the beast analogous to that of the government to the people of an empire4 ,it is that by which the beast is directed and governed4 ,when distinguished from the body of the beast 7,dan4 #g3aa71 according to the analogy1 it must be understood as a symbol of the directing and controlling power1 in the kingdom indicated by the beast4 ,several heads on the same beast1 on this principle1 must indicate the several forms of government to which the nation is subject4 ,as these cannot be contemporary1 like the divisions of a kingdom represented by the horns1 they must be successive4 ,to suppose they represent different governments1 destroys the analogy1 and makes them separate beasts1 instead of heads of the same beast2 and no government can be subject to more than one head at the same time4 ,the 8seven heads0 of the dragon1 then1 symbolize the directing and controlling powers which ruled the ,roman empire1--the seven successive forms of government under which it existed4 ,rome was founded about ,b4 ,c4 #gec1 from small beginnings1 on the summit of ,mount ,palatine1 and gradually increased in extent1 till it spread over seven hills3 the ,palatine1 ,capitoline1 ,aventine1 ,esquiline1 ,clius1 and ,quirinalia2 and its population of about three thousand in the time of ,romulus1 increased to about two millions in the time of ,augustus ,csar4 ,previous to the subversion of the empire1 ,rome existed under different forms of government1 as follows3-- #a4 ,kingly4--,the first government established was a monarchy1 and lasted two hundred and forty-four years1 under seven kings1 viz41 ,romulus1 ,numa1 ,tullus ,hostilius1 ,ancus ,martius1 ,tarquin ,priscus1 ,servius ,tullius1 and ,tarquin the ,proud1 who was afterwards expelled from the throne4 ,this was denominated the infancy of the ,roman empire4 #b4 ,consular4--,in ,b4 ,c4 #eji1 the constitution of ,rome was remodelled1 and the executive power committed to two consuls1 to be elected annually4 ,this commenced the 8,commonwealth of ,rome40 #c4 ,dictatorial4--,the office of dictator was the highest known in ,rome1 and was only resorted to in cases of emergency4 ,he was elected for six months only1 and usually resigned his authority1 which1 for the time1 was nearly absolute1 as soon as he had effected the object for which he was chosen4 #d4 ,decemviral4--,in ,b4 ,c4 #dea1 the government was so changed1 that1 instead of the two consuls1 the government was committed to ten men1 to be chosen annually1 and jointly exercise the sovereign power4 ,after two years the decemvirs were banished1 and the consular government was restored4 #e4 ,tribunitial4--,in ,b4 ,c4 #dbf1 ,rome having become a military state1 military tribunes were substituted for the consular power1 till ,b4 ,c4 #cff1 when the latter was again restored4 #f4 ,pagan ,imperial4--,with the battle of ,actium1 ,b4 ,c4 #ca1 the ,roman ,commonwealth terminated2 and ,augustus ,csar united in his own person not only the offices of ,consul1 ,tribune1 c41 but also that of ,supreme ,pontiff1--the head of the pagan hierarchy4 ,this last office1 says ,gibbon1 8was constantly exercised by the emperors40 ,thus were united the highest civil and ecclesiastical powers of the state4 #g4 ,christian ,imperial4--,in ,a4 ,d4 #cab1 the government was revolutionized1 by the accession of ,constantine to the throne4 ,he effected important changes in the relations of the people to the monarch1 opposed idolatry1 and by the introduction of ,christianity1 effected a political change in the laws and administration of the empire4 ,this continued1 with a slight interruption under ,julian the ,apostate1 till the subversion of the ,western empire1 ,a4 ,d4 #dgf4 ,mr4 ,elliott1 in explanation of the first five heads1 says3 8,i adopt1 with the most entire satisfaction1 that generally-received ,protestant interpretation1 which1 following the authoritative statement of ,livy and ,tacitus 7the latter great historian1 ,st4 ,john's own contemporary71 enumerates kings1 consuls1 dictators1 decemvirs1 and military tribunes1 as the first five constitutional heads of the ,roman city and commonwealth2 then as the sixth1 the ,imperial head1 commencing with ,octavian40--,hor ,apoca41 vol4 ,,iii41 p4 #ajf1 #dth ed4 ,those heads are shown to symbolize seven forms of government1 by the explanation that 8they are seven mountains where the woman sits on them mountains also symbolizing governments1 and are seven kings10 #ag3i1 #aj4 ,and they are shown to be successive1 by the fact that1 when ,john wrote1 the first five had passed away1 one only then existed1--the ,pagan ,imperial1--and the other head was then in the future1 #ag3aj4 ,the 8ten horns0 also symbolize kings1 or dynasties2 but1 unlike the heads1 instead of being successive1 they are contemporaneous4 ,according to the explanation1 they had received no kingdom when ,john wrote1 and were all to exercise power at the same time3 8,the ten horns which thou didst see1 are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom2 but they receive power as kings1 one hour with the wild beast10 #ag3ab4 ,these will be more particularly noticed in connection with the thirteenth chapter1 and there shown to be the ten contemporaneous governments which succeeded to the dominion1 on the subversion of the ,western ,empire4 ,see p4 #afi4 ,the 8seven crowns0 on the heads of the dragon1 indicate that the acts here symbolized1 would be fulfilled during the period when the sovereignty of ,rome should be vested in the forms of government symbolized by the heads1 and not during that symbolized by the horns4 ,the woman appeared in the symbolic heavens anterior to the dragon4 ,prior to the birth of ,christ1 the church was conspicuous and honored4 ,the sacrifices which smoked on ,jewish altars1 were offered to ,jehovah4 ,the subjects of the divine government conducted their service with all the splendor imparted by the ,jewish ritual4 ,royalty was an appendage of the nation3 the sceptre did not depart from ,judah1 nor a law-giver from between his feet1 till ,shiloh came1 ,gen4 #di3aj4 ,by an alliance with the ,romans1 ,b4 ,c4 #ace1 ,rome took its position in the presence of the woman4 ,the first act of the dragon was by a sweep of its tail to draw down one-third of the stars1 and to cast them to the earth4 ,this was before the birth of the man-child4 ,after ,rome attained the supremacy1 ,judea proportionably suffered4 ,her glory was measurably dimmed by many indignities before her subjugation to ,rome was consummated4 ,jerusalem was repeatedly besieged4 ,at one time 7,b4 ,c4 #id7 ,alexander ,jannus slew six thousand persons on account of their meeting in the temple at the feast of tabernacles4 ,in ,b4 ,c4 #fc1 ,judea was conquered by ,pompey1 the ,roman general4 ,in ,b4 ,c4 #ed1 ,crassus plundered the temple of ,jerusalem4 ,in ,b4 ,c4 #cg1 ,jerusalem was taken1 after a siege of six months4 ,various other difficulties occurred between ,judea and ,rome1 previous to the ,saviour's advent1 on account of which she was greatly depressed and humbled1 so that it might with propriety be said that one-third of her stars were cast to the ground4 ,this depression was one great reason why the church within her borders looked so earnestly for a ,deliverer4 ,the ,man-child is the one 8who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron10 according to the prediction of ,christ in the second ,psalm2 which proves its reference to the ,saviour4 ,the purpose of the dragon to destroy the child of the woman as soon as it should be born1 in accordance with the view here taken1 would symbolize the purpose of the ,roman power1 by the agency of ,herod the ,roman governor in ,judea1 to destroy the infant ,saviour4 8,when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together1 he demanded of them where ,christ should be born4 ,and they said unto him1 ,in ,bethlehem1 in ,judea3 for thus it is written by the prophet40 ,and ,herod 8sent forth and slew all the children that were in ,bethlehem1 and in all the coasts thereof1 from two years old and under1 according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men10 ,matt4 #b3a-af4 ,thus ,rome sought to slay the ,saviour as soon as he was born2 but ,joseph took the child and fled into ,egypt4 ,afterwards ,christ was crucified by ,roman soldiers1 and deposited in the tomb1 arising again the third day4 ,his being caught up to ,god and to his throne1 symbolizes his resurrection from the dead1 and ascension from the ,mount of ,olives 7,acts #a3i71 to the right hand of the ,majesty on high2 8whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things10 ,ib4 #c3ba4 ,the flight of the woman into the wilderness1 denotes her descent from the conspicuous position she had occupied1 and the dispersion of the church4 ,with the crucifixion of ,christ1 ,judaism was no longer the casket in which the church was enshrined4 ,it left its place in the moral heavens1 and the followers of ,christ were scattered abroad1 ,acts #h3a-d4 ,thus she virtually fled into the wilderness--into the condition1 where1 subsequently1 she was to be nourished for #abfj prophetic days4 ,it is objected to the application of the man-child to the ,saviour1 that it should be prophetic1 and not retrospective4 ,this objection would be equally valid to the application of the symbolic heads1 against which it is never urged4 ,that which is retrospective1 to be appropriately symbolized1 must be in harmony with1 and explanatory of other parts4 ,thus1 by the man-child and previous travail of the woman1 she is identified1 and her relation to the dragon established4 ,no other subject could fulfil the conditions of the symbol1 for of no other was it predicted3 8,thou art my ,son2 this day have ,i begotten thee4--,ask of me1 and ,i shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance1 and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession4--,thou shalt break them with a rod of iron2 thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel10 ,psa4 #b3h-aj4 ,the ,war in ,heaven4 8,and a war took place in heaven3 ,michael and his angels fought with the dragon21 and the dragon fought and his angels1 and he prevailed not2 nor was their place found any more in heaven4 ,and the great dragon was cast out1 the old serpent1 called the ,devil1 and ,satan1 who deceiveth the whole world3 he was cast out into the earth1 and his angels were cast out with him40--,rev4 #ab3g-i4 ,the churches1--which on the persecution subsequent to the ,pentecostal season were scattered abroad1 and went everywhere preaching the word 7,acts #h3d71--;afterwards had rest1 and were multiplied1 ,ib4 #i3ca4 ,they were thus enabled again to act a conspicuous part1 as symbolized by the contest between ,michael and the dragon4 ,the contest symbolized1 is a religious one2 for the dragon is overcome 8by the word of their testimony10 v4 #aa4 ,michael and his angels1 then1 must symbolize the body of ,christ1--the apostles1 and their successor1 under the guidance of the ,lord1--who constituted an army of religious teachers4 ,with the arrows of truth they assailed the idolatrous combinations of their opponents4 ,under the first seal1 they are represented by a mounted warrior1 with bow and crown1 going forth conquering and to conquer1 #f3b4 ,see p4 #eh4 ,the dragon1 with the appendages of heads1 horns1 and diadems1 was seen to be a symbol of the ,roman government4 ,divested of those1 it would simply represent the ,pagan hierarchy with which the contest was waged4 ,the heathen priests and their adherents1 thus warred with the preachers of ,christianity4 ,its prevailing not1 shows the relative success of the two parties4 ,the struggle continued from the day of ,pentecost till the accession of ,constantine4 ,the church waded through bloody scenes of bitter persecution1 which1 instead of diminishing1 greatly added to her numbers--8the blood of the martyrs0 proving 8the seed of the church40 ,the heathen priests were not deficient in logic1 philosophy1 and artful sophistry1 by which to defend their mythology4 ,they exhausted these1 and then resorted to persecution1 torture1 and death2 yet they prevailed not4 ,with the weapons of truth1 the teachers of ,christianity successfully assailed those antiquated forms of error1--overcoming 8by the blood of the ,lamb1 and by the word of their testimony40 8,they loved not their lives unto the death10 but freely gave themselves for ,christ1 till1 in time1 the current of popular favor ceased to flow in the direction of paganism4 ,the accession of ,constantine to the throne1 put an end to the dragonic period of ,rome2 the ,pagan service gave place to the worship of ,jehovah4 ,the rites of heathenism were no longer the religion of the state1 and its ministers were displaced from the exalted position they had so long occupied4 ,their place was no longer in the symbolic heavens1 but in a less conspicuous station4 ,the casting out of the dragon1 would then be this expulsion of the pagan hierarchy from its national importance1 and the dejection of the priesthood and their adherents to the earth1--below their former high station1--and to the sea1 among the unsettled tribes and nations outside of ,rome4 ,this being a religious and not a political event1 it does not immediately affect ,rome's nationality4 ,that it is not the overthrow of a kingdom1 but of religious rites1 is shown by the rejoicings which followed4 ,rejoicings of the ,victors4 8,and ,i heard a loud voice in heaven1 saying1 ,now is come the salvation and the strength1 and the ,kingdom of or ,god1 and the power of his ,anointed3 for the accuser of our brethren it cast out1 who accused them before our ,god day and night4 ,and they overcame him by the blood of the ,lamb1 and by the word of their testimony2 and they loved not their lives to death4 ,on this account1 rejoice1 ye heavens1 and ye who dwell in them40--,rev4 #ab3aj-ab4 ,the loud voice is heard in the symbolic heaven from which the ,dragon had been cast4 ,by the displacement of the ,pagan hierarchy1 and the substitution of ,christianity under ,constantine1 the adherents of the latter succeeded to the place of the former1 and rejoiced over them4 ,a loud voice symbolizes the utterance of the thoughts and feelings of an interested multitude4 ,the nature of the voice indicates the nature of the utterance--whether it be one of expectation1 fear1 warning1 or instruction4 ,this voice is expressive of the then prevalent expectation1 that1 with the displacement of ,paganism commenced the establishment of the ,kingdom of ,god on earth4 ,this belief was not necessarily well founded2--its existence only being symbolized4 ,on the triumph of ,constantine over ,licinius1 ,eusebius says3--8,there were illuminations everywhere4 ,they who were before dejected looked on one another with joyful aspects and smiles1 and with choirs and hymns through the cities and country1 gave honor first to ,god1 the ,supreme ,ruler of all1 as they were taught1 and then to the pious emperor and his children40 ,says ,mr ,lord3 8,eusebius represents the victors at the precipitation of ,maxentius and his attendants into the ,tiber1 as saying1 like ,moses at the overthrow of the ,egyptians in the ,red ,sea3 #8,let us sing to the ,lord1 for he is signally glorified4 ,horse and rider he has thrown into the sea4 ,the ,lord my helper and defender was with me unto salvation4 ,who1 ,o ,lord1 is like to thee among gods8 ,who is like to thee1 glorified by the holy1 admirable in praise1 doing wonders8 ,constantine entered ,rome in triumph1 hymning these and similar passages to ,god1 the author of the victory4' ,and on the fall of ,licinius he represents the church as uniting in thanksgiving for the deliverance1 and congratulations at the overthrow of idolatry1 and establishment of ,christ's kingdom2 and devotes the tenth book of his history to the edicts of the emperor by which the church was nationalized and endowed1 and to the restoration of the temples1 and the public rejoicings at their dedication4 #8,let thanks be given by all to the ,almighty ,ruler of the universe1 and to ,jesus ,christ1 our ,saviour and ,redeemer1 through whom we pray that peace from external foes may be uninterruptedly preserved to us1 and tranquillity of mind4' 8 #8,let us sing to the ,lord a new song1 for he has done wonderful things4 ,his right hand has saved him and his holy arm4 ,the ,lord has made known his salvation2 he has revealed his righteousness in the presence of the nations4 ,we may now appropriately respond to the inspired command to sing a new song1 inasmuch as after such direful spectacles and narrations we now have the happiness to see and celebrate what many holy men before us and the martyrs for ,god desired to see on earth1 and did not see1 and to hear1 and have not heard4 ,but advancing more rapidly they attained far superior gifts in heaven1 being caught up to the paradise of celestial joy2 while we acknowledge the gifts we enjoy are greater than we deserve1 and contemplate with wonder the largeness of the divine bounty4 ,admiring and adoring with all our souls1 we testify to the truth of the prophet's words1 8,come and see the works of the ,lord1 what wonders he has wrought in the earth1 abolishing wars to the ends of the world4 ,the bow he has broken1 he has dashed the arms1 the shield he has burned in the fire40 ,rejoicing at the manifest fulfilment of these predictions to us1 we go on with our history4' ,he goes on accordingly to represent the whole population1 freed from the domination of the tyrants1 and relieved from oppression1 as acknowledging the only true ,god and protector of the pious1 and these especially who had placed their hope in ,christ1 as filled with inexpressible joy2 the ministers everywhere delivering commemorative addresses1 and the whole multitude offering praises and thanksgiving to ,god4 8,lactantius also3 #8,let us celebrate the triumph of ,god with gladness2 let us commemorate his victory with praise2 let us make mention in our prayers day and night of the peace which1 after ten years of persecution1 he has conferred on his people4' 0--,ex4 of ,apoc41 pp4 #cdc-d4 ,multitudes actually supposed the long-predicted kingdom of ,god was now being established4 ,says ,mr4 ,elliott3 8,can we wonder1 then1 at the exultation that was felt at this time by many1 perhaps by most1 that bore the ,christian name3 or at their high-raised expectations as to the future happy destiny of the ,roman1 now that it had been changed into the ,christian1 nation8 ,it seemed to them as if it had become ,god's covenanted people1 like ,israel of old3 and the expectation was not unnatural1--an expectation strengthened by the remarkable tranquillity which1 throughout the extent of the now renited empire1 followed almost immediately on ,constantine's establishment of ,christianity1--that not only the temporal blessings of the ancient ,jewish covenant would thenceforth in no small measure attach to them1 but even those prophesied of as appertaining to the latter day4 ,hence on the medals of that era the emblem of the phnix1 all radiant with the rising sunbeams1 to represent the empire as now risen into new life and hope1 and its legend which spoke of the happy restoration of the times4 ,hence1 in forgetfulness of all former prognostications of ,antichrist and fearful coming evils1 the reference by some of the most eminent of their bishops to the latter-day blessedness1 as even then about fulfilling4 ,the state of things was such1 ,eusebius tells us1 that it looked like #8the very image of the kingdom of ,christ4' ,the city built by the emperor at ,jerusalem1 beside the new and magnificent ,church of the ,holy ,sepulchre1--the sacred capital1 as it were1 to the new empire1--might be1 perhaps1 he suggested1 the ,new ,jerusalem1 the theme of so many prophecies4 ,yet again1 on occasion of the opening of the new church at ,tyre1 he expressed in the following glowing language1 not his own feelings only1 but those1 we may be sure1 of not a few of the congregated ,christian ministers and people that heard him3 #8,what so many of the ,lord's saints and confessors before our time desired to see1 and saw not1 and to hear1 and heard not1 that behold now before our eyes6 ,it was of us the prophet spake when he told how the wildernesses and solitary places should be glad1 and the desert rejoice and blossom as the lily4 ,whereas the church was widowed and desolate1 her children have now to exclaim to her1 ,make room1 enlarge thy borders6 the place is too strait for us4 ,the promise is fulfilling to her1 ,in righteousness shalt thou be established3 all thy children shall be taught of ,god3 and great shall be the peace of thy children4' 0--,hor ,apoc41 v4 i41 pp4 #bcj-a4 ,they rejoiced over the downfall of the dragon as over 8the ,accuser of our brethren1 who accused them before our ,god day and night40 ,the phrase 8our brethren10 proves that those who unite in this song are the living saints on the earth4 ,the reference to ,satan as an ,accuser bears a close resemblance to ,zech4 #c3a1 where ,joshua1 as a symbol of the people of ,israel1 is represented as standing before the angel of the ,,lord1 and ,satan standing at his right hand to resist him4--8 ,satan signifies an adversary4 lesiteno1 to be his adversary or accuser40--,dr4 ,clark4 ,satan's most common work is to invent false accusations against those whose efforts tend to frustrate his designs4 ,the ,christians had endured false accusations and bitter persecutions1 and therefore rejoiced the more over the defeat of the ,pagans4 ,the ,flight of the ,woman4 8,woe to the inhabitants of the earth1 and of the sea6 for the devil is come to you1 having great wrath1 because he knoweth that he hath but a short season40 8,and when the dragon saw that he was cast out into the earth1 he persecuted the woman1 who brought forth the male child4 ,and two wings of a great eagle were given to the woman1 that she might fly into the desert1 into her place1 where she is nourished for a time1 and times1 and half a time1 from the presence of the serpent4 ,and the serpent cast out of his mouth water like a river1 after the woman1 that he might cause her to be carried away by the river4 ,and the earth helped the woman2 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river1 which the dragon cast out of his mouth4 ,and the dragon was enraged against the woman1 and went away to make war with the remnant of her seed1 that keep the commandments of ,god1 and have the testimony of ,jesus40--,rev4 #ab3ab-ag4 ,the rejoicing of ,christians1 according to this symbolization1 is afterwards followed by renewed triumphs of the ,pagans over them4 ,the hatred of the ,pagan worshippers to ,christianity1 is strikingly evinced2 but it is manifested in a manner different from the former contest4 ,when the church sought only to overcome by 8the blood of the ,lamb1 and by the word of their testimony10 it was owned of ,christ2 but as it became proud and worldly1 and cared more for popular favor than for purity of faith and practice1 the true church which the woman symbolized1 was represented only by those who continued faithful to their profession4 ,historians inform us that with the success of ,constantine1 the visible church became speedily corrupt4 ,as it became popular1 unconverted men sought to be enrolled as members4 ,the ,pagans1 instead of approaching as enemies1 came as professed friends4 ,as a profession of ,christianity was alone necessary for admission to the church1 multitudes sought connection with it4 ,this caused a condition of things1 of which ,dr4 ,milner thus speaks3--8,in the general appearance of the church1 we cannot see much of the spirit of godliness4 ,external piety flourished4 ,but faith1 love1 heavenly-mindedness appear very rare4 ,the doctrine of real conversion was very much lost1 and external baptism placed in its stead3 and the true doctrine of justification by faith1 and true practical use of a crucified ,saviour for troubled consciences were scarcely to be seen at this time4 ,superstition and self-righteousness were making vigorous shoots2 and the real gospel of ,christ was hidden from the men that professed it40 ,to the same effect is the report of ,mosheim3--,of the life and morals of the professing ,christians of the fourth century1 he says3 8,good men were1 as before1 mixed with bad2 but the bad were by degrees so multiplied1 that men truly holy and devoted to ,god appeared more rarely2 and the pious few were almost oppressed by the vicious multitude40 ,of their doctrines he says3 8,fictions1 of early origin0 7about saint veneration and relics1 a purifying fire1 celibacy1 c41 c471 8now so prevailed as in course of time almost to thrust true religion aside1 or at least to exceedingly obscure and tarnish it40 ,says ,mr ,lord3--8,constantine and his successors introduced a flood of false doctrines1 superstitions and idolatries1 into the church1 which were incompatible with a pure worship1 and swept all who yielded to their impulse to the gulf of apostasy4 ,such were the veneration of the cross1 and ascription to it of miraculous powers1 the homage of relics1 the invocation of saints1 the conversion of religion into gorgeous ceremonies1 the encouragement of celibacy1 and the arrogation of the throne and prerogatives of ,god by civil and ecclesiastical rulers4 ,these falsehoods1 follies1 and impieties1 introduced or adopted by the emperors1 encouraged by their example1 sanctioned by their laws1 and enforced by the penalties of excommunication1 imprisonment1 the forfeiture of civil rights1 banishment1 and death1 came armed with an overpowering force to all who were not fortified against them by the special aids of the divine spirit1 and like a resistless torrent bore away the great mass of the church40--,exp4 of ,apoc41 p4 #cej4 ,with the accession of multitudes of unworthy members1 and the prevalence of false doctrines1 the true church would have been speedily overwhelmed had not the people of ,god been sustained from such deleterious influences4 ,to the woman1 therefore1 were given two wings of a great eagle that she might escape4 ,wings are symbolic of power of flight--for succor1 or escape4 ,the four-winged leopard of ,daniel used his speed to approach and demolish the enemy2 the woman1 to escape hers4 ,the church of old was sustained in like manner4 ,thus ,god said to ,israel1 8,ye have seen what ,i did unto the ,egyptians1 and how ,i bare you on eagles' wings1 and brought you to myself40--,ex4 #ai3d4 ,on the introduction of new rites and doctrines into the church1 multitudes withdrew from the public assemblies1 and worshipped apart4 ,they retired from the observation of their rulers and lived secluded for a long period4 ,some may inquire for the historical evidence of the time when such a body withdrew4 ,this1 from the nature of the case1 it may be difficult to give4 ,if the withdrawal of the true worshippers had been an occurrence of so much notoriety as to be prominently historically noticed1 it might have defeated their withdrawal4 ,it is sufficient that the prophecy makes such a withdrawal necessary2 and that at a later period such a body was found existing as predicted4 ,see p4 #aih4 ,says ,mr4 ,lord3 8,her retreat into her place from the face of the serpent1 denotes that the scene of her residence was unknown to the rulers4 ,the anger of the serpent indicates their continued disposition to destroy her1 if in their power2 while its going on to make war with such of her seed as had not retreated to the desert1 denotes that they continued1 after her disappearance1 to persecute the isolated individuals that from time to time dissented from the corrupt church1 and professed the pure faith4 8,as it was by spiritual aids that the true worshippers were enabled to resist the temptations and force by which the rulers endeavored to constrain them to apostasy1 and to fly to the desert1 no specific record of those aids is to be sought on the page of history4 ,the only evidence that we can ask or possess1 that they were conferred1 is presented in the fact that a body of dissentients from the corrupt church were in a latter age found in a secluded scene1 who had survived the endeavors of the rulers of the fourth1 fifth1 sixth1 and following centuries1 to compel all their subjects to conformity1 and who have continued to maintain a separate existence1 and offer an unidolatrous worship to the present time4 8,and such a body were the ,waldenses1 inhabiting the eastern valleys of the ,cottian ,alps4 ,they are known1 from the testimony of cotemporary ,catholics and their own authors1 to have existed there as early as the eleventh century4 ,it was then1 and is now1 claimed by themselves1 and admitted by their enemies1 that they had subsisted there from a much earlier age4 ,these were a ,christian church1 having the ,scriptures of the ,old and ,new ,testaments1 regarding them as a revelation from ,god1 and making them the rule of their faith2 having a ministry of their own1 holding religious assemblies1 professing and teaching the doctrines of the gospel1 and celebrating the sacraments4 8,they were distinguished for the simplicity and purity of their lives4 ,it was asserted by them1 and repeated by the ,catholics1 that they were induced to retreat to the secluded valleys which they inhabit1 to escape the despotism of the rulers and the corruptions and tyranny of the church1 soon after its nationalization by ,constantine4 ,they have continued to subsist there to the present time1 as a separate and evangelical church40--,exp4 ,apoc41 pp4 #cdh1 #cdi1 #cei4 ,says ,mr4 ,elliott3--8,i must not pass on without pressing on the reader's notice this notable pre-figuration of the seclusion of ,christ's church in the wilderness1 as the true and fittest answer to the ,romish anti-,protestant taunt1 #8,where was your religion before ,luther8' ,protestants have not duly1 as it seems to me1 applied the answer here given4 ,for the wilderness-life necessarily1 as ,i must repeat1--and that on ,bossuet's own showing1--implies the invisibility of her who lives in it4 ,and consequently1 instead of the long previous invisibility of a church like the ,lutheran1 or ,anglican ,reformed1 of the sixteenth century1 in respect of doctrine and worship1 being an argument against1 it is an argument for it4 ,the ,romish church1 which never knew the predicted wilderness-life1 could not1 for this very reason1 be the woman of the #abth ,apocalyptic chapter2 that is1 could not be the true church of ,christ4 8,for #abfj prophetic days1 then1 or years1 she was to disappear from men's view in the ,roman world4 ,is it asked how her vitality was preserved8 ,doubtless in her children1 known to ,god1 though for the most part unknown to men2 just like the #gjjj that ,elijah knew not of1 who had not bowed the knee to ,baal2 some1 it might be1 in monasteries1 some in the secular walks of life2 but all alike insulated in spirit from those around them1 and as regards the usual means of grace1 spiritually destitute and desolate2 even as in a barren and dry land1 where no water is4--,besides whom1 some few there were of her children1--some very few1--prepared1 like ,elijah of old1 to act a bolder part1 and stand forth1 under special commission from ,god1 as ,christ's witnesses before ,christendom40--,hor ,apoc41 pp4 #ee-eg4 ,the flood of water cast out after the woman1 is an appropriate symbol of the various tribes which subsequently overran the ,western empire4 ,waters symbolize peoples1 #ag3ae2 and by hordes of barbarian ,huns1 ,goths1 and ,vandals1 ,rome was inundated as by a flood1 in the #eth century2 and in ,a4 ,d4 #dgf its government was entirely subverted4 ,such an irruption of barbarians might be expected to extirpate ,christianity from the earth2 but help came from an unexpected quarter4 ,the woman had retired to her secure retreat1 and the earth swallowed up the flood4 ,those barbarous tribes were absorbed by1 and mixed with1 the previous population of the empire1 and constituted the clay ingredient with the iron1 in the feet of the metallic image4--,dan4 #b3da4 ,they rapidly assimilated to the character and habits of the previous inhabitants2 and ultimately adopted the forms of government and religion which for a time they subverted2 and within the limits of the ,western empire1 in the place of the ,imperial head1 constituted ten contemporary kingdoms4 ,these were a continuation of the former government1 and were symbolized by3 ,the ,ten-,horned ,beast4 8,and ,i was standing on the sand of the sea1 and saw a wild beast ascending out of the sea1 having ten horns and seven heads1 and on his horns ten diadems1 and on his heads names of reviling4 ,and the wild beast1 which ,i saw was like a leopard1 and his feet were like those of a bear1 and his mouth like the mouth of a lion3 and the dragon gave him his power1 and his throne1 and great authority4 ,and ,i saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death2 and his deadly wound was healed3 and all the world admired and followed the beast4 ,and they worshipped the dragon1 for he gave power to the wild beast3 and they worshipped the wild beast1 saying1 ,who is like the wild beast1 and who is able to make war with him80--,rev4 #ah3a-d4 ,the sea1 from which this beast emerged1 is evidently the turbulent state of anarchy1 to which the people of the fourth kingdom had been reduced1 on its subversion4 ,and the beast which came up out of the sea1 represents the forms of government which then arose4 ,its heads and horns synchronize with those of the dragonic monster1 which had preceded it1 and disappeared from the view of the revelator4 ,and they doubtless symbolize the same forms of government4 ,see pp4 #ade-adh4 ,the ten crowns encircling its horns1 indicate that an era is foreshadowed1 when the sovereignty of the kingdom shall have been transferred from the forms of government symbolized by the heads1--which had before been encircled by the crowns1--to that represented by the horns4 ,there is great unanimity among ,protestant writers1 in regarding these as the first ten kingdoms which existed in the western empire arising during the period of its decline1 viz3 #a4 ,the ,huns in ,hungary1 from ,a4 ,d4 #cef4 #b4 ,the ,ostrogoths in ,mysia1 from ,a4 ,d4 #cgg4 ,they invaded ,italy1 and conquered the ,heruli in #dic2 and were defeated in #ech by ,justinian1 when the ,pope was placed in quiet possession of the capital of ,rome4 #c4 ,the ,visigoths in ,pannonia1 from ,a4 ,d4 #cgh to #djh1 when they removed to the south of ,france till #ehe4 ,they then removed to1 and subjugated ,spain4 #d4 ,the ,franks in ,france1 from ,a4 ,d4 #djg4 #e4 ,the ,vandals in ,spain1 from ,a4 ,d4 #djg till #dbg1 when they removed to ,africa1 and continued an independent kingdom till subjugated by ,justinian in #ecc4 #f4 ,the ,suevi and ,alans in ,gascoigne and ,spain1 from #djg till #ehe4 #g4 ,the ,burgundians in ,burgundy1 from ,a4 ,d4 #djg till #ebd1 when they became subject for a time to the ,franks2 but afterwards they arose again to an independent kingdom4 #h4 ,the ,heruli1 who advanced into ,italy under ,attila1 and in #dgf terminated the imperial rule by the dethronement of ,agustulus4 ,they were in turn conquered by the ,ostrogoths in ,a4 ,d4 #dic4 #i4 ,the ,saxons and ,angles in ,britain from about ,a4 ,d4 #dej4 ,and1 #aj4 ,the ,lombards in ,germany1 from ,a4 ,d4 #dhc4 ,the name of blasphemy1 on the heads of this beast1 identifies it as the successor and representative of the persecuting power which sought the life of the ,man-child1 7#ab3d71 and caused the woman to flee to the wilderness1 #ab3ad4 ,its characteristics resemble those of the lion1 bear1 and leopard1 of ,daniel's vision 7,dan4 #g3d-f71 which respectively symbolized the ,babylonian1 ,medo-,persian1 and ,grecian kingdoms4 ,these mark it as their successor--synchronizing with ,daniel's ten-horned nondescript beast1 7,dan4 #g3g72 which was the fourth kingdom that should exist on the earth1 and the ten horns of which1 symbolized the same ten-fold partition of the ,roman empire4 ,his power1 seat1 and great authority being given by the dragon1 is another evidence that it is a continuation of that fourth kingdom succeeding to its sovereignty4 ,the laws of the ancient empire were generally adopted by the ten kingdoms1 which assumed and exercised the prerogatives of ancient ,rome4 ,says ,bossuet3 8,whoever carefully examines the laws of the ,theodosian and ,justinian codes against heretics1 will see that they are the source of the decrees against them1 that the church1 aided by the edicts of princes1 enacted in the third and fourth ,lateran councils40 ,the head1 which was as it were wounded to death1 would indicate that under the government symbolized by that head1 the life of the beast had become apparently extinct4 ,this was the case when the empire was subverted4 ,in the succession of the previous forms of government1 the empire itself was not in any particular peril4 ,they gave place1 each to its successor1 without any subversion of the government4 ,but when the seventh head ceased to exercise sovereignty1 the beast itself was apparently dead4 ,the wound1 however1 did not prove mortal4 ,the beast still lived4 ,its sovereignty was perpetuated by the decemregal governments2 which constituted the eighth form of government--symbolized by the beast that was1 is not1 and yet is again in existence and will continue till the day of perdition1 #ag3aa2 #ai3bj4 ,they worshipped the dragon and beast1 by regarding the latter as a continuation of the former power1 and regarding the sovereign power of ,rome as unparalleled and invincible--as is shown by the questions3 8,who is like unto the beast8 ,who is able to make war with him80 ,those combined governments were regarded by their subjects with wonder and veneration4 ,says ,mr4 ,lord3 8,the serfs and common people1 sunk for ages to the most degraded vassalage1 revered the monarchs1 the various ranks of nobles1 and their armed followers1 as a superior race1 while poets and historians celebrated their warlike exploits1 and philosophers and priests justified their usurpations1 and eulogized the wisdom and benignity of their rule40 ,the ,mouth of the ,beast4 8,and there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and revilings2 and power was given to him to make war forty-two months4 ,and he opened his mouth in reviling against ,god1 to revile his name1 and his tabernacle1 and those who dwell in heaven4 ,and it was given to him to make war with the saints1 and to overcome them3 and power was given him over every tribe1 and people1 and tongue1 and nation4 ,and all1 who dwell on the earth1 will worship him1 whose names are not written in the book of life of the slain ,lamb1 from the foundation of the world4 ,if any one hath an ear1 let him hear4 ,if any one leadeth into captivity1 he will go into captivity3 if any one killeth by the sword1 he must be killed with the sword4 ,here is the patience and the faith of the saints40--,rev4 #ac3e-aj4 ,the mouth of the beast1 must symbolize the agency by which utterance is given to the great things and blasphemies which are spoken by it4 ,its likeness to the mouth of the lion1 shows its resemblance to the ,babylonian worship of the dead4 ,moses was 8not eloquent10--he was 8slow of speech and of a slow tongue10 and the ,lord said to him1 ,aaron 8shall be thy spokesman unto the people3 and he shall be1 even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth10 ,ex4 #d3aj1 #af4 ,as ,aaron was a mouth to ,moses1 so did the ,papacy become a mouth-piece for the ,roman kingdoms4 ,it was the agency by which the people were taught2 and through which utterance was given to the blasphemies of the beast4 ,it fills a place analogous to that of the image afterwards symbolized1 which also had like power to speak blasphemies4 ,see p4 #ahh4 ,the beast had power to continue to utter blasphemies by the mouth given to it1 forty-two months4 ,this identifies the mouth with that of the 8little horn0 7,dan4 #g3be71 of which it was said1 8,he shall speak great words against the ,most ,high1 and think to change times and laws3 and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time0--i4e4 #abfj prophetic days4 #a4 ,this mouth uttered blasphemy against ,god by claiming to be ,christ's vicegerent--usurping the prerogatives of the ,almighty4 ,the ,pope claimed that he was 8,judge1 as ,god's ,vicar1 and could himself be judged by none40 ,in ,a4 ,d4 #gii1 a ,roman council declined to hear accusations against the ,pope1 declaring that 8he who was ,judge of all men1 was above being judged by any other than himself40 ,febroni wrote of the ,pope3 8,he is the ,prince of princes and ,lord of lords4 ,he is1 as it were1 a ,god on earth4 ,he is above right1 superior to law1 superior to the canons4 ,he can do all things against right1 and without right4 ,he is able to free from obligation in matters of positive right1 without any cause1 and they who are so released are safe in respect to ,god40 ,assuming such prerogatives1 and the power to forgive sins1 the ,holy name of ,god was blasphemed4 #b4 ,he blasphemed the tabernacle of ,god by 8exalting himself above all that is called ,god1 or that is worshipped2 so that he as ,god sitteth in the temple of ,god1 showing himself that he is ,god10 #b ,thess4 #b3b4 ,the ,pope claimed to be the head of the church and that from himself was derived the authority of all bishops and other clergy4 ,he usurped the powers in the church1 which only ,christ1 its ,supreme ,head and ,lawgiver can exercise4 #c4 ,those in heaven were blasphemed1 by the ascription to them of the attributes and prerogatives of ,god2 and by representing them as being well pleased with the bestowal on them of divine honors4 ,saint-worship by the ,papists and demon-worship by the ,pagans are alike4 ,they both ascribe the same attributes to the spirits of the departed1--all the gods of the heathen being the ghosts of their departed heroes4 ,a revival of this blasphemy1 is subsequently symbolized by the frog-like spirits which emerge from the mouths of the beast1 the dragon1 and false prophet1 #af3ac1--see p4 #bee4 ,in connection with and in obedience to this mouth1 the beast warred with the saints1 and overcame them4 ,dissenters from the ,papacy were subjected to unheard of cruelties and persecutions4 ,and they whose names were not written in the book of life1 sustained their rulers in these oppressive acts4 ,in paying more deference to the edicts of government than to the requirements of ,jehovah1 they blasphemously bestowed on the beast an homage which was due only to ,god4 ,the revelator being shown what was to be endured by the saints during a long period of oppression1 now receives an annunciation to which all were to listen1--all who had ears to hear4 ,it was the announcement1 that 8if any one leadeth into captivity1 he will go into captivity3 if any one killeth with the sword1 he must be killed with the sword40 ,most commentators have considered this as applicable to the fate of the wild beast1--that its end was to be effected by the sword and captivity1 as it had in the same way tyrannized over the saints4 ,mr4 ,lord offers some reasons for supposing that it was a caution to the saints not to resist with the sword the attacks of enemies1 nor to retaliate by making captives of the subjects of the beast who should fall into their power4 ,he says3 8,the prediction that he who led into captivity should himself become a captive1 and he that slew with the sword be himself slain1 had a signal fulfilment in the slaughter and vassalage of all those who attempted to deliver themselves by force from the religious tyranny of the ,european monarchs4 8,the ,albigenses were nearly exterminated by the cruel armies against which they attempted to defend themselves1 and the small number that remained after the devastation of their fields1 the conflagration of their cities1 and the promiscuous slaughters to which they were subjected1 were either forced to conform to the ,catholic church1 or driven into other lands4 ,the ,waldenses perished in far greater numbers by the sword1 in their struggles for preservation and freedom1 than by the fires of martyrdom2 and sunk1 after their contests1 to a still more hopeless vassalage to their persecutors4 ,the resort to the sword by the ,bohemians and the ,huguenots of ,france1 to defend their religious freedom1 resulted1 after vast slaughters1 in their defeat and helpless subjection to the tyranny from which they endeavored to extricate themselves4 ,and the ,protestants of ,switzerland1 ,germany1 ,holland1 ,denmark1 ,sweden1 and ,great ,britain1 who succeeded in delivering themselves from the dominion of their ancient tyrants1 instead of securing thereby their religious liberty1 only placed themselves1 by the nationalization of their churches1 under the tyranny of ,protestant rulers in place of ,catholics40--,exp4 of ,apoc4 p4 #chd4 ,in this was to be exhibited the patience and faith of the saints1 who1 amid all their persecutions1 made a wonderful manifestation of these4 ,of the many thousands put to death1 or subjected to satanic cruelties for their faith1 only a very few apostatized4 ,says ,mr4 ,lord3 8,of those who1 under the insupportable agonies and distraction of the scourge and the rack1 recanted1 or promised a recantation1 a large proportion immediately on being released from the sufferings which had overcome them1 abjured their retractions1 re-professed with redoubled energy the faith of ,christ1 and met without faltering the hideous death to which they were immediately hurried4 ,such is their uniform history in whatever age they fell1 or to whatever nation or rank they belonged40--,exp4 of ,apoc41 p4 #che4 ,if there was no other evidence of their constancy1 faith1 and patience1 the horrid instruments of torture which were resorted to to terrify them1 testify to their adherence to their principles1 which required such engines for their subversion4 ,the end of this beast1 will be effected by his being cast alive into the lake of fire and brimstone1 when the ,lord shall make war with him1 #ai3bj4 ,this is also the end of ,daniel's fourth beast1 whose body is to be given to the burning flame 7,dan4 #g3aa71 and of the scarlet-colored beast on which the woman was seated1 which is to go into perdition1 #ag3h4 ,the ,two-,horned ,beast4 8,and ,i saw another wild beast ascending out of the earth1 and he had two horns like a lamb1 and he spoke like a dragon4 ,and he exerciseth all the power of the first wild beast1 in his sight1 and causeth the earth and those1 who dwell in it1 to worship the first wild beast1 whose deadly wound was healed4 ,and he performeth great signs1 so that he causeth fire to come down from heaven into the earth in the sight of men4 ,and he deceiveth those1 who dwell on the earth1 by means of the signs which it was given him to perform in the sight of the wild beast2 saying to those1 who dwell on the earth1 that they should make an image to the wild beast1 that had the wound by a sword1 and did live40--,rev4 #ac3aa-ad4 ,the coming up of another beast must symbolize the rise of another government4 ,as the two-horned beast exercises its power before 77 i4e4 in the presence1 of the first beast1 it is a contemporary power1 and must necessarily symbolize a kingdom outside of the territory of the ten-horned beast4 ,within that territory it would be one of the horns of that beast2 but a separate beast requires a separate territory4 ,as it arises out of the earth1 while it is outside of the territory occupied by the ten kingdoms1 it must exist within that occupied by the former ,roman empire1 and commence its existence during a period of settled government4 ,all the forms of ,roman government symbolized by the dragon1 were also symbolized by the wild beast2 and as the deadly wound of the former was healed in the latter1 the two constitute one beast4 ,as that is called the 8first beast10 the rise of the kingdom symbolized by the two-horned beast must have been subsequent to the commencement of the ,roman empire4 ,and as it caused those who dwell on the earth to worship that beast after its deadly wound was healed1 it must have arisen anterior to the healing of that wound2 and1 consequently1 before the succession of the ten kingdoms to the sovereignty of ,rome1 with which it held an intimate relation4 ,the only kingdom which has arisen within the geographical locality1 and at the epoch required by these conditions of the symbol1 is the ,eastern ,roman empire2 which1 consequently1 is the government represented by the two-horned beast4 ,the imperial heads of ,rome date from the battle of ,actium1 ,b4 ,c4 #ca2 but the ,eastern empire was not commenced1 till ,a4 ,d4 #cbd1 when ,constantine removed the seat of empire from ,rome to ,constantinople4 ,rome was1 previous to that removal1 the undisputed queen of nations1 and ,constantine was without a rival4 ,why he should abandon ,rome1 the citadel and throne of the ,csars1 for an obscure corner of ,thrace1 has never been satisfactorily explained4 ,says ,dr4 ,croly3 8,the change of government to ,constantinople still perplexes the historian4 ,it was an act in direct repugnance to the whole course of the ancient prejudices40 ,the indifference with which ,constantine viewed the country of the ,csars1 was regarded by ,gibbon as the cause of removal4 ,he transferred the customs and forms of the ,roman government1 and there exercised all the powers of the empire1--the ,italians still obeying the edicts which he condescended to address from ,constantinople to the ,senate and people of ,rome4 ,the western division continued dependent on the eastern head1 till the death of ,theodosius1 ,a4 ,d4 #cie4 ,his two sons1 ,arcadius and ,honorius1 8were saluted by the unanimous consent of mankind1 as the lawful emperors of the ,east1 and of the ,west10--the ,european boundary being 8not very different from that which separates the ,germans from the ,turks40--,gibbon1 v4 #b1 p4 #aii4 ,gibbon calls this 8the final and permanent division of the ,roman empire40 ,but its existence as a beast more properly dates from the removal of ,constantine4 ,its two horns like a lamb1 must symbolize two divisions of the kingdom4 ,these may be contemporary1 like those symbolized by the ten horns 7#ag3ab71 or successive1 like the two horns of the ram1 ,dan4 #h3c1 #bj4 ,from the history of the ,eastern empire1 the latter is the more probable2 and its historical resemblance to the government symbolized by the ram1 may be the reason of the comparison to 8horns like a lamb40 ,as ,persia was a government outside of ,media1 and succeeded to its sovereignty1 so did the kingdom of the ,turks originate outside of the ,eastern empire1 and at length come in1 occupy its territory1 and succeed to its sovereignty1 ,a4 ,d4 #abec4 ,with this view1 the horns would symbolize the kings of ,eastern ,rome and of ,turkey4 ,see pp4 #ii-ajd4 ,its dragon-like speech shows it to be a blasphemous1 persecuting power1 like that which persecuted the woman1 #ab3ag4 ,though the ,greek empire claimed to be ,christian1 a successor of ,constantine1 ,julian the ,apostate1 renounced ,christianity1 endeavored to restore the ,pagan service in ,constantinople1 and 8declared himself the implacable enemy of ,christ40 ,he assumed the character of ,supreme ,pontiff1 and thus placed himself at the head of the ,pagan worship4 ,he labored incessantly to restore and propagate those dragonic rites1 and even thought to disprove the predictions of ,christ by rebuilding the temple of ,jerusalem4 8,he affected to pity the unhappy ,christians1 as mistaken in the most important object of their lives2 but his pity was degraded by contempt1 his contempt was embittered by hatred2 and the sentiments of ,julian were expressed in a style of sarcastic wit which inflicts a deep and deadly wound whenever it issues from the mouth of a sovereign40 ,and he intimated that they might have occasion 8to dread1 not only confiscation and exile1 but fire and the sword40--,gibbon4 ,the successors of ,julian1 though ,christian in name1 issued cruel and tyrannical edicts4 ,valens embraced ,arianism1 and bitterly persecuted the ,orthodox party4 ,justinian established ,catholicism by arms4 ,theodosius proscribed ,paganism by the infliction of severe penalties4 ,marcian and ,leo 8enforced1 with arms and edicts1 the symbols of their faith10 and it was declared that 8the decrees of the synod of ,chalcedon might be lawfully supported1 even with blood40 ,and after the accession of the ,mohammedan power1 religious intolerance towards dissenting creeds was still more rigidly enforced4 ,the ,eastern empire exercised all the power of the ,western4 ,the original organization of its government was the same1 and it had the same titles and prerogatives4 ,gibbon says of ,julian3 8,the spirit of his administration1 and his regard for the place of his nativity1 induced him to confer on the senate of ,constantinople the same honors1 privileges1 and authority which were still enjoyed by the senate of ancient ,rome40 ,it caused worship to be bestowed on the first beast1 by extending to the ,latin rulers that aid which enabled them to perpetuate their system of tyranny1 to legislate over the laws and subjects of ,jehovah1 and to claim the obedience which only ,god can demand4 ,the arms of ,justinian1 both in the ,east and ,west1 caused the ,roman name to be respected1 and its favor sought for4 ,the wonders to be performed by it1 may be as yet involved in some obscurity4 ,but by these it is identified as the power which afterwards became the seat of the ,false ,prophet4 ,when the 8beast0 is taken1 8the false prophet that wrought miracles before him1 with which he deceived them that had the mark of the beast1 and them that worshipped his image10 is cast with him 8into a lake of fire burning with brimstone10 #ai3bj4 ,this identifies the two-horned beast as the ,mohammedan kingdom4 ,it also proves that the ,romanic ,turkish government will continue till the ,second ,advent4 ,among the wonders it would perform1 making fire come down from heaven is specified4 ,john does not intimate that he saw1 in vision1 fire thus descend4 ,the fact is spoken of2 and therefore it is not necessarily symbolic1 but may refer to literal fire4 ,gibbon1 in speaking of 8the novelty1 the terrors1 and the real efficacy of the ,greek fire10 for which the ,eastern empire was so famous1 says3 8,the important secret of compounding and directing this artificial flame was imparted by ,callinicus1 a native of ,heliopolis1 in ,syria1 who deserted from the service of the caliph to that of the emperor4 ,the skill of a chemist and engineer was equivalent to the succor of fleets and armies2 and this discovery or improvement of the military art was fortunately reserved for the distressful period1 when the degenerate ,romans of the ,east were incapable of contending with the warlike enthusiasm and youthful vigor of the ,saracens4 ,the historian who presumes to analyze this extraordinary composition1 should suspect his own ignorance and that of his ,byzantine guides1 so prone to the marvellous1 so careless1 and1 in this instance1 so jealous of the truth4 ,from their obscure1 and perhaps fallacious hints1 it should seem that the principal ingredient of the ,greek fire was the naphtha1 or liquid bitumen1 a light1 tenacious1 and inflammable oil1 which springs from the earth1 and catches fire as soon as it comes in contact with the air4 ,the naphtha was mingled1 ,i know not by what methods1 or in what proportions1 with sulphur1 and with the pitch that is extracted from evergreen firs4 ,from this mixture1 which produced a thick smoke and a loud explosion1 proceeded a fierce and obstinate flame1 which not only rose in perpendicular ascent1 but likewise burned with equal vehemence in descent or lateral progress2 instead of being extinguished1 it was nourished and quickened by the element of water2 and sand1 urine1 or vinegar1 were the only remedies that could damp the fury of this powerful agent1 which was justly denominated by the ,greeks1 the liquid1 or maritime fire4 ,for the annoyance of the enemy1 it was employed with equal effect by sea and land1 in battles or in sieges4 ,it was either poured from the rampart in large boilers1 or launched in red-hot balls of stone and iron1 or darted in arrows and javelins1 twisted round with flax and tow1 which had deeply imbibed the inflammable oil2 sometimes it was deposited in fire-ships1 the victims and instruments of a more ample revenge1 and was most commonly blown through long tubes of copper1 which were planted on the prow of a galley1 and fancifully shaped into the mouths of savage monsters1 that seemed to vomit a stream of liquid and consuming fire4 ,this important art was preserved at ,constantinople1 as the palladium of the state2 the galleys and artillery might occasionally be lent to the allies of ,rome2 but the composition on the ,greek fire was concealed with the most jealous scruple1 and the terror of the enemies was increased and prolonged by their ignorance and surprise4 ,in the treatise of the administration of the empire1 the royal author suggests the answers and excuses that might best elude the indiscreet curiosity and importunate demands of the barbarians4 ,they should be told that the mystery of the ,greek fire had been revealed by an angel to the first and greatest of the ,constantines1 with a sacred injunction1 that this gift of heaven1 this peculiar blessing of the ,romans should never be communicated to any foreign nation2 that the prince and subject were alike bound to religious silence under the temporal and spiritual penalties of treason and sacrilege2 and that the impious attempt would provoke the sudden and supernatural vengeance of the ,god of the ,christians4 ,by these precautions the secret was confined1 above four hundred years1 to the ,romans of the ,east2 and at the end of the eleventh century1 the ,pisans1 to whom every sea and every art were familiar1 suffered the effects1 without understanding the composition1 of the ,greek fire4 ,it was at length either discovered or stolen by the ,mohammedans2 and1 in the holy wars of ,syria and ,egypt1 they retorted an invention1 contrived against themselves1 on the heads of the ,christians4 ,a knight1 who despised the swords and lances of the ,saracens1 relates1 with heartfelt sincerity1 his own fears and those of his companions1 at the sight and sound of the mischievous engine that discharged a torrent of the ,greek fire1 the feu ,gregeois1 as it is styled by the more early of the ,french writers4 ,it came flying through the air1 says ,joinville1 like a winged long-tailed dragon1 about the thickness of a hogshead1 with the report of thunder1 and the velocity of lightning2 and the darkness of night was dispelled by this deadly illumination40--,hist4 ,rome1 vol4 ,,iii41 pp4 #dfe-dfg4 ,its use is thus described by the same author1 when the ,greeks turned its power against the ,saracens1 at the siege of ,constantinople1 ,a4 ,d4 #gah3 8,the ,greeks would gladly have ransomed their religion and empire1 by a fine or assessment of a piece of gold on the head of each inhabitant of the city2 but the liberal offer was rejected with disdain1 and the presumption of ,moslemah was exalted by the speedy approach and invincible force of the natives of ,egypt and ,syria4 ,they are said to have amounted to eighteen hundred ships3 the number betrays their inconsiderable size2 and of the twenty stout and capacious vessels1 whose magnitude impeded their progress1 each was manned with no more than one hundred heavy-armed soldiers4 ,this huge armada proceeded on a smooth sea and with a gentle gale1 towards the mouth of the ,bosphorus2 the surface of the strait was over-shadowed1 in the language of the ,greeks1 with a moving forest1 and the same fatal night had been fixed by the ,saracen chief for a general assault by sea and land4 ,to allure the confidence of the enemy1 the emperor had thrown aside the chain that usually guarded the entrance of the harbor3 but while they hesitated whether they should seize the opportunity or apprehend the snare1 the ministers of destruction were at hand4 ,the fireships of the ,greeks were launched against them3 the ,arabs1 their arms and vessels1 were involved in the same flames1 the disorderly fugitives were dashed against each other1 or overwhelmed in the waves2 and ,i no longer find a vestige of the fleet1 that had threatened to extirpate the ,roman name40--,ib41 p4 #dfd4 ,it deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by its miracles4 ,this deception resulted in the creation of3 ,the ,image of the ,beast4 8,and it was given to him to give breath to the image of the wild beast1 that the image of the wild beast should even speak1 and to cause1 that as many as would not worship the image of the wild beast1 should be killed4 ,and he causeth all1 the small and the great1 and the rich and the poor1 and the free and the bond1 to receive a mark on their right hand1 or on their forehead4 ,and that no one might buy or sell1 but he1 who had the mark1 the name of the wild beast1 or the number of his name40--,rev4 #ac3ae-ah4 ,this new creation is not another beast1 but the image of one4 ,an image is only the likeness of something4 ,as the beast symbolizes a political power1 its image must symbolize some analogous power of a different nature2 and this likeness can only be found in a religious government4 #a4 ,the beast which received its death-wound 7v4 #ad71 was the form of government to which the image was made1 i4e41 the imperial4 ,of this the ,roman hierarchy was a perfect counterpart4 ,it was an ecclesiastical government1 coxtensive in its authority with the political power of the empire4 ,and1 like the officers of the civil1 there was a regular gradation of rank in the subordinates of the religious government4 ,the head of the former was an emperor1 chosen by an electoral college1--the senators of ,rome47#c7 ,the head of the latter was a ,pope1 chosen in a similar manner by the college of ,cardinals1--the ecclesiastical senators of the religious empire4 ,each of those bodies constituted the highest deliberative and legislative body in its respective government4 ,the empire had its governors of provinces1 appointed by the imperial head2 and the spiritual rule of the church was1 in like manner1 sustained by diocesan bishops who1 in their respective provinces1 were governors in spiritual matters and creatures of the ,pope4 ,subordinate offices in the state and church1 also1 singularly corresponded4 #b4 ,the religious customs of the empire1 as well as its political1 were likewise imitated by the papacy4 ,rome deified her heroes2 the papacy canonized her saints4 ,the ghosts of the departed were the gods of the heathen2 and the papists supplicate the dead4 ,the ,pagans burned incense to their gods2 the ,papists burn incense in their religious ceremonies4 ,the ancient heathen sprinkled themselves with 8holy water20 the ,papists use the same material in a similar manner4 ,lactantius says of the ,pagans1 they 8light up candles to ,god as if he lived in the dark2 and do they not deserve to pass for madmen who offer lamps to the author and giver of light80 ,this custom is imitated by the ,papists in the use of wax candles on their altars4 ,the ancient ,romans prostrated themselves before images of wood and stone2 and ,jerome tells us that 8by idols were to be understood the images of the dead40 ,in ,catholic ,rome1 worshippers prostrated themselves before images of departed saints4 ,the old ,roman ,pantheon1 which was dedicated by ,agrippa 8to ,jove1 and all the gods10 was re-consecrated by ,pope ,boniface ,,iv41 about ,a4 ,d4 #faj1 8to the blessed ,virgin and all the saints40 ,as in the old pagan temple1 any stranger could find the god of his own country2 so in its re-consecrated state1 each country could find its patron saint4 ,other temples were changed and re-consecrated in the same manner4 ,the ancient statue of ,jupiter stands now as the statue of ,st4 ,peter4 ,the pagans had their vestal virgins2 the ,papists their nuns4 ,dr4 ,middleton1 who visited ,rome in #agbi1 says3 8,nothing1 ,i found1 concurred so much with my original intention of conversing with the ancients2 or so much helped my imagination1 to find myself wandering about in old heathen ,rome1 as to observe and attend to their religious worship2 all whose ceremonies appear plainly to have been copied from the rituals of primitive ,paganism3 as if handed down by an uninterrupted succession from the priests of old1 to the priests of new ,rome1 whilst each of them readily explained1 and called to mind some passages of a classic author1 where the same ceremony was described1 as transacted in the same form and manner1 and in the same place where ,i now saw it executed before my eyes40--,dowl4 ,hist4 of ,rom41 p4 #aad4 ,says ,mr4 ,lord3 8,after a struggle of more than four centuries1 the ecclesiastics of all the hierarchies in the empire were united in one vast organization1 with the pontiff as their supreme legislative and judicial head1 and a single ecclesiastical government was established over the whole ,roman church1 after the model of the civil government of the ancient empire under ,constantine and his successors4 ,it is1 accordingly1 denominated by ,catholics themselves a monarchy4 #8,all ,catholic doctors agree in this1 that the ecclesiastical government committed to men by ,god is a monarchy4'--,bellarmini de ,rom4 ,pont41 lib4 i41 c4 v4 ,bellarmine devotes his first book #8of the ,pontiff' to prove that such is and ought to be its government4 #8,if the monarchical is the best form of government1 as we have shown1 and it is certain that the church of ,god instituted by ,christ its head1 who is supremely wise1 ought to be governed in the best manner1 who can deny that its rule ought to be monarchical8'--,ib41 i41 c4 ix41 p4 #ebg4 8,the canonists are accustomed1 accordingly1 to denominate the ,pope a king4 8,the pontiffs were as absolutely the legislative and judicial head of this ecclesiastical kingdom1 as the emperors from ,constantine to ,augustulus were of the civil empire1 and imposed whatever laws they pleased on subordinate ecclesiastics and on the church by decrees1 in the same manner as those emperors enacted laws by edicts4 ,the decrees1 bulls of canonization1 sentences1 charters1 and other legislative and judicial acts of the pontiffs1 from ,gregory ,,vii41 in #ajgc1 to ,benedict ,,xiv41 in #ageg1 collected in the ,bullarium ,magnum1 fill nineteen folios4 ,many others are contained in the decretals and councils4 8,they appointed to all ecclesiastical offices throughout the empire1 as the ,christian emperors appointed to all civil and military offices in their dominions4 8,they exacted oaths of fidelity from all whom they advanced to important offices2 as the emperors exacted engagements of fidelity from their civil magistrates4 8,they established courts in which all violations of their laws were tried1 and a tribunal at the capital for the decision of appeals4 ,there were gradations of rank in the hierarchy1 like those of the magistrates of the civil empire4 ,the hierarchies1 as nationalized by ,constantine1 were formed in each patriarchate1 after the model of the civil government in the provinces4 ,the hierarchy of the western kingdoms1 under the ,pope1 was formed after that pattern2 having archbishops or metropolitans at the head of the clergy of each nation1 or large district1 and bishops1 abbots1 and a long catalogue of subordinate ranks1 under each metropolitan4 8,they levied taxes for their support on ecclesiastics and laics4 8,they inflicted ecclesiastical penalties on the violators of their laws2 exclusion from communion1 suspension from office1 deposition1 excommunication1 and a sentence of eternal death40--,exp4 of ,apoc41 pp4 #dbi-dcb4 ,these1 with many other striking resemblances1 demonstrate that the ,roman hierarchy1 in all its great features1 was a counterpart to imperial ,rome--an image of1 and belonging to1 the seven-headed1 ten-horned monster1 whose deadly wound was healed4 ,life was to be given to this image by the two-horned beast4 ,the papal hierarchy is created when its supremacy over other churches is declared and sustained2 and the power by which this is done1 is that which gives life to it4 ,this was done1 according to the following history1 by the ,eastern empire4 ,the power of the papacy1 symbolized by the image1 had been predicted in ,daniel under the symbol of 8a ,little ,horn10 that came up among the previous 8ten horns10 before whom 8there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots3 and behold1 in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man1 and a mouth speaking great things10 ,dan4 #g3h4 ,these horns were thus explained to ,daniel3 8,the fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth1 which shall be diverse from all kingdoms1 and shall devour the whole earth1 and shall tread it down1 and break it in pieces4 ,and the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise3 and another shall arise after them2 and he shall be diverse from the first1 and he shall subdue three kings4 ,and he shall speak great words against the ,most ,high1 and shall wear out the saints of the ,most ,high1 and think to change times and laws3 and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time4 ,but the judgment shall sit1 and they shall take away his dominion to consume and to destroy it unto the end4 ,and the kingdom and dominion1 and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven1 shall be given to the people of the saints of the ,most ,high1 whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom1 and all dominions shall serve and obey him40 ,ib4 vs4 #bc-bg4 ,when ,paul spoke of the second coming of ,christ1 in his first epistle to the ,thessalonians1 they understood that it was an event then imminent4 ,the apostle1 in his second epistle1 corrects this impression1 by referring to the foregoing prediction in ,daniel1 which must be previously fulfilled4 ,he assures them that 8the day of ,christ0 8shall not come1 except there be0 an apostasy1 or 8a falling away first1 and that ,man of ,sin10 or the lawless one1 8be revealed1 the son of perdition2 who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called ,god1 or that is worshipped2 so that he1 as ,god1 sitteth in the temple of ,god1 showing himself that he is ,god4 ,remember ye not1 that when ,i was yet with you1 ,i told you these things8 ,and now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time4 ,for the mystery of iniquity doth already work3 only he who now letteth will let1 until he be taken out of the way4 ,and then shall that ,wicked be revealed1 whom the ,lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth1 and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming10 #b ,thess4 #b3b-h4 ,the uniform application of these predictions to the ,papacy1 by ,protestant writers1 renders it unnecessary to argue this point4 ,that power began early to be manifested1 but its full development was 8let10 i4e41 hindered1 by the continuance of the ,western empire1 which had to be taken out of its way4 ,tertullian1 near the close of the second century1 in expounding those words1 says3 8,who can this be but the ,roman state1 the division of which into ten kingdoms will bring on ,antichrist80 ,and he gives as a reason why the ,christians of his time prayed for the ,roman empire3 that the greatest calamity hanging over the world was retarded by the continuance of it4 ,cyril of ,jerusalem in the fourth century applied the passage in the same manner1 and says3 8,thus the predicted ,antichrist will come when the times of the ,roman empire shall be fulfilled1 and the consummation of the world shall approach4 ,ten kings of the ,romans shall arise together1 in different places indeed1 but they shall reign at the same time4 ,among these the eleventh is ,antichrist1 who1 by magical and wicked artifice1 shall seize the ,roman power40 ,a large number of the ancient fathers interpreted this text in the same manner4 ,in ,a4 ,d4 #beg1 #abfj years before the time of ,luther1 ,stephen1 ,bishop of ,rome1 began to act the pope in good earnest1--excommunicating those who dissented from the doctrines of ,rome4 ,in #cab1 #abfj years before the massacre of ,st4 ,bartholomew in #aegb1 ,constantine became ,emperor of ,rome1 embraced ,christianity1 and terminated the last and bloodiest of the ,pagan persecutions--that of ,diocletian1 which had continued ten years4 ,constantine undertook to remodel the church1 in conformity to the government of the state1 and the unhallowed union of the two resulted in the dignities of patriarchs1 exarchs1 archbishops1 canons1 prebendaries1 c41 which he endowed with wealth and worldly honors4 ,while paganism was superseded by ,christianity under ,constantine1 its ceremonies were not suppressed4 ,the senate was still pagan2 and 8the title1 the ensigns1 and the prerogatives of ,sovereign ,pontiff1 which had been instituted by ,numa1 and assumed by ,augustus1 were accepted1 without hesitation1 by seven ,christian emperors40--,gibbon1 v4 #b1 p4 #ahc4 ,gratian became emperor1 ,a4 ,d4 #cgf1 and was the first who refused the pontifical robe4 ,in #cgh1 he invested ,theodosius with the ,empire of the ,east2 under their rule paganism was 8wholly extirpated10 and the senate was suddenly converted4--,ib4 ,that which hindered was thus taken out of the way4 ,in #cgh1 also1 ,gratian refusing the office1 ,damasus1 the ,bishop of ,rome1 was 8declared ,pontifix ,maximus107#d7 and made 8the sole judge in religious matters40 ,all who would not adhere to the religion 8professed by the ,pontiff ,damasus1 and by ,peter1 ,bishop of ,alexandria10 were declared heretics4--,gibbon1 v4 #b1 p4 #aef4 ,damasus1 by virtue of his power1 introduced the worship of the saints1 and of ,mary1 8the mother of ,god10--excommunicating those who dissented4 ,thus the apostasy1 by adopting the gods of the heathen1 and the name of the heathen pontiff1 began to be set up1 and the excommunicated church disappeared in the wilderness4 ,in the ninth century a document was produced1 which claimed to be a deed of gift from ,constantine to the ,pope1 dated ,a4 ,d4 #cbd1 ceding him the city of ,rome and all ,italy1 with the crown1 the mitre1 c42 but the forgery of this has been fully exposed4 ,with the removal of the capital of the world to ,constantinople1 the empire began to decline2 but the church augmented as fast4 ,a provisional synod at ,sardica1 in ,a4 ,d4 #cdd1 and a decree of the ,emperor ,valentinian ,,iii41 in #dde1 had acknowledged the ,bishop of ,rome as the primate of the five patriarchs1 and as the last tribunal of appeal from the other bishops2 but the edicts of the ,pope were often disregarded and opposed1 and he continued subject to the civil power till the subversion of the ,western empire by ,odoacer1 ,king of the ,heruli1 in ,a4 ,d4 #dgf4 ,the ten kingdoms which had arisen on the ruins of the ,western empire 7p4 #afi71 had nearly all embraced ,christianity1 corrupted by ,arianism4 ,and the barbarians transferred to their ,christian instructors1 the profound submission and reverence which they were accustomed to yield to the teachers of paganism1--many of the rites and ceremonies of which had been incorporated into the ,catholic service4 ,ecclesiastical courts were established1 in which were tried all questions relating to character1 office1 or property of the clergy2 and thus they became nearly independent of the civil judges4 ,the ,heruli1 which was the first of the ten horns plucked up1 were conquered by the ,ostrogoths1 in ,a4 ,d4 #dic1 when all ,italy submitted to ,theodoric4 ,he fixed his capital at ,ravenna1 which left the ,pope the only ,prince of ,rome2 and the ,romans1 for protection1 were forced to pay more deference to him4 ,about ,a4 ,d4 #ejj1 two ,popes were simultaneously elected1 when ,theodoric gave the papal chair to ,symmachus4 ,gross crimes being alleged against him by the defeated party1 the king summoned a council in ,a4 ,d4 #ejc to investigate the charges2 and he was acquitted4 ,the other party being dissatisfied1 ,ennodius1 ,bishop ,ticonum1 drew up an apology for the ,pope and council1 in which1 for the first time1 the ,pope was styled a 8,judge in the place of ,god1 and ,vicegerent of the ,most ,high20 and 8subject to no earthly tribunal40 ,thus did the ,lawless ,one attempt1 8as ,god10 to 8sit in the temple of ,god40 ,in ,a4 ,d4 #ecc1 ,justinian1 ,emperor at ,constantinople1 being about to attack the ,vandals in ,africa1 and wishing first to settle the religious disputes of his capital in which he felt a great interest1 he submitted the controversy to the primate of ,rome4 ,to induce a decision in his own favor1 or to give force to it1 he acknowledged the ,bishop of ,rome the ,chief of the whole ,ecclesiastical body of the empire2 and thus addressed him1 in a letter sent by two distinguished prelates3-- 8,justinian1 pious1 fortunate1 renowned1 triumphant emperor1 consul1 c41 to ,john1 the most holy ,archbishop of our city of ,rome1 and patriarch4 8,rendering honor to the ,apostolic chair1 and to your ,holiness1 as has been always and is our wish1 and honoring your blessedness as a father2 we have hastened to bring to the knowledge of your ,holiness all matters relating to the state of the churches4 ,it having been at all times our great desire to preserve the unity of your ,apostolic chair1 and the constitution of the holy churches of ,god which has obtained hitherto1 and still obtains4 8,therefore we have made no delay in subjecting and uniting to your ,holiness all the priests of the whole ,east4 8,for this reason we have thought fit to bring to your notice the present matters of disturbance2 though they are manifest and unquestionable1 and always firmly held and declared by the whole priesthood according to the doctrine of your ,apostolic chair4 ,for we cannot suffer that anything which relates to the state of the ,church1 however manifest and unquestionable1 should be moved1 without the knowledge of your ,holiness1 who are ,the ,head of all the ,holy ,churches1 for in all things1 as we have already declared1 we are anxious to increase the honor and authority of your ,apostolic chair40 ,says ,dr4 ,croly3-- 8,the emperor's letter must have been sent before the #beth of ,march1 #ecc4 ,for1 in his letter of that date to ,epiphanius he speaks of its having been already despatched1 and repeats his decision1 that all affairs touching the church shall be referred to the ,pope1 #8head of all bishops1 and the true and effective corrector of heretics4' 8,in the same month of the following year1 #ecd1 the ,pope returned an answer repeating the language of the emperor1 applauding his homage to the ,see1 and adopting the titles of the imperial mandate4 ,he observes that1 among the virtues of ,justinian1 #8one shines as a star1 his reverence for the ,apostolic chair1 to which he has subjected and united all the churches1 it being truly the head of all2 and was testified by the rules of the fathers1 the laws of the princes1 and the declarations of the emperor's piety4' 8,the authenticity of the title receives unanswerable proof from the edicts in the #8,novell' of the ,justinian code4 8,the preamble of the #ith states that #8as the elder ,rome was the founder of the laws1 so was it not to be questioned that in her was the supremacy of the pontificate4' 8,the #acast1 on the ecclesiastical titles and privileges1 chapter ,,ii4 states3 #8,we therefore decree that the most holy ,pope of the elder ,rome is the first of all the priesthood1 and that the most blessed archbishop of ,constantinople1 the new ,rome1 shall hold the second rank after the holy ,apostolic chair of the elder ,rome4' 8,the supremacy of the ,pope had by those mandates and edicts received the fullest sanction that could be given by the authority of the master of the ,roman world4 ,however worthless the motives1 the act was done1 authentic and unquestionable1 sanctioned by all the forms of state1 and never abrogated1--the act of the first potentate in the world4 ,if the supremacy over the church of ,god had been for man to give1 it might have been given by the unrivalled sovereignty of ,justinian4 8,from this era the church of ,rome dates the earthly acknowledgment of her claim4 ,its heavenly authority is referred to the remoter source of the apostles40--,apoc41 pp4 #ad-af1 #cj1 #ca4 ,the war against the ,vandals was vigorously prosecuted by ,belisarius1 ,justinian's general1 and resulted in their conquest the same year4 ,thus was the second of the first ten divisions of the empire subjugated3 the second horn was plucked up4 ,rome was still in possession of an ,arian monarch1 who was the bitter enemy of the ,catholic church4 ,intelligence of the success of ,belisarius in ,africa reached the emperor1 ,dec4 #afth1 ,a4 ,d4 #ecc4 8,impatient to abolish the temporal and spiritual tyranny of the ,vandals1 he proceeded1 without delay1 to the full establishment of the ,catholic church40--,gibbon1 ,harpers' ed41 v4 #c1 p4 #fg4 ,belisarius proceeded to the conquest of ,italy1 which he effected1 and marched on to ,rome4 ,only #djjj soldiers were stationed for its defence2 and they could not oppose the wishes of the ,romans1 who voluntarily submitted4 ,seized with a momentary enthusiasm1 8they furiously exclaimed that the apostolic throne should no longer be profaned by the triumph or toleration of ,arianism2 that the tombs of the ,csars should no longer be trampled on by the savages of the north2 and without reflecting that ,italy must sink into a province of ,constantinople1 they fondly hailed the restoration of a ,roman emperor as a new era of freedom and prosperity4 ,the deputies of the ,pope and clergy1 of the senate and people1 invited the lieutenant of ,justinian to accept their voluntary allegiance1 and to enter the city40 ,thus was 8the city1 after sixty years' servitude delivered from the yoke of the barbarians10 ,dec4 #aj1 ,a4 ,d4 #ecf4 ,and 8the ,catholics prepared to celebrate1 without a rival1 the approaching festival of the nativity of ,christ40--,ib4 p4 #hj4 ,in the winter1 the ,ostrogoths made preparations1 and besieged ,rome with an army of #aej1jjj fighting men4 ,pope ,sylverius was suspected of treachery1 and on proof that he had communicated with the enemy1 he was banished by ,belisarius4 ,at the emperor's command1 the clergy of ,rome proceeded to the choice of a new bishop1 and elected 8deacon ,virgilius1 who had purchased the papal throne by a bribe of two hundred pounds of gold40--,ib4 p4 #he4 ,as he had obtained the papal seat by fraud1 it was claimed that he was not the lawful ,pope2 but in ,a4 ,d4 #ech1 he was owned as such by the #eth ,general ,council1 and the whole ,christian world4--,see ,bowers' ,hist4 ,popes1 v4 #b1 p4 #cgd4 ,in ,march of this year 7#ech71--;after 8one year and nine days0--the ,ostrogoths raised the siege of ,rome1 and burned their tents--one-third of their number having perished under its walls4 ,the arms of ,justinian triumphed1 and the ,catholic hierarchy was established4 ,the third horn had been plucked up by the fall of the third of the first ten divisions of ,rome4 ,the ,bishop of ,constantinople did not submit willingly to the ,primacy of ,rome4 ,on the death of ,justinian1 the supremacy of the ,pope was utterly denied2 and1 in ,a4 ,d4 #ehh1 ,john1 ,bishop of ,constantinople1 himself assumed the coveted title of 8,universal ,bishop40 ,the ,roman bishop1 ,gregory the ,great1 indignant at this usurpation1 denounced him as a 8usurper1 aiming at supremacy over the whole church10 and declared that whoever claims such supremacy 8has the pride and character of ,antichrist40 ,boniface succeeded to the ,roman ,see1 and in the following year1 ,a4 ,d4 #fjf1 only two years after ,gregory's death1 applied to ,phocas1--who had ascended the throne of ,constantinople by the murder of the ,emperor ,mauritius1--for the same blasphemous title1 with the privilege of continuing it to his successors4 ,his request was granted1 the ,eastern ,bishop was forbidden its use1 and the ,primate of ,rome was again acknowledged as 8,universal ,bishop10 and the unrivalled 8,head of all the churches40 ,this title has been worn by all the succeeding ,popes2 8but the highest authority10 says ,dr4 ,croly1 8among the civilians and annalists of ,rome1 spurn the idea that ,phocas was the founder of the supremacy of ,rome4 ,they ascend to ,justinian as the only legitimate source1 and rightly date the title from the memorable year #ecc40--;,apoc4 p4 #aag4 ,in ,a4 ,d4 #gcj1 ,emperor ,leo issued an edict for the destruction of all images used in religious worship4 ,from that time the ,pope scorned his authority1 and acted in defiance of the emperor's will1 who found himself unable to compel the ,pope to obey the edict4 ,the ,papacy thus defied all human authority2 but did not as yet attempt the exercise of political power4 ,in ,a4 ,d4 #gef1 ,pepin1 the usurper of the crown of ,france1 compelled the ,king of ,lombardy to cede the exarchate of ,ravenna to the ,pope1 8to be forever held and possessed by ,st4 ,peter and his lawful successors in the ,see of ,rome40 ,the ,pope had now become a temporal prince1 and one of the kings of the earth4 ,in ,a4 ,d4 #ggd1 ,charlemagne1 the successor of ,pepin1 confirmed the former gift1 and in addition1 subjugated the ,lombards1 and annexed a large portion of their kingdom and the ,duchy of ,rome to the ,roman ,see4 ,in ,a4 ,d4 #hag1 ,louis the ,pious1 granted 8,st4 ,peter's patrimony0 to the ,pope and his successors1 8in their own right1 principality1 and dominion1 unto the end of the world40 ,hence1 as a temporal prince1 the ,pope wears a triple crown4 ,in ,a4 ,d4 #hjj1 ,charlemagne was solemnly crowned and proclaimed emperor by the ,pope1 having reduced under his sway nearly the whole of ,europe4 ,from this time the ,popes claimed superiority to all kings and emperors1 received homage from them1 and exercised all the rights of sovereignty2 but they were nominally dependent on the ,emperors of the ,west till ,a4 ,d4 #abgh1 when the ,emperor ,rudolph released the people of the ,papal ,states from all allegiance they might still owe to the imperial crown4 ,this act was confirmed by the electors and princes of the empire4 ,the ,popes1 in the greatness of their power1 crowned and uncrowned kings at their pleasure1 absolved subjects from all allegiance to their rulers1 excommunicated whoever they would1 and compelled secular princes to put to death heretics4 ,in ,a4 ,d4 #abid1 ,boniface ,,viii4 became ,pope4 ,from his accession ,hallam dates the decline of the ,papacy1 which1 for 8more than two centuries1 had been on throne of the earth1 and reigned despot of the world40--,dowling4 ,this was #abfj years from the death of ,peter1--the earliest time from which they can date4 ,his bull of excommunication against ,philip of ,france1 being disregarded by that monarch1 who adroitly made the ,pope his prisoner1 his rage brought on a fever1 which caused his death4 ,only a few succeeding pontiffs claimed1 and none attempted to enforce1 the prerogatives exercised by the preceding ,popes4 ,for seventy years the successors of ,boniface resided at ,avignon1 in ,france1 and paid great deference to the monarch of that country4 ,after this was the ,western schism1 which divided the church for forty years1--two rival ,popes claiming the mitre1 and thundering out their anathemas against each other4 ,these events greatly weakened the ,papacy4 ,about this time appeared ,wickliffe and ,huss1 and ,jerome of ,prague2 and still later1 in #aeag1 ,martin ,luther1 in opposition to the ,papal pretensions1 published his ,thesis against ,indulgences1 #abfj years from the time of the arrogance of ,pope ,stephen4 ,in ,a4 ,d4 #aegb1 #abfj years from the removal of ,constantine from ,rome to ,constantinople1 occurred the bloody massacre of ,st4 ,bartholomew1 when in one day #ejjj ,protestants were murdered in ,paris1 and in the same proportion in other parts of ,france4 ,the persecutions of the ,papists continued till near the close of the last century2 and as late as ,november1 #agha1 a woman was burned alive by the ,inquisition in ,spain4 ,in #agic1 #abfj years from ,justinian's letter to the ,pope1 the ,papal church1 with all religion1 was entirely suppressed in ,france4 ,and in #agih1 which was the same length of time from the establishment of the papacy1 by the conquest of the ,ostrogoths1--the plucking up of the last of the three horns in #ech1 ,gen4 ,berthier entered ,rome1 compelled the ,pope to flee1 and terminated the ,papal government4 ,the temporal power was afterwards restored2 but in #ahdh1 twelve hundred and sixty years from #ehh when ,john assumed the title of ,universal ,bishop1 the ,pope again fled from his throne4 ,two years subsequently1 he was again restored4 8,flacius1 in his #8,catalogue of ,witnesses1' represented the twelve hundred and sixty days as having commenced in #fjf20 and ,scott1 and several others1 reckon them from the same epoch4 #d4 ,the image had power to speak4 ,it thus filled the office of the 8mouth10 which was given to the ten-horned beast 7v4 #e71 which synchronizes with the view taken of that appendage1 p4 #agb4 #e4 ,it should cause the infliction of death on those who should refuse to worship4 ,the worship it would exact1 is doubtless of the kind bestowed on the wild beast1 #ac3d4 ,the ,papal hierarchy claimed to be infallible and invincible1 and to have power to bind and loose on earth and in heaven2 those who refused to recognize its claims1 if incorrigible1 were punished with death4 ,the ,image was not to put to death1 but would cause them to be killed4 ,the symbolization corresponds with the fulfilment in this particular4 ,the ecclesiastical officials punished rebellious subjects1 by delivering them over to the civil arm2 which punished heretics according to the will of the ,papacy4 8,lucius ,,iii4 and ,innocent ,,iii4 by formal decrees required them to be seized1 condemned1 and delivered by the civil magistrates1 to be capitally punished2 and enjoined the princes and magistrates to execute on them the sentences denounced by the canon and civil laws40--,lord's ,exp4 of ,apoc41 p4 #dcd4 ,this is substantiated by ,bellarmini and other writers4 ,civil rulers1 who refused to enforce the decrees of the councils1 were anathematized1 excommunicated1 and often deprived of their political power4 ,when the ,papacy has been reminded of the numbers killed and otherwise punished for alleged heresy1 she has replied that the civil power1 and not the church1 has done this6 ,she1 however1 has caused the kings of the earth to execute her wishes4 #f4 ,the image would cause all to receive the mark of the ,beast4 ,a mark is a token of recognition4 ,slaves1 soldiers1 and the devotees of various gods1 were thus identified on their hands or foreheads1 both before and after the time of ,st4 ,john--slaves by the name of the ,emperor on their forehead1 and soldiers by his name on their hand4 ,mr4 ,elliott proves this by quotations from ,valerius1 ,maximus1 lian1 ,ambrose1 and others4 ,the devotees of particular gods gained admittance to the secret meetings of the worshippers of their respective deity1 by a mark by which they identified each other4 ,at the present day the ,hindoos are marked on the forehead by the hieroglyphic of the god they are consecrated to4 ,the mark of the beast1 is its name1 or the number of its name4 ,the ancients often used numbers to indicate names4 8,among the ,pagans1 the ,egyptian mystics spoke of ,mercury1 or ,thouth1 under the number #abah1 because the ,greek letters composing the name ,thouth1 when estimated according to their numerical value1 together made up that number4 ,by others1 ,jupiter was invoked under the mystical number #gag2 because the letters of 1 the beginning1 or first origin1 which was a characteristic title of the supreme deity worshipped as ,jupiter1 made up that number3 and ,apollo under the number #fjh1 as being that of 1 or 1 words expressing certain solar attributes4 ,again1 the pseudo-,christian or semi-pagan ,gnostics1 from ,st4 ,john's time downwards1 affixed to their gems and amulets1 of which multitudes remain even to the present day1 the mystic word 1 or 1 under the idea of some magic virtue attaching to its number #cfe1 as being that of the days of the annual solar circle2 and equal moreover with that of 1 or ,mithras1 the ,magian name for the sun1 whom they identified also with ,christ4 ,once more1 the ,christian fathers themselves fell into the same fancies1 and doctrine of mysteriousness in certain verbal numbers4 ,for example1 both ,barnabas and ,clement of ,alexandria speak of the virtue of the number #cah as being that of the common abbreviation for ,jesus crucified2 and partly ascribe to its magical virtue the victory which ,abraham gained with his #cah servants over the ,canaanitish kings4 ,similarly ,tertullian refers the victory of ,gideon1 with his #cjj men1 to the circumstance of that being the precise number of 1 the sign of the cross4 ,in the name of ,adam1 ,st4 ,cyprian discerned a mysterious numeral affinity to certain characteristics in the life and history of the second ,adam1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,irenus notes the remarkable number #hhh of the name 1 ,jesus4 ,and in the pseudo-,sibylline verses1 written by ,christians about the end1 probably1 of the second century1 and consequently not long after ,irenus1 we find enigmas proposed of precisely the same characters as that in the text2--the number being given1 and the name required40--,elliott's ,hor ,apoc41 vol4 iii41 pp4 #bjd-f4 ,the 8number of the beast0 is indicated in the text by the ,greek letters 80 which were severally used to represent the numbers #fjj1 #fj and #f1 making #fff4 ,as the name of the beast is equivalent to this number1 the letters in it will represent numbers which amount to six hundred threescore and six4 ,after the division of the ,roman empire1 the western kingdom adopted for itself the name of the ,latin kingdom2 and its subdivisions were called the ,latin kingdoms4 ,the church connected with those kingdoms was also emphatically called the ,latin church4 ,says ,dr4 ,more3 8,they ,latinize everything4 ,mass1 prayers1 hymns1 litanies1 canons1 decretals1 bulls1 are conceived in ,latin4 ,the ,papal councils speak in ,latin4 ,women pray in ,latin4 ,the ,scriptures are read in no other language under the ,papacy than ,latin4 ,in short1 all things are ,latin40 ,the ,council of ,trent declared the ,latin ,vulgate to be the only authentic version of the ,scriptures2 and their doctors have preferred it to the ,hebrew and ,greek text1 written by prophets and apostles4 ,this ,latin kingdom is the only one that ever corresponded to the characteristics of the beast4 ,and its name--,latinos in the ,greek1 and ,romiith in the ,hebrew--is equivalent to the required number4 8,the ,greek and ,hebrew letters composing the words 1 ,romiith--1 ,romanus--1 ,latinos1 each of them making in numerals exactly #fff1 plainly point out not only his name1 and the number of his name1 but also the mark of his name2 as for example3 in ,romiith2 so likewise #djj #aj #aj #dj #f #bjj #fff ,romanus2 and also #cjj #f #ej #gj #dj #bjj #fff the ,greek ,latinos1 #cj #a #cjj #e #aj #ej #gj #bjj #fff4 in each of which the exact mark is contained4 8,it therefore evidently appears1 that each name is both a mark and a number2 a mark1 when viewed as made up of so many letters1 therefore called the mark of his name2 a number1 when viewed as made up of so many numerals1 then called the number of his name4 ,but when considered merely as a name1 derived from ,romiith1 a ,roman1 or ,romulus1 the founder of ,rome1 a name common among men1 it may then be properly called the mark1 or number of a man40--,fleming's ,rise and ,fall of ,papacy4 ,to receive the mark of the beast1 would be an acknowledgment of subjection to it4 ,the connection of the beast and its image was so intimate1 that submission to the one1 was virtual submission to the other4 ,to submit to the rites of the church modelled after the wild beast1 to profess its faith1 and to honor its authority1 would be a reception of its mark4 ,and all persons were compelled to do this1 and give evidence of submission to its authority on the peril of their lives4 #g4 ,those who should refuse the mark of the beast1 were to be prohibited from buying and selling4 ,the ,lateran ,council under ,pope ,alexander ,,ii41 passed an act forbidding any to harbor heretics in their houses or to trade with them4 ,the ,synod of ,tours passed a law that no one should assist them1 8no1 not so much as to exercise commerce with them in selling or buying407#e7--;,elliott4 ,in #aagi1 the third ,lateran ,council sentenced certain heretics1 8their defenders and harborers1 to an anathema1 and forbid1 under an anathema1 that any should presume to keep them in their house1 or on their lands1 sustain them1 or transact any business with them40--,lord4 8,it was just the same fearful penalty of interdict from buying and selling1 traffic and intercourse1 that had been inculcated long before by the ,pagan ,dragon's representative ,diocletian1 against the early ,christians40--,elliott4 ,so exact a correspondence between the wild beast and the ,western kingdoms1 the two-horned beast and the ,eastern empire1 and the image to the wild beast and the ,roman ,hierarchy1 makes the symbolization of this chapter very intelligible4 ,these three agencies will severally continue till the end of the world4 ,the latter will be destroyed by the brightness of ,christ's coming 7#b ,thess4 #b3h71 and the two former will then be taken and 8cast alive into the lake of fire10 #ai3bj4 ,the vision would have been defective without a representation of the end of those who refuse to worship the beast1 or its image1 or to receive their mark1 and who1 although warred against and overcome by the beast1 should maintain their integrity to ,christ4 ,accordingly the revelator has a view of3 ,the ,redeemed on ,mount ,zion4 8,and ,i looked1 and behold a lamb stood on the mount ,zion1 and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand1 having his name and the name of his ,father written on their foreheads4 ,and ,i heard a voice from heaven1 like the voice of many waters1 and like the voice of loud thunder3 and the voice which ,i heard was like that of harpers playing with their harps3 and they sung as it were a new song before the throne1 and before the four living beings1 and the elders3 and no one could learn the song except the hundred and forty-four thousand1 who were redeemed from the earth4 ,these are they1 who were not defiled with women2 for they are virgins4 ,these are they who follow the ,lamb wherever he goeth4 ,these were redeemed from among men1 the first fruit to ,god and to the ,lamb4 ,and in their mouth no lie was found for they are faultless40--,rev4 #ad3a-e4 ,the ,lamb is shown by the connection to be ,christ1--here called by one of his metaphorical names4 ,the ,mount ,zion1 doubtless1 symbolizes the place where1 in the regeneration1 the ,lord will reign with his saints--i4e4 in the new earth4 8,the ,lord shall reign over them in ,mount ,zion10 ,micah #d3g4--8;,and they sung a new song1 saying1 ,thou art worthy to take the book1 and to open the seals thereof3 for thou wast slain1 and hast redeemed us to ,god by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue1 and people1 and nation1 and hast made us kings and priests3 and we shall reign on the earth10 #e3i1aj4--8;,and ,i saw a new heavens and a new earth3 for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away4444 ,and ,i heard a great voice out of heaven1 saying1 ,behold the tabernacle of ,god is with men1 and he will dwell with them1 and they shall1 be his people1 and ,god himself shall be with them and be their ,god10 #ba3a-c4 ,the names of ,mount ,zion1 and ,jerusalem1 were both used to denote the city which the ,lord chose above all the goodly places of earth to put his name there4 ,it is proper to designate the heavenly city1 the new ,jerusalem1 by all the names which were applied to the old4 ,the king is to be set upon the holy hill of ,zion--8,walk about ,zion1 and go round about her3 tell the towers thereof4 ,mark ye well her bulwarks1 consider her palaces10 ,psa4 #dh3ab1 #ac4 8,when the ,lord shall build up ,zion1 he shall appear in glory10 ,ib4 #ajb3af4 8,for the ,lord hath chosen ,zion2 he hath desired it for his habitation4 ,this is my rest forever2 here will ,i dwell2 for ,i have desired it10 ,ib4 #acb3ac1 #ad4 8,for the ,lord shall comfort ,zion3 he will comfort all her waste places2 and he will make her wilderness like ,eden1 and her desert like the garden of the ,lord2 and joy and gladness shall be found therein1 thanksgiving and the voice of melody4444 ,therefore the redeemed of the ,lord shall return and come with singing unto ,zion2 and everlasting joy shall be upon their head3 they shall obtain gladness and joy1 and sorrow and mourning shall flee away40 ,isa4 #ea3c-aa4 8,awake1 awake1 put on thy strength1 ,o ,zion2 put on thy beautiful garments1 ,o ,jerusalem1 the holy city2 for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean4444 ,how beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings1 that publisheth peace2 that bringeth good tidings of good1 that publisheth salvation2 that saith unto ,zion1 #8,thy ,god reigneth6' ,thy watchmen shall lift up the voice2 with the voice together shall they sing3 for they shall see eye to eye when the ,lord shall bring again ,zion4 ,break forth into joy1 sing together1 ye waste places of ,jerusalem3 for the ,lord hath comforted his people1 he hath redeemed ,jerusalem40 ,ib4 #eb3a-i4 8,and the ,redeemer shall come to ,zion1 and unto them that turn from transgression in ,jacob1 saith the ,lord40 ,ib4 #ei3bj4 ,the standing of the ,lamb on ,mount ,zion1 symbolizes an epoch when ,christ shall assume a corresponding relation to his people4 ,he there appears in person2 and 8when ,christ who is your life1 shall appear1 then shall ye also appear with him in glory10 ,col4 #c3d4 ,it will not be till he shall have judged 8the quick and the dead at his appearing10 7#b ,tim4 #d3a71 that 8the redeemed from among men0 will 8follow the ,lamb whithersoever he goeth40 ,the #add1jjj1 who are with ,christ1 correspond with the number which are sealed1 8of all the tribes of the children of ,israel10 7#g3d72 and they are doubtless the same persons1 who1 under the sixth seal1 are designated1 among all denominations of ,christians1 by the mark of the living ,god4 ,they are there shown to be the godly1 who shall be alive on the earth at ,christ's coming and shall then be changed1 and1 with the risen dead1 caught up to meet him in the air4 ,the sealing process there symbolized1 is here shown to be the inscribing of the ,father's name on their foreheads4 ,the subjects of the beast and its image1 receive its mark2 but the children of ,god and the ,lamb1 are designated instead1 by the name of the ,father4 ,the voice from heaven as the voice of many waters1 with the voice of harpers1 is the singing of the new song which none but the #add1jjj could learn4 ,those who are translated at ,christ's coming1 will be favored above all1 save two1 who will have lived on the earth1 insomuch as they will have been redeemed from the earth without being subjected to death4 ,these sing in the presence of the four living creatures and the elders1 who symbolize those who also are redeemed from among men and will reign on the earth1 #e3h-aj4 ,consequently those must symbolize the resurrected dead1 with whom the #add1jjj will be ushered into the ,lord's presence1 #a ,thess4 #d3af1 #ag4 ,the two bodies of the redeemed1 are therefore both represented with the ,lord on ,mount ,zion4 ,their not being defiled with women1 probably implies that they were not guilty of idolatry1 which is represented by that figure1 ,ezek4 #af3ae4 ,they had not submitted to the wiles of the woman seated on the scarlet-colored beast1 7#ag3c72 had not worshipped the beast or its image 7#ad3i71 and had been true to their ,divine ,sovereign4 ,they follow the ,lamb whithersoever he goeth4 ,all the redeemed will doubtless thus follow the ,lamb1 for of all the 8great multitude which no man could number1 of all nations and kindreds1 and people1 and tongues10 who stood before the throne and before the ,lamb1 clothed 8with white robes1 and palms in their hands10 7#g3i7--;it was said3 8,the ,lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them1 and shall lead them unto living fountains of water10 #g3ag4 ,those who are redeemed from among men1 are called the 8first fruits unto ,god and to the ,lamb40 ,they are not necessarily first fruits of the redeemed1 to distinguish them from others of the redeemed1 but are first fruits of the race3 8,of his own will begat he us with the word of truth1 that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures10 ,james #a3ah4 ,by his resurrection from the dead1 ,christ became 8the first fruits of them that slept10 #a ,cor4 #ae3bj4 ,and at his coming there is to be a 8first resurrection0 7#bj3f71 when the bodies of the saints will 8be fashioned like unto his glorious body0 7,phil4 #c3ba71 and thus become the first fruits with their risen ,head4 ,those who come up at the second resurrection will not attain to that beatific state4 ,they are faultless1 and without guile4 ,they are not perfect by reason of any inherent goodness in themselves2 for 8all we like sheep have gone astray 444 and the ,lord laid on him the iniquity of us all10 ,isa4 #ec3f4 ,the redeemed church will be faultless1 because its members will be sanctified and cleansed by the blood of ,christ4 ,such will constitute 8a glorious church1 not having spot1 or wrinkle1 or any such thing 444 holy and without blemish10 ,eph4 #e3bg4 ,while 8the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light0 of the ,new ,jerusalem1 and shall 8bring their glory and honor into it10 there 8shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth1 neither whatsoever worketh abomination1 or maketh a lie3 but they which are written in the ,lamb's book of life10 #ba3bd-bg4 8,there awaiteth at the end ,such a home1 and such a ,friend1 ,such a crown1 and such a throne1 ,such a harp of heavenly tone1 ,such companions1 such employ1 ,such a world of hallowed joy60--,bunyan4 ,the ,angel of the ,everlasting ,gospel4 8,and ,i saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven1 having the everlasting good news to preach to those dwelling on the earth1 and to every nation1 and tribe1 and tongue1 and people1 saying with a loud voice1 ,fear ,god and give glory to him2 for the hour of his judgment is come3 and worship him who made the heaven1 and the earth1 and the sea1 and fountains of water60--,rev4 #ad3f1 #g4 ,the era symbolized by the flight of this angel1 has been applied1 by different writers to the epoch of the ,reformation1 to that of modern missions1 c4 ,the view here taken1 is that it synchronizes with the preaching of the gospel to the ,gentiles4 ,the angel flying through the midst of heaven1 doubtless symbolizes a body of men conspicuous for their position1 energetic in their movements1 extensive in their operations1 and urgent in their proclamation1--whose teachings correspond with this announcement of the angel4 ,the message they bear is that of the everlasting gospel 1 7evangelion7--which is1 literally1 the good news1 the glad tidings2 that which brings 8life and immortality to light10 #b ,tim4 #a3aj4 ,it is a message which foreshadows the resurrection and coming judgment at ,christ's appearing2 and is therefore called 8the gospel of the kingdom10 7,matt4 #d3bc72--the good news of the glorious kingdom of the ,son of ,god4 ,it is the preaching of the everlasting gospel which is thus symbolized4 ,it is no new gospel2 for1 8the ,scripture foreseeing that ,god would justify the heathen through faith1 preached before the gospel unto ,abraham1--saying3 ,in thee shall all nations be blessed10 ,gal4 #c3h4 ,and not ,abraham alone1 but all the fathers 8did eat the same spiritual meat1 and did all drink the same spiritual drink3 for they drank of that spiritual ,rock that followed them3 and that rock was ,christ10 #a ,cor4 #aj3c1 #d4 ,of this gospel the ,jewish nation and a few proselytes1 were for ages the sole recipients4 8,unto them were committed the oracles of ,god40 ,rom4 #c3b4 ,to them pertained 8the adoption1 and the glory1 and the covenants1 and the giving of the law1 and the service of ,god1 and the promises10 ,rom4 #i3d4 ,but the time had been foretold when the ,gentiles should come to their light1 and kings to the brightness of their rising1 ,isa4 #fj3c4 ,with the coming of ,christ1 and his rejection of that nation1 the gospel1 was no longer to be confined within its former narrow limits4 ,the ,savior said to his disciples3 8,go ye therefore and teach all nations1 baptizing them in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost2 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever ,i have commanded you3 and lo1 ,i am with you alway1 even unto the end of the world10 ,matt4 #bh3ai1 #bj4 8,go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature4 ,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved2 but he that believeth not shall be damned10 ,mark #af3ae1 #af4 8,then opened he their understanding that they might understand the ,scriptures1 and he said unto them1 ,thus it is written1 and thus it behoved ,christ to suffer1 to rise from the dead the third day3 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations1 beginning at ,jerusalem10 ,luke #bd3de-dg4 ,the fulfilment of those predictions and commands could not be more beautifully and appropriately symbolized1 than by an angel flying 8in the midst of heaven having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth1 and to every nation1 and kindred1 and tongue1 and people40 ,it could be no other gospel3 for ,paul testified3 8,though we1 or an angel from heaven1 preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you1 let him be accursed4 ,as we said before1 so say ,i now again1 ,if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received1 let him be accursed10 ,gal4 #a3h1 #i4 ,in accordance with the divine command1 to preach the gospel to all the nations1 beginning at ,jerusalem1 the apostles began their mission2 and when the ,jews rejected their message1 they turned to the ,gentiles1 and went everywhere preaching the word 8according to the revelation of the mystery1 which was kept secret since the world began1 but now is made manifest1 and by the scriptures of the prophets1 according to the commandment of the everlasting ,god1 made known to all nations for the obedience of faith10 ,rom4 #af3be1 #bf4 ,the first converts to the faith1 comprised 8,parthians1 and ,medes1 and ,elamites1 and the dwellers in ,mesopotamia1 and in ,judea1 and ,cappadocia1 in ,pontus1 and ,asia1 ,phrygia1 and ,pamphylia1 in ,egypt1 and in the parts of ,libya about ,cyrene1 and strangers of ,rome1 ,jews and proselytes1 ,cretes and ,arabians10 ,acts #b3i-ab4 ,when the ,jews contradicted and blasphemed1 8,paul and ,barnabas waxed bold1 and said1 ,it was necessary that the word of ,god should first have been spoken to you3 but seeing ye put it from you1 and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life1 lo1 we turn to the ,gentiles10 ,acts #ac3df4 ,afterwards ,paul1 in writing to the ,colossians1 refers to the gospel as that 8which was preached to every creature which is under heaven10 ,col4 #a3bc4 ,this gospel was to be preached to those who dwell on the earth1 and also to all nations4 ,the symbolic earth of the ,apocalypse1 being generally admitted to be the ,roman empire under a quiet government1 its fulfilment would require an early introduction of the gospel there4 ,accordingly we find1 within thirty years after the crucifixion of ,christ1 a flourishing church existing in the metropolis of the ,roman empire1 to which ,paul addressed one of his most able letters4 ,in it1 he thanks ,god that their 8faith is spoken of throughout all the world10 ,rom4 #a3h4 ,the apostle had then 8fully preached the gospel of ,christ0 from ,jerusalem 8round about the coast of the ,mediterranean unto ,illyricum10 7,rom4 #af3ai72--;a country on the ,adriatic1 or ,gulf of ,venice4 ,he afterwards visited ,rome1 and is supposed to have preached the gospel as far west as ,spain4 ,the apostles spread ,christianity throughout the ,roman empire4 ,palestine1 ,syria1 ,natolia1 ,greece1 the islands of the ,mediterranean1 ,italy1 and the northern coast of ,africa1 contained societies of ,christians in the first century4 ,in the second century societies existed1 and ,christ was worshipped1 among the ,germans1 ,spaniards1 ,french1 ,celts1 and ,britons1 and many other nations in ,europe1 and almost throughout the whole east4 ,in the fourth century ,christianity had become the prevailing religion of the empire4 ,in later times the gospel which began to be preached at ,jerusalem1 has been extended to more distant countries1 and is still finding its way to every tribe and people that have not before heard its joyful sound4 ,thus has the light of the gospel nearly encircled the globe1 having been1 in one age or another1 proclaimed in every known country--fulfilling the words of the ,saviour3 8,and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world1 for a witness unto all nations2 and then shall the end come10 ,matt4 #bd3ad4 8,and the gospel must first be published among all nations10 ,mark #ac3aj4 ,it would not follow from these predictions that it must be preached at the same time to all nations1 any more than the light of day shines on all parts of the earth at once3 but all must have been illumined by it before the end4 ,in accordance with this view1 those who are finally redeemed to ,god 8out of every kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 and nation0 7#e3i71 are those who will 8have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the ,lamb0 7#g3ad71 in consequence of this universal extension of the gospel4 ,the command to fear and give glory to ,god1 and to worship the ,creator of all things implies that it was to be proclaimed to worshippers of false gods1 and was not a mere proclamation addressed to actual ,christians4 ,the ,gentiles to whom the apostles preached were actual worshippers of such1 and needed to be taught the worship of the true ,god4 ,while ,paul was at ,athens1 his spirit was stirred within him when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry4 8,then ,paul stood in the midst of ,mars hill1 and said1 ,ye men of ,athens1 ,i perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious4 ,for as ,i passed by1 and beheld your devotions1 ,i found an altar with this inscription3 ,,to ,,the ,,unknown ,,god4 ,whom therefore ye ignorantly worship1 him declare ,i unto you4 ,god that made the world and all things therein1 seeing that he is the ,lord of heaven and earth1 dwelleth not in temples made with hands10 ,acts #ag3bb-bd4 8,ye know that ye were ,gentiles1 carried away unto these dumb idols1 even as ye were led10 #a ,cor4 #ab3b4 8,for they themselves show us of what manner of entering in we had unto you1 and how ye turned to ,god from idols1 to serve the living and true ,god3 and to wait for his ,son from heaven1 whom he raised from the dead1 even ,jesus1 which delivered us from the wrath to come10 #a ,thess4 #a3i1 #aj4 ,the great motive1 to be held forth to induce men to turn from the worship of idols to that of ,god1 was the certainty of the approaching judgment4 ,in accordance with this1 the apostles make constant references to it4 ,the ,corinthians are exhorted to 8come behind in no gift2 waiting for the coming of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ3 who shall also confirm you unto the end1 that ye may be blameless in the day of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ10 #a ,cor4 #a3g1 #h4 ,as ,paul 8reasoned of righteousness1 temperance1 and judgment to come1 ,felix trembled10 ,acts #bd3be4 ,he said to the impenitent ,romans1 that they were 8treasuring up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath1 and revelation of the righteous judgment of ,god10 ,rom4 #b3e4 ,the first things which were presented in all their teachings were 8the foundation of repentance from dead works1 and of faith toward ,god1 of the doctrine of baptisms1 and of laying on of hands1 and of resurrection of the dead1 and of eternal judgment10 ,heb4 #f3a1 #b4 ,thus 8,enoch also1 the seventh from ,adam1 prophesied of these1 saying1 ,behold the ,lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints10 ,jude #ad1 #ae4 ,as ,christ was to judge the world 8at his appearing and kingdom0 7#b ,tim4 #d3a71 a reference to his coming always involved a consideration of the hour of his judgment2 and his appearing was a great incentive to holiness4 8,for our conversation is in heaven1 from whence also we look for the ,saviour1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ10 ,phil4 #c3bj4 ,and 8when ,christ1 who is our life1 shall appear1 then shall ye also appear with him in glory10 ,col4 #c3d4 8,for what is our hope1 or joy1 or crown of rejoicing8 ,are not even ye in the presence of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ at his coming80 #a ,thess4 #b3ai4 8,to the end he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before ,god1 even our ,father1 at the coming of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ with all his saints10 ,ib4 #c3ac4 8,for if we believe that ,jesus died and rose again1 even so them also which sleep in ,jesus will ,god bring with him4 ,for this we say unto you by the word of the ,lord1 that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the ,lord shall not prevent them which are asleep4 ,for the ,lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout1 with the voice of the archangel1 and with the trump of ,god3 and the dead in ,christ shall rise first3 ,then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds1 to meet the ,lord in the air3 and so shall we ever be with the ,lord10 ,ib4 #d3ad-ag4 8,and to you who are troubled1 rest with us1 when the ,lord ,jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels1 in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not ,god1 and that obey not the gospel of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ10 #b ,thess4 #a3g1 #h4 ,not only the apostles1 but their successors1 in succeeding ages1 have constantly made reference to the judgment1 as the motive to holiness4 ,beginning in the days of the apostles1 the same gospel has been continued by a succession of men to the present time2 and those who are now preaching1 or who support those who so preach the everlasting gospel1 in connection with the warning of approaching judgment1 must be regarded as belonging to the same body of men symbolized by the angel flying in the midst of heaven4 ,commencing in the apostolic age1 sections of the globe were evangelized--in ,asia and ,africa1 that have never received the gospel since1 either under the reformers or by modern missionaries4 ,but beginning with the dispensation of the gospel to the ,gentiles1 its fulfilment is found in ,china1 in ,tartary1 in ,japan1 in ,egypt1 and ,ethiopia1 and in lands so remote that no one can say it has not been almost universally promulgated4 ,the ,angel announcing the ,fall of ,babylon4 8,and another angel1 a second1 followed1 saying1 ,she is fallen6 ,babylon the great is fallen6 ,she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication60--,rev4 #ad3h4 ,this angel1 like the former1 must symbolize a body of religious teachers4 ,the former resulted in the spread of ,christianity4 ,this announces the fall of a corrupt hierarchy4 ,babylon being regarded as a symbol of the ,roman church1 her fall must be understood to be her loss of power1 as mistress of the kings of the earth2 and synchronizes with her displacement from her position on the beast1 as symbolized in the #agth chapter4 ,the epoch of her fall1 and consequently of the flight of this angel1 is that of the ,reformation1 when the corruptions of the ,papal ,see were first exposed1 and it was denounced as the ,apocalyptic harlot4 ,the argument for this application is given in the exposition of ,rev4 #ah3a1 which is a repetition of the symbol here given1 p4 #cjj4 ,the ,wrath-denouncing ,angel4 8,and another angel1 a third1 followed them1 saying with a loud voice1 ,if any one worship the wild beast and his image1 and receive his mark on his forehead1 or on his hand1 even he will drink of the wine of the wrath of ,god1 which is poured out unmingled into the cup of his wrath2 and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the ,lamb3 and the smoke of their torment ascendeth for ever and ever3 and they have no rest day or night1 who worship the wild beast and his image1 and whoever receiveth the mark of his name60--,rev4 #ad3i-aa4 ,the cry of this angel synchronizes with the 8voice from heaven0 7#ah3d71 and follows the discovery of the corruptions of ,romanism4--,see the exposition of that ,scripture1 p4 #cjg4 ,the worship of the beast consisted in a regard for it1 equivalent to saying1 8,who is like unto the beast8 and1 ,who is able to make war with him80 #ac3d4 ,to worship1 is to manifest homage and respect4 ,to worship any inferior object1 is to bestow on it the confidence and affection which is due only to ,god4 ,it is to trust in it1 as invincible1 able to protect1 and infallible in judgment4 ,thus to regard any civil or ecclesiastical organization1 is to substitute it for ,him1 by whom the powers that be are ordained 7,rom4 #ac3a71 who giveth the kingdom to whomsoever he will 7,dan4 #d3ag71 and by whom alone1 kings reign1 and princes decree justice1 ,prov4 #h3ae4 ,whenever any civil or ecclesiastical enactment conflicts with the requisitions of ,jehovah1 that power is worshipped1 which is obeyed in preference to the other3 8,know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey1 his servants ye are whom ye obey80 ,rom4 #f3af4 ,the worship of ,god is incompatible with obedience to any power which compels a violation of ,his laws4 ,due obedience to government is commanded1 when no question of conscience is involved4 ,when it is1 no forcible resistance to the execution of the law is permitted2 but while ,god is obeyed1 the penalty of the law is to be meekly endured4 ,the early ,christians chose death1 rather than to deny their ,saviour at the command of ,jewish ,sanhedrim or ,roman emperor4 ,when ,peter and ,john were commanded 8not to speak at all1 nor teach in the name of ,jesus10 their answer was1 8,whether it be right in the sight of ,god to hearken unto you more than unto ,god1 judge ye2 for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard10 ,acts #d3ai1 #bj4 ,in like manner1 the ,christians living at the epoch of this angel1 were to be similarly tried1 which is implied in the command1 not to worship4 ,so soon as the reformers were placed in direct conflict with the ,church of ,rome1 her anathemas were hurled against all who assented not to her mummeries4 ,and the power of the civil arm was also brought into exercise to compel obedience to her commands4 ,those who maintained their integrity1 did so in opposition to the requirements of the church and state2 while those who submitted to the state as invincible1 or to the church as infallible1 extended to the beast or its image that homage and regard which was due to ,god4 ,they thus acknowledged themselves the servants of him whom they obeyed1 and subjected themselves to the wrath of ,god4 ,the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever1 and they have no rest1 day nor night1 who worship the beast and his image4 ,while the righteous enter into rest1 the wicked are like the troubled sea which cannot rest1 whose waters cast up mire and dirt1 ,isa4 #eg3bj4 ,the ,harvest of the ,earth4 8,here is the patience of the saints3 here are those who keep the commandments of ,god1 and the faith of ,jesus4 ,and ,i heard a voice from heaven1 saying1 ,write1 ,happy the dead who die in the ,lord1 from henceforth6 ,yea1 saith the ,spirit1 that they may rest from their toils2 and their works go with them4 ,and ,i looked1 and behold1 a white cloud1 and one was seated on the cloud like the ,son of man1 having on his head a golden crown1 and in his hand a sharp sickle4 ,and another angel came out of the temple1 crying with a loud voice to him seated on the cloud1 ,thrust forth thy sickle and reap3 for the hour is come for thee to reap2 for the harvest of the earth is ripe4 ,and he1 who sat on the cloud1 cast his sickle on the earth2 and the earth was reaped40--,rev4 #ad3ab-af4 ,the announcement that here are they who keep the commandments of ,god1 implies that1 at the epoch symbolized1 they are to be the subjects of special notice4 ,by the voice from heaven1 they are shown to include all of the dead who have died in the ,lord2 and their being blessed from thenceforth1 indicates that they will at that epoch enter upon their eternal reward4 ,the 8rest0 of the righteous1 is at the advent of ,christ3--8,to you who are troubled1 rest with us when the ,lord ,jesus shall be revealed from heaven10 #b ,thess4 #a3f4 8,there remaineth a rest for the people of ,god10 ,heb4 #d3i4 ,on hearing the voice from heaven1 the revelator looked1 and beheld on a cloud 8one like the ,son of man40 ,in ,ezek4 #a3bf1 8the likeness as the appearance of a man10 upon 8the likeness of the throne10 is explained to be 8the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the ,lord40 ,in ,dan4 #g3ac1 8one like the ,son of man10 who comes to the ,ancient of days1 is evidently a symbol of ,christ4 ,in ,rev4 #a3ac1 8one like unto the ,son of man10 is the one who was alive1 was dead1 and is alive forevermore4 ,the same symbol repeated1 must here also be a representative of ,christ4 ,his position on a cloud1 indicates the arrival of the period when he is to be manifested in mid-heaven3 8,behold he cometh with clouds2 and every eye shall see him10 #a3g4 8,one like the ,son of man came with the clouds of heaven1 and came to the ,ancient of days1 and they brought him near before him4 ,and there was given him dominion and glory and a kingdom1 that all people1 nations1 and languages should serve him10 ,dan4 #g3ac1 #ad4 8,and they shall see the ,son of man coming in the clouds of heaven1 with power and great glory4 ,and he shall send his angels1 with a great sound of a trumpet1 and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds1 from one end of heaven to the other10 ,matt4 #bd3cj1 #ca4 ,the epoch of this manifestation1 according to the above1 is that of the last trump1 the second advent1 and the first resurrection4 8,at the last trump 444 the dead shall be raised incorruptible1 and we shall be changed10 #a ,cor4 #ae3eb4 8,for the ,lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout1 with the voice of the archangel1 and with the trump of ,god2 and the dead in ,christ shall rise first2 then we which are alive and remain1 shall be caught up together with them in the clouds1 to meet the ,lord in the air10 #a ,thess4 #d3af1 #ag4 ,his 8golden crown0 indicates that he is now to take to himself his great power1 and to reign1 8when the kingdoms of this world become our ,lord's and his ,christ's10 #aa3ae1 #ag4 ,crowns are symbols of sovereignty4 ,as such1 they respectively denoted the periods1 when the forms of government1 symbolized by the heads of the beast 7#ab3c7 and its horns 7#ac3a71 bore rule4 ,now the diadem is to be transferred from them1 to encircle the brow of earth's rightful ,sovereign4 ,the sharp sickle in his hand1 indicates that the time of harvest has arrived2 and the act of reaping1 the gathering of the harvest4 ,there are two gatherings symbolized1 corresponding to the two classes of persons who are to be gathered4 8,the dead in ,christ shall rise first10 and will be 8caught up to meet the ,lord in the air10 before the wicked are gathered1 #a ,thess4 #d3af1 #ag4 8,i will come again1 and receive you unto myself10 said the ,saviour1 ,john #ad3e4 ,the ,lord of the harvest directs its gathering1 but effects it by the instrumentality of angels3 8,he shall send his angels1 and shall gather together his elect from the four winds1 from the uttermost part of the earth1 to the uttermost part of heaven10 ,mark #ac3bg4 ,when thus gathered1 they are caught up to meet the ,lord in the air1 where the ,lord of the harvest sits4 ,this is the separation of the righteous and wicked1 who were to 8grow together till the harvest10 which1 says the ,saviour1 8is the end of the world10 ,matt4 #ac3ci4 ,mr4 ,lord suggests1 that it is inconsistent with the dignity of ,christ1 to be notified by an angel when to begin his work2 and therefore dissents from the application of the symbol to him4 ,it may not1 however1 be necessary to consider the cry of the angel1 as one of command4 ,the angel may be a messenger from the ,ancient of days1 announcing the epoch of the resurrection4 ,or he may symbolize a body of men1 who will be ardently praying for the return of the nobleman to take his kingdom4 ,the harvest is spoken of in distinction from the gathering of the vine1 and in contrast with it4 ,men harvest what they prize1--their grain and fruits4 ,they do not harvest briers and thorns4 ,they cut or reap both2 but the act of reaping is not expressive of the destiny of what is reaped4 ,this is indicated by the disposition made1 and the terms applied2 the one is gathered into the garner of the ,lord2 but the other is given to the consuming fire4 ,the righteous being caught up to meet the ,lord at his coming1 the destruction of the wicked1 which must precede the regeneration of the earth and descent of the saints1 is next symbolized4 ,the ,reaping of the ,vine4 8,and another angel came out of the temple in heaven1 he also having a sharp sickle4 ,and another angel came out from the altar1 who had power over the fire1 and called with a loud shout to him who had the sharp sickle1 saying1 ,thrust in thy sharp sickle1 and cut off the clusters of the vine of the earth2 for its grapes are ripe4 ,and the angel cast in his sickle into the earth1 and cut off the vine of the earth1 and cast it into the great wine-press of the wrath of ,god4 ,and the wine-press was trodden without the city1 and blood came out of the wine-press1 even to the bridles of the horses1 for the distance of one thousand six hundred furlongs40--,rev4 #ad3ag-bj4 ,the wicked also are gathered by the instrumentality of angels3 said the ,saviour1 8,as therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire2 so shall it be in the end of this world4 ,the ,son of man shall send forth his angels1 and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend1 and them which do iniquity2 and shall cast them into a furnace of fire3 there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth10 ,matt4 #ac3dj-db4 ,in the parable of the tares1 the ,saviour said1 8,let both grow together until the harvest3 and in the time of harvest ,i will say to the reapers1 ,gather ye together first the tares1 and bind them in bundles to burn them3 but gather the wheat into my barn40 ,thus the tares were to be gathered first--not before the righteous are gathered1 but before the wheat is placed in the garner3 the new earth being the garner where the righteous are finally to be gathered1 they cannot be placed there till the wicked have been gathered out4 8,then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their ,father4 ,who hath ears to hear1 let him hear10 ,matt4 #ac3cj1 #dc4 ,the disposition of the vine1 its being trodden down1 and the great presence of blood flowing1 symbolize the awful judgments to overtake the wicked1 after the escape of the righteous1 when they are gathered into bundles and burned4 ,thus ,isaiah prophesied3 8,who is this that cometh from ,edom1 with dyed garments from ,bozrah8 this that is glorious in his apparel1 travelling in the greatness of his strength8 ,i that speak in righteousness1 mighty to save4 ,wherefore art thou red in thine apparel1 and thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine-vat8 ,i have trodden the wine-press alone3 and of the people there was none with me3 for ,i will tread them in mine anger1 and trample them in my fury1 and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments1 and ,i will stain all my raiment4 ,for the day of vengeance is in my heart1 and the year of my redeemed is come10 ,isa4 #fc3a-d4 ,before the destruction of the old world by the deluge1 ,noah was secure in the ark4 ,before the destruction of ,sodom1 ,lot is removed to a place of safety4 ,so before the destruction of the vine of the earth1 the righteous are caught up to the ,lord in the air1 where they are symbolized1 in the following chapter1 as3 ,the ,victors on the ,sea of ,glass4 8,and ,i saw another sign in heaven1 great and wonderful1 seven angels having the seven last plagues2 for by these1 the wrath of ,god is completed4 ,and ,i saw as it were a transparent sea mingled with fire2 and those who had obtained the victory over the wild beast1 and over his image1 and over the number of his name1 standing on the transparent sea1 having harps of ,god4 ,and they sing the song of ,moses the servant of ,god1 and the song of the ,lamb1 saying1 ,great and wonderful are thy works1 ,o ,lord ,god ,almighty2 just and true are thy ways1 king of nations6 ,who should not fear thee1 ,o ,lord1 and glorify thy name8 for thou only art holy2 for all nations will come and worship before thee2 for thy judgments are manifested40 ,rev4 #ae3a-d4 ,this appears to close the vision commencing with the sixth verse of the #adth chapter1 and to be independent of the remaining portion of the #aeth chapter4 ,these 8seven angels10 in the subsequent vision1 discharge the contents of the vials of ,god's wrath2 but the epoch here presented is evidently subsequent to that fulfilment2 for the imitation of the 8,song of ,moses10 must follow the infliction of the judgments which call forth that song of rejoicing4 ,they had here completed the wrath of ,god1 the manner of which act is subsequently shown in a separate vision4 ,the 8sea of glass10 must represent an elevation above the earth4 ,for those stationed there had gotten the victory over the beast and his image1 had escaped the wrath to be poured on those who worshipped those powers 7#ad3i71 had been gathered when the harvest of the earth was reaped 7#ad3af71 being then caught up to meet the ,lord in the air 7#a ,thess4 #d3ag71 and now1 the clusters of the vine of the earth having been gathered and cast into the wine-press of the wrath of ,god 7#ad3ai71 they rejoice above the fires of earth1 witnesses of the manifestations of ,god's judgments4 ,they have come out of all their tribulations1 and evidently synchronize with the palm-bearing multitude 7,rev4 #g3i71 the hundred and forty-four thousand on ,mount ,zion 7#ad3a71 and the multitude in heaven who sing ,alleluia over the judgment of the great harlot1 #ai3a4 8,the song of ,moses10 was that sung by the ,israelites when the ,egyptians had perished in the waters of the ,red ,sea1 and they were safely encamped on its further shore4 ,the ,lord had triumphed gloriously over the enemies of ,israel1 had buried the horse and his rider in the sea1 and was about to plant his people in the mountain of his inheritance1--in the place which he had made for them to dwell in1--in the sanctuary which he had established1 ,ex4 #ae3a-ba4 ,the analogy requires that when this corresponding song is sung1 the ransomed of the ,lord shall have correspondingly witnessed the overthrow of the adversaries of ,jehovah1 and shall themselves have escaped from the perils of the many waters which had threatened to engulf them4 ,the judgments of ,god being manifested on the nations of the ungodly1 there are none remaining1 only 8the nations of them which are saved10 #ba3bd4 ,as these will all walk in the light of the new ,jerusalem1 those on the sea of glass may well sing3 8,great and marvellous are thy works1 ,lord ,god ,almighty6 ,just and true are thy ways1 thou ,king of saints6 ,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 manifest40 ,in accordance with the foregoing view1 this synchronizes with the 8new song0 sung by those who are redeemed from every nation1 kindred1 tongue and people 7#e3i71 who are afterwards seen standing with the ,lamb on ,mount ,zion1 #ad3c4 ,the ,angels with the ,seven ,vials4 8,and after this1 ,i looked1 and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened2 and the seven angels came out of the temple1 having the seven plagues1 clothed in pure white linen1 and girded around the breasts with golden girdles4 ,and one of the four living beings gave to the seven angels1 seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of ,god1 who liveth for ever and ever4 ,and the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of ,god1 and from his power1 and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed40 ,rev4 #ae3e-h4 8,and ,i heard a loud voice out of the temple saying1 to the seven angels1 ,depart1 and pour out the bowls of the wrath of ,god on the earth40 ,rev4 #af3a4 8,the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven10 must symbolize heaven itself4 ,it corresponds with the tabernacle 8after the second veil10--called 8the holiest of all10 where the tables of the covenant were deposited by the command of ,moses1 ,heb4 #i3a-e4 ,there1 the 8cherubims of glory0 over-shadowed the mercy-seat1--a type of the presence-chamber of the ,almighty4 ,consequently1 when it is symbolized as being opened in heaven1 the angels who come out are divinely commissioned executors of ,god's purposes4 ,the 8seven angels10 are the ministers of the divine vengeance1--the rectitude of their character and the dignity of their office1 being symbolized by their 8white robes0 and 8golden girdles40 ,the period of time symbolized by the pouring out of the vials1 must be anterior to the second advent2 for in the analogous instances of ,god's judgments1 he visits his enemies with plagues previous to the deliverance of his children4 ,thus were the ancient ,egyptians visited1 before the ,israelites escaped from their power1 ,ex4 #e-aa4 ,the deliverance of the vials to the angels by one of the four 8living creatures10 indicates that the intelligences in the divine presence1 which are thus symbolized1 are cognizant of ,god's design1 and acquiesce in his purpose to visit the subjects of his wrath with these plagues4 ,by these being called 8the vials of ,god's wrath10 we learn that their infliction is not corrective1 but judicial2--that they are not agents of mercy1 but of vengeance4 ,the filling of the temple with the smoke of ,god's glory1 to the exclusion of all persons during the pouring out of the vials1 shows that during that period1 there will be no intercession with ,god for him to refrain from the execution of the purposes thus symbolized4 ,they are inevitable2 and there will be no supplication for their suspension4 ,when ,moses had finished the type of the 8,holiest of all10 a 8cloud covered the tent of the congregation1 and the glory of the ,lord filled the tabernacle4 ,and ,moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation1 because the cloud abode thereon1 and the glory of the ,lord filled the tabernacle10 ,ex4 #dj3cd1 #ce4 ,it was only when ,moses could enter the tabernacle1 that he could there commune with ,god face to face1 ,ex4 #cc3i1 #aa4 ,the voice from the temple to the seven angels1 shows that the acts commanded are the subjects of divine appointment1--the angels simply designating the commencement of the several judgments4 ,the ,first ,vial4 8,and the first went away1 and poured out his bowl on the earth2 and there came an evil and sore ulcer on the men who had the mark of the beast1 and on those worshipping his image40 ,rev4 #af3b4 ,the 8earth10 in the ,apocalypse1 symbolizes a quiet and settled government 7#ac3aa71 in distinction from one politically agitated1 which is symbolized by waters1 #ac3a2 #ag3ae4 ,those who receive the contents of the first vial1 being the worshippers of the 8beast0 and its 8image0 7#ac3ae71 it is certain that the governments on which it is poured1 are subservient to the church of ,rome and within the boundaries of the ten kingdoms4 ,the effect of the vial is 8a noisome and grievous sore20 and the only things analogous1 are mental maladies4 ,therefore the results symbolized must be noxious principles and opinions1 which fill the mind with rancor and hate1--producing strife1 alienation and contention4 ,the epoch here symbolized1 in the very unanimous opinion of most judicious writers1 corresponds with the commencement of the agitations which preceded the outbreak of the first ,french revolution1 about ,a4 ,d4 #aghe4 ,commencing in ,france1 and extending with more or less virulence throughout the ten kingdoms1 there was excited an intense uneasiness of the people respecting their relation to their rulers4 ,they regarded themselves as insupportably oppressed and degraded1 and were exasperated to madness against their respective governments4 ,this1 under the next vial1 resulted in the overthrow of the ,french monarchy1 and in attempted revolutions in other kingdoms4 ,the ,second ,vial4 8,and the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea2 and it became like the blood of a dead person2 and every living creature in the sea died40 ,rev4 #af3h4 ,the first vial having excited political agitations in previously quiet governments1 they are now more fitly symbolized by the 8sea0 than by the 8earth40 ,and on such the second vial is poured4 ,as the sea symbolizes a people agitated and disquieted1 the living things in it1 must symbolize those who live on and are sustained by the people4 ,consequently1 the waters becoming blood1 and the death of the things living in the waters1 symbolize the shedding of the blood of the people1 and the slaughter1 by them1 of their rulers and superiors4 ,the epoch symbolized1 would therefore correspond with the actual outbreak of the ,french revolution1 to which the agitations produced by the previous vial had goaded on the excited people4 ,in their riots and insurrections1 history records the destruction of large numbers of the populace2 and these exterminated the members of the royal family1 and all persons of rank and influence4 ,a million of people1 according to ,alison1 perished in the civil war of ,la ,vendee alone2 and thousands of the nobility and persons of distinction were ruthlessly slaughtered throughout ,france1 whose rivers were discolored with the blood of the slain4 ,the ,third ,vial4 8,and the third poured out his bowl on the rivers and on the fountains of waters2 and they became blood4 ,and ,i heard the angel of the waters say1 ,thou art righteous1 ,o ,thou1 who art1 and wast holy1 because thou hast inflicted these judgments2 for they have poured out the blood of saints and prophets1 and thou hast given them blood to drink3 they are worthy6 ,and ,i heard one from the altar1 saying1 ,even so1 ,lord ,god ,almighty1 true and righteous are thy judgments60 ,rev4 #af3d-g4 ,mr4 ,lord justly remarks that 8,rivers and fountains of waters1 are to a sea1 what smaller exterior communities and nations are to a great central people40 ,as the ,french nation was the sea1 the 8rivers and fountains0 symbolize contiguous or more remote communities surrounding it4 ,these are said to have become blood1 without its being specified that the living things in them perished1 as in the sea4 ,accordingly1 while the greater portion of ,europe continued1 with little interruption1 for twenty years from #agib1 to be deluged with war and bloodshed1 the nobles and rulers of the other nations were not exterminated1 as in ,france4 ,the nations thus overwhelmed with blood1 were those which had sanctioned the shedding of the blood of the saints2 consequently their retribution was just4 ,the ,fourth ,vial4 8,and the fourth angel poured out his vial on the sun2 and it was given him to burn men with fire4 ,and men were burned with great heat1 and reviled the name of ,god1 who had power over these plagues2 and they repented not to give him glory40 ,rev4 #af3h1 #i4 ,the influence of the sun on the earth and sea1 is analogous to that of a government on the subjects of its rule4 ,as the right degree of light and heat is conducive to vegetation1 and the excessive action of the sun's rays will scorch and destroy2 so a genial government is a blessing to the people1 while its arbitrary and tyrannical acts are often insupportably oppressive4 ,with the overthrow of the ,french monarchy under the second vial1 there arose new rulers in ,france1 who usurped despotic powers1 and subjected the governed to most oppressive exactions4 ,the rich were impoverished1 the nation was robbed1 the business of the country was paralyzed1 the obnoxious were slain1 every species of misery and wickedness abounded1 the males were subjected to military conscription1 and hundreds of thousands of them were sent to subjugate surrounding nations4 ,the countries they invaded were also devastated1 and oppressed1 and robbed by impoverishing taxations4 ,these continued1 though in a milder form1 under the imperial rule1 and all parts of the ,roman earth felt the scorching effects of the devouring heat of ,french usurpation4 ,but when ,napoleon passed beyond the boundaries of the ,roman empire1 he was met and driven back by the snow and frost of the ,almighty4 ,notwithstanding the oppressions to which the people were subjected1 and the exactions under which they groaned1 they made no recognition of ,god's sovereignty4 ,they saw not that this chastisement was from ,him4 ,they did not deprecate his wrath1 nor acknowledge his righteousness1 but still continued to be infidels and apostates4 ,they continued to blaspheme the name of ,god1 who had power over these plagues1 and repented not to give him glory4 ,the ,fifth ,vial4 8,and the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the wild beast2 and his kingdom was darkened2 and they gnawed their tongues through pain1 and reviled the ,god of heaven1 because of their pains and their ulcers1 and repented not of their deeds0 ,rev4 #af3aj1 #aa4 ,the beast1 here spoken of1 is the same seven-headed1 ten-horned wild beast that ascended out of the sea 7,rev4 #ac3a71 symbolizing the ,roman empire in its divided form4 ,consequently the seat or throne of the beast would be the ruling power which exercised and controlled the government of these kingdoms4 ,just previous to this epoch1 ,napoleon had reached the summit of his power2 and the subversion of his throne1 with the restoration of the ,bourbon dynasty in #ahad and #ahae1 is evidently here symbolized4 ,napoleon had become the idol of ,france1 which worshipped at the shrine of his glory4 ,with his fall1 their sun was stricken from its firmament1 and the kingdom was darkened4 ,the change being effected by foreign arms1 the chagrin and mortification of his adherents was natural and expected4 ,they were filled with pain and anguish at this termination of all their hopes4 ,the re-imposition on them of the ,bourbon line1 revived all their former hatred towards their rulers and sense of oppression1 symbolized by the ulcers of the first vial4 ,they continued still a nation of infidels1 performing the same works of blasphemy against ,god2 and again and again have they risen in rebellion against their government4 ,the ,sixth ,vial4 8,and the sixth poured out his bowl on the great river1 the ,euphrates2 and its water was dried up1 that the way of the kings from the rising of the sun might be prepared40 ,rev4 #af3ab4 ,this symbol resembles a like prediction respecting ancient ,babylon3 8,a drought is upon her waters1 and they shall be dried up10 7,jer4 #ej3ch72 and 8,i will dry up her sea1 and make her springs dry10 ,jer4 #ea3cf4 ,ancient ,babylon was situated on the river ,euphrates1 which contributed to the wealth and greatness of the city1 and was a means of its defence4 ,the kings of ,media and ,persia1 from the east of ,babylon1 subjugated it by diverting from the city the waters of the river1 and entering by its unprotected bed4 ,the turning of the waters into other channels1 fulfilled the prediction that it should be dried up4 ,waters1 when used as a symbol1 are explained to be 8peoples1 nations10 c41 ,rev4 #ag3ae4 ,in the #agth chapter of the ,apocalypse1 the angel informs the revelator that he will show him 8the judgment of the great harlot who sitteth on many waters10 7#ag3a72 which implies that he had already seen a vision to that effect4 ,he is then shown a woman on a scarlet-colored beast 7v4 #c71 who is spoken of as sitting 8on many waters0 7v4 #a71 and on seven mountains 7v4 #aj71 and who is affirmed to be the 8great city1 which reigneth over the kings of the earth10 v4 #ah4 ,under the seventh vial1 the 8great city10 which is 8great ,babylon10 is divided into three parts 7#af3ai72 and the inference is1 that the harlot and ancient ,babylon are analogous symbols of the same organized agency2 and1 that the city was here exhibited on the great river ,euphrates4 ,as a woman clothed with sunbeams and crowned with stars 7,rev4 #ab3a71 and a city illuminated with the glory of ,god 7,rev4 #ba3aj71 are each symbols of the true church1 corresponding symbols of opposite moral characteristics are appropriate representatives of a corrupt and apostate church4 ,as ,jerusalem was the seat of the ancient church1 so was ,babylon the seat of her oppressors4 ,the former is addressed as a woman1 and told to put on her 8beautiful garments10 7,isa4 #eb3a72 and ,babylon is called the 8daughter of the ,chaldeans10 and 8the lady of kingdoms10 7,isa4 #dg3e73 so that a woman1 and a city of corresponding character1 may1 interchangeably1 symbolize the same object4 ,consequently1 the 8,babylon10 and the 8harlot0 of the ,apocalypse1 both symbolize the corrupt ,roman hierarchy4 ,ancient ,babylon is described as a harlot1 and is addressed as one who 8dwellest upon many waters1 abundant in treasures10 7,jer4 #ea3ac72 whose end was to come by her waters being dried up1 #ea3cf4 ,that city sustained a relation to the waters on which it was situated1 analogous to that held by the ,roman ,catholic church to the people who support and defend her pretensions4 ,their alienation and withdrawal from her support1 must therefore be symbolized by the drying up of the great river ,euphrates1 which becomes diverted into other channels4 ,this is now apparently being fulfilled in the marked alienation of feeling from the church of ,rome1 which is evident throughout the ten kingdoms4 ,during the last twenty years1 the hold of that community on the affection of her supporters in ,europe1 has been constantly becoming weaker and weaker4 ,infidel principles have been extensively propagated4 ,her cathedrals have been comparatively deserted2 and her existence has been endured more as a matter of expediency than of affection4 ,at the present moment1 probably1 the mass of the people have little confidence in her pretensions2 but it will require a more marked withdrawal from her support than has yet been witnessed1 to fulfil1 in all its significance1 the meaning conveyed in the symbol4 ,the 8kings of the east10 whose way is to be thus prepared1 are doubtless her enemies1 who1 having produced the desired alienation from her support1 will take advantage of her defenceless position1 and hasten her ruin2 as the kings of ,media and ,persia1 in like manner1 subjugated old ,babylon4 ,under the operation of the sixth vial1 and1 according to the fulfilment of the preceding symbols1 corresponding with the present time1 are to be developed3 ,the ,unclean ,spirits4 8,and ,i saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon1 and out of the mouth of the wild beast1 and out of the mouth of the false prophet4 ,for they are spirits of demons1 performing signs1 that go forth to the kings of the whole world1 to gather them to the battle of that great day of ,god ,almighty40 ,rev4 #af3ac1 #ad4 ,the 8dragon10 8beast10 and 8false prophet10 being regarded as symbols3 the first1 of the ,roman empire previous to its subversion by the northern barbarians2 the second of the ten kingdoms which subsequently arose2 and the third1 of the eastern ,roman empire--now the ,mohamedan power2 the mouths of each1 from which the frog-like spirits emerge1 are next to be considered4 ,to the wild beast was given 8a mouth1 speaking great things and blasphemies10 the power of which was 8to continue forty and two months10 ,rev4 #ac3e4 ,the agreement of this with the corresponding appendages of ,daniel's 8little horn0 7,dan4 #g3h71 makes it evident that a 8mouth0 is a symbol of an ecclesiastical organization existing in a political one1--that it symbolizes the agency by which the people are taught1 and is representative of ecclesiastics1 who are the mouthpiece of the nation in all matters of faith and worship1 p4 #agb4 ,the religion of ,rome imperial1 when symbolized by the dragon1 was ,paganism2 that of the ten kingdoms1 was the ,papacy2 and that of the eastern empire1 is ,mohammedanism4 ,from these three1 then1 emerge the 8unclean spirits40 ,diverse as their origin appears1 they have no marked individual peculiarities4 ,being alike in their characteristics1 they must symbolize some common agency3--a combination of religious teachers1 whose views harmonize in a system of belief common to ,paganism1 ,catholicism1 and ,mohammedanism4 ,the character of these teachers1 is shown by the declaration that 8they are the spirits of devils working miracles40 ,there are two words rendered devils in the ,new ,testament1 viz43 7daimonion7 or 7daimoon71 and 7diabolus74 ,the latter signifies the ,devil1 or ,satan1 who is the same as ,beelzebub the prince of the demons1 ,matt4 #ab3be4 ,he it was by whom ,jesus was tempted in the wilderness1 7,matt4 #d3a-aa72 who sowed the tares in the field1 7,matt1 #ac3ci72 and for whom1 with his angels1 the final punishment for the wicked is prepared1 ,matt4 #be3da4 ,the word here1 is daimoon4 ,it is used1 in different forms1 sixty-five times by our ,lord and his apostles2 and on no occasion do they hint that they use the word in a sense different from its then accepted signification2 to learn which1 recourse must be had to the testimony of the ,pagan1 ,jewish1 and ,christian writers of those times47#f7 ,,hesiod taught that1 8,the spirits of departed mortals become demons when separated from their earthly bodies20 and ,,plutarch1 that 8,the demons of the ,greeks were the ghosts and genii of departed men40 8,all ,pagan antiquity affirms10 says ,dr4 ,,campbell1 8that from ,titan and ,saturn1 the poetic progeny of ,clus and ,terra1 down to sculapius1 ,proteus1 and ,minos1 all their divinities were the ghosts of dead men2 and were so regarded by the most erudite of the ,pagans themselves40 ,among the ,pagans1 the term demon1 as often represented a good as an evil spirit2 but among the ,jews1 it generally1 if not universally1 denoted an unclean1 malign1 or wicked spirit4 ,thus ,,josephus says3 8,demons are the spirits of wicked men40 ,,philo says that 8,the souls of dead men are called demons40 8,the notion10 says ,dr4 ,,lardner1 8of demons1 or the souls of dead men1 having power over living men1 was universally prevalent among the heathen of these times the first two centuries1 and believed by many ,christians40 ,,justin ,,martyr speaks of 8those who are seized by the souls of the dead1 whom we call demons and madmen40 ,ignatius quotes the words of ,christ to ,peter thus3 8,handle me and see2 for ,i am not a daimoon asomaton1--a disembodied demon10--i4e4 a spirit without a body4 ,the foregoing is evidence of the ,new ,testament signification of the word daimoon1 here improperly rendered devils1--spirits of which1 the frog-like agencies are affirmed to be4 ,demon worship is a characteristic of the three religions referred to4 ,as already shown1 all ,pagans regarded their gods as the ghosts of dead men2 and the ,bible speaks of them as devils1 i4e4 demons4 ,moses says of them1 8,even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods10 7,deut4 #ab3ca72 while the ,psalmist affirms that 8they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils10 ,ps4 #ajf3cg4 8,they sacrificed unto devils1 not to ,god2 to gods whom they knew not1 to new gods that came newly up10 ,deut4 #cb3ag4 ,jeroboam 8ordained him priests for the high places1 and for the devils10 #b ,chron4 #aa3ae4 8,the things which the ,gentiles sacrifice1 they sacrifice to devils1 and not to ,god3 and ,i would not that ye should have fellowship with devils4 ,ye cannot drink the cup of the ,lord and the cup of devils2 ye cannot be partakers of the ,lord's table1 and of the table of devils10--i4e4 of demons4 ,of the same kind are the gods of the heathen now4 ,in the ,youth's ,day-,spring1 for ,june1 a missionary describing the alarm and grief of the ,africans on the ,gaboon river1 at the near prospect of a death in their village1 says3 8,the room was filled with women1 who were weeping in the most piteous manner1 and calling on the spirits of their fathers and of others who were dead1 and upon all spirits in whom they believe1 ,ologo1 ,njembi1 ,abambo1 and ,mbwini1 to save the man from death4 ,these spirits could not help them1 but they knew of none mightier1 and so called on them40 ,mr4 ,white1 a ,wesleyan missionary1 says3 8,there is a class of people in ,new ,zealand1 called ,eruku1 or priests4 ,these men pretend to have intercourse with departed spirits1 444 by which they are able to kill by incantation any person on whom their anger may fall40 ,the ,sandwich ,islanders1 when they found that ,christians supposed they worshipped the images of their gods1 were much amused1 and said 8,we are not such fools40 ,they used the idol as an aid to fix their minds on their divinity4 ,some of them supposed their divinity was a spirit residing in their idol4 ,the ,mohammedans1 while they recognize ,god1 are also 8taught by the ,koran to believe the existence of an intermediate order of creatures1 which they call ,jin1 or genii20 some of which are supposed to be good and others bad1 and capable of communicating with men1 and rewarding or punishing them4 ,the #gb;d chapter of the ,koran consists of a pretended communication from the genii to ,mohammed4 ,they are made to say3 8,there are some among us who are upright1 and there are some among us who are otherwise20 and speaking of men3 8,if they tread in the way of truth1 we will surely water them with abundance of rain10 i4e4 will grant them plenty of good things4 ,thus they are recognized as dispensers of good4 ,they bear a striking resemblance to the spirits which now pretend to communicate with men6 ,all who are familiar with ,arabian romances know how frequently genii1 fairies1 c41 figure as agents in the execution of wonderful exploits4 ,the ,romanists also pretend to communicate with demons1--i4e4 with departed spirits4 ,they deify the ,virgin ,mary1 and supplicate the intercessions of many departed saints2 and some they supplicate1 whose claim to saintship is somewhat equivocal4 ,their teachings in this particular1 ,protestants generally recognize as the subject of the following prediction3 8,now the ,spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith1 giving heed to seducing spirits1 and doctrines of devils10--demons1 #a ,tim4 #d3a4 ,demon-worship being common to ,paganism1 ,mohammedanism1 and ,popery1 when the frog-like agency emerges from them1 the conditions of the symbol seem to require that it shall originate with1 but shall pass beyond and outside the influence of those religions4 ,the agency thus symbolized1 was to 8go forth unto the kings of the earth1 and of the whole world40 ,its fulfilment requires a wonderful and an alarming increase of those who teach and believe these doctrines2 and as they are to work miracles1 whereby the world will be deceived1 their teachings are to be accompanied by extraordinary phenomena1 which will be unexplainable by any of the known laws of science4 ,the spirits of the departed are to be recognized by them as authoritative teachers1 who are to be reverenced and obeyed4 ,they will be regarded as communicating with mortals1 as unveiling the hidden things of the invisible state1 and as performing acts requiring the exercise of physical power4 ,the former are evident from the analogy which exists between this and demon-worship2 and the latter1 from the ascription to them of miraculous acts4 ,the existence of demoniacal intelligences1 capable of communicating with and acting on mortals1 appears to be in accordance with the teachings of the ,saviour and apostles4 ,demoniacal possessions are clearly distinguished from all diseases2 and demons are shown1 by the admissions of the ,new ,testament1 to be actual intelligences1 capable of physical power4 ,when the fame of ,christ 8went throughout all ,syria1 they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments1 and those which were possessed with devils1 and those which were lunatic1 and those which had the palsy2 and he healed them10 ,matt4 #d3bd4 8,when the unclean spirit is gone out of a man1 he walketh through dry places1 seeking rest1 and findeth none4 ,then he saith1 ,i will return into my house from whence ,i came out2 and when he is come1 he findeth it empty1 swept1 and garnished4 ,then goeth he1 and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself1 and they enter in and dwell there3 and the last state of that man is worse than the first10 ,matt4 #ab3dc-de4 8,and as they went out1 behold they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil47#g7 ,and when the devil was cast out1 the dumb spake2 and the multitudes marvelled1 saying1 ,it was never so seen in ,israel4 ,but the ,pharisees said1 ,he casteth out devils17#h7 through the prince of the devils10 ,matt4 #i3cb-cd4 8,and when they were come to the multitude1 there came to him a certain man kneeling down to him1 and saying1 ,lord1 have mercy on my son2 for he is lunatic1 and sore vexed1 for oft-times he falleth into the fire1 and oft into the water4 ,and ,i brought him to thy disciples1 and they could not cure him4 ,then ,jesus answered and said1 ,o faithless and perverse generation1 how long shall ,i be with you8 how long shall ,i suffer you8 ,bring him hither to me4 ,and ,jesus rebuked the devil1 and he departed out of him2 and the child was cured from that very hour10 ,matt4 #ag3ad-ah4 8,and there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit3 and he cried out1 saying1 ,let us alone2 what have we to do with thee1 thou ,jesus of ,nazareth8 art thou come to destroy us8 ,i know thee who thou art1 the ,holy ,one of ,god4 ,and ,jesus rebuked him1 saying1 ,hold thy peace1 and come out of him4 ,and when the unclean spirit had torn him1 and cried with a loud voice1 he came out of him4 ,and they were all amazed1 insomuch that they questioned among themselves1 ,what thing is this8 what new doctrine is this8 for with what authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits1 and they do obey him60 ,mark #a3bc-bg4 8,and when he was come out of the ship1 immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit1 who had his dwelling among the tombs2 and no man could bind him1 no1 not with chains3 because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains1 and the chains had been plucked asunder by him1 and the fetters broken in pieces3 neither could any man tame him4 ,and always1 night and day1 he was in the mountains1 and in the tombs1 crying1 and cutting himself with stones4 ,but when he saw ,jesus afar off1 he ran and worshipped him1 and cried with a loud voice1 and said1 ,what have ,i to do with thee1 ,jesus1 thou ,son of the ,most ,high ,god6 ,i adjure thee1 by ,god1 that thou torment me not4 7,for he said unto him1 ,come out of the man1 thou unclean spirit47 ,and he asked him1 ,what is thy name8 ,and he answered1 saying1 ,my name is ,legion3 for we are many4 ,and he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country4 ,now there was nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding4 ,and all the devils besought him1 saying1 ,send us into the swine1 that we may enter into them4 ,and forthwith ,jesus gave them leave4 ,and the unclean spirits went out1 and entered into the swine2 and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea 7they were about two thousand71 and were choked in the sea10 ,mark #e3b-ac4 ,in all these instances1 the demons are recognized as actual intelligences1 performing given acts4 ,without the admission of this1 it will be difficult to explain the meaning of a large class of scriptures4 ,it cannot for a moment be supposed that the inspired writers would be permitted to use language which should directly mislead the common mind4 ,among the miracles which the apostles wrought1 8unclean spirits1 crying with a loud voice1 came out of many possessed with them1 and many taken with palsies1 and that were lame1 were healed10 ,acts #h3g4 8,and ,god wrought special miracles by the hands of ,paul3 so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs1 or aprons1 and the diseases departed from them1 and the evil spirits went out of them4 ,then certain of the vagabond ,jews1 exorcists1 took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits1 the name of the ,lord ,jesus1 saying1 ,we adjure you by ,jesus whom ,paul preacheth4 ,and there were seven sons of one ,sceva1 a ,jew1 and chief of the priests1 who did so4 ,and the evil spirit answered and said1 ,jesus ,i know1 and ,paul ,i know2 but who are ye8 ,and the man in whom the evil spirit was1 leaped on them1 and overcame them1 and prevailed against them1 so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded4 ,and many that believed1 came and confessed1 and showed their deeds4 ,many of them also which used curious arts1 brought their books together1 and burned them before all men3 and they counted the price of them1 and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver10 ,acts #ai3aa-af1 #ah1 #ai4 ,the necromancy1 divination1 and witchcraft1 forbidden in the ,old ,testament and practised by the heathen of those times1 were all of a similar character4 ,a necromancer was one who had1 or pretended to have communication with the dead1--who sought 8for the living to the dead107#i7 ,isa4 #h3ai4 ,they practised divination in divers ways1 but usually admitted their dependence on familiar spirits1--the spirits of the departed1--demons4 8,the king of ,babylon stood at the parting of the way1 at the head of the two ways1 to use divination2 he made his arrows bright1 he consulted with images1 he looked in the liver4 ,at his right hand was the divination for ,jerusalem1 to appoint captains1 to open the mouth in the slaughter1 to lift up the voice with shouting1 to appoint battering-rams against the gates1 to cast a mount1 and to build a fort4 ,and it shall be unto them as false divination in their sight1 to them that have sworn oaths3 but he will call to remembrance the iniquity1 that they may be taken10 ,ezek4 #ba3ba-bc4 ,they observed times1 i4e4 they regarded some as lucky1 and others as unlucky times for the commencement of any work1--recognizing distinctions which ,god had not made4 ,the heathen divinities were regarded as more propitious at some times than others4 ,it is enumerated among the sins of ,manasseh1 that he 8made his sons pass through the fire1 and observed times1 and used enchantments1 and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards10 #b ,kings #ba3f4 ,they practised various arts1 whereby they thought to protect themselves from evil1 and to pry into the secrets of futurity4 ,because of these things1 ancient ,babylon was suddenly overwhelmed1--8for the multitude of thy sorceries1 and for the great abundance of thine enchantments40 ,these could not save1 as they supposed4 ,therefore ,god said to them3 8,stand now with thine enchantments1 and with the multitude of thy sorceries1 wherein thou hast labored from thy youth2 if so be thou shalt be able to profit1 if so be thou mayest prevail4 ,thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels4 ,let now the astrologers1 the star-gazers1 the monthly prognosticators1 stand up1 and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee10 ,isa4 #dg3ab1 #ac4 ,all these practices were forbidden by ,god1 who said3 8,neither shall ye use enchantments1 nor observe times10 ,lev4 #ai3bf4 ,those who consulted with familiar spirits were termed wizards and witches1--the practice of which was also expressly forbidden4 ,to make witchcraft a mere pretence1 is to impute to ,jehovah the making of laws against pretences and nonentities4 ,to suppose that he would legislate against1 and inflict capital punishment1 because of mere pretences1 is incredible6 ,god said to ,moses1 8,thou shalt not suffer a witch to live10 ,ex4 #bb3ah4 ,and to the ,jews he said1 8,regard not them that have familiar spirits1 neither seek after wizards1 to be defiled by them3 ,i am the ,lord your ,god10 ,lev4 #ai3ca4 8,and the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits1 and after wizards1 to go a whoring after them1 ,i will even set my face against that soul1 and will cut him off from among his people40 8,a man1 also1 or a woman1 that hath a familiar spirit1 or that is a wizard1 shall surely be put to death3 they shall stone them with stones3 their blood shall be upon them10 ,lev4 #bj3f1bg4 ,when ,egypt was to be destroyed1 they were left to 8seek to the idols1 and to charmers1 and to them that have familiar spirits1 and to wizards10 ,isa4 #ai3c4 ,the manner in which the familiar spirit spoke1 was by 8peeping10 8muttering10 whispering out of the dust1 c4 ,god said to ,ariel1 8,and thou shalt be brought down1 and shalt speak out of the ground1 and thy speech shall be low out of the dust1 and thy voice shall be as of one that hath a familiar spirit1 out of the ground1 and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust10 ,isa4 #bi3d4 8,and when they shall say unto you1 ,seek unto them that have familiar spirits1 and unto wizards that peep1 and that mutter3 7should not a people seek unto their ,god8 for the living to the dead67 to the law and to the testimony3 if they speak not according to this word1 it is because there is no light in them10 ,isa4 #h3ai1 #bj4 ,saul had put away those that had familiar spirits1 and the wizards1 out of the land2 but when he 8inquired of the ,lord1 the ,lord answered him not1 neither by dreams1 nor by ,urim1 nor by prophets4 ,then said ,saul unto his servants1 ,seek a woman that hath a familiar spirit1 that ,i may go to her1 and inquire of her4 ,and his servants said to him1 ,behold1 there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at ,en-dor4 ,and ,saul disguised himself1 and put on other raiment1 and he went1 and two men with him1 and they came to the woman by night3 and he said1 ,i pray thee divine unto me by the familiar spirit1 and bring me him up whom ,i shall name unto thee4 ,and the woman said unto him1 ,behold1 thou knowest what ,saul hath done1 how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits1 and the wizards out of the land2 wherefore1 then1 layest thou a snare for my life1 to cause me to die8 ,and ,saul sware unto her by the ,lord1 saying1 ,as the ,lord liveth1 there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing4 ,then said the woman1 ,whom shall ,i bring up to thee8 ,and he said1 ,bring me up ,samuel4 ,and when the woman saw ,samuel she cried with a loud voice3 and the woman spake to ,saul1 saying1 ,why hast thou deceived me8 for thou art ,saul4 ,and the king said unto her1 ,be not afraid3 for what sawest thou8 ,and the woman said unto ,saul1 ,i saw gods ascending out of the earth4 ,and he said unto her1 ,what form is he of8 ,and she said1 ,an old man cometh up2 and he is covered with a mantle4 ,and ,saul perceived that it was ,samuel1 and he stooped with his face to the ground1 and bowed himself4 ,and ,samuel said to ,saul1 ,why hast thou disquieted me1 to bring me up8 ,and ,saul answered1 ,i am sore distressed2 for the ,philistines make war against me1 and ,god is departed from me1 and answereth me no more1 neither by prophets1 nor by dreams3 therefore ,i have called thee1 that thou mayest make known unto me what ,i shall do4 ,then said ,samuel1 ,wherefore then dost thou ask of me1 seeing the ,lord is departed from thee1 and is become thine enemy8 ,and the ,lord hath done to him1 as he spake by me3 for the ,lord hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand1 and given it to thy neighbor1 even to ,david3 because thou obeyedst not the voice of the ,lord1 nor executedest his fierce wrath upon ,amelek1 therefore hath the ,lord done this thing unto thee this day4 ,moreover1 the ,lord will also deliver ,israel with thee into the hand of the ,philistines3 and to-morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me3 the ,lord also shall deliver the host of ,israel into the hand of the ,philistines4 ,then ,saul fell straightway all along on the earth1 and was sore afraid1 because of the words of ,samuel3 and there was no strength in him10 #a ,sam4 #bh3f-bj4 ,micaiah 8saw the ,lord sitting on his throne1 and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left4 ,and the ,lord said1 ,who shall persuade ,ahab1 that he may go up and fall at ,ramoth-gilead8 ,and one said on this manner1 and another said on that manner4 ,and there came forth a spirit1 and stood before the ,lord1 and said1 ,i will persuade him4 ,and the ,lord said unto him1 ,wherewith8 ,and he said1 ,i will go forth1 and ,i will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets4 ,and he said1 ,thou shalt persuade him1 and prevail also3 go forth1 and do so4 ,now therefore1 behold1 the ,lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets1 and the ,lord hath spoken evil concerning thee10 #a ,kings #bb3ai-bc4 ,when ,paul was in the house of ,lydia1 he says1 8,it came to pass1 as we went to prayer1 a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination1 met us1 which brought her masters much gain by her soothsaying3 the same followed ,paul and us1 and cried1 saying1 ,these men are the servants of the most high ,god1 which show unto us the way of salvation4 ,and this she did many days4 ,but ,paul1 being grieved1 turned and said to the spirit1 ,i command thee in the name of ,jesus ,christ to come out of her4 ,and he came out the same hour10 ,acts #af3af-ah4 ,by sorcery1 enchantment1 c41 they performed wonders1 or miracles1 either real or pretended4 8,there was a certain man called ,simon1 which beforetime in the same city used sorcery1 and bewitched the people of ,samaria1 giving out that himself was some great one3 to whom they all gave heed1 from the least to the greatest1 saying1 ,this man is the great power of ,god4 ,and to him they had regard1 because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries10 ,acts #h3i-aa4 ,when 8,aaron cast down his rod before ,pharaoh1 and before his servants1 and it became a serpent1 then ,pharaoh also called the wise men1 and the sorcerers3 now the magicians of ,egypt they also did in like manner with their enchantments4 ,for they cast down every man his rod1 and they became serpents3 but ,aaron's rod swallowed up their rods10 ,ex4 #g3aj-ab4 ,when ,aaron turned the water of the river to blood1 8the magicians did so with their enchantments10 v4 #bb4 ,in like manner they 8brought up frogs upon the land of ,egypt10 #h3g4 ,but when ,aaron changed the dust to lice1 the magicians attempted the same with their enchantments1 8but they could not10 ,ex4 #h3ah4 ,these sorcerers who withstood ,moses1 we learn by ,paul1 were 8,jannes and ,jambres10 #b ,tim4 #c3h4 ,they belonged to an ancient profession in ,egypt2 for1 when ,pharaoh dreamed his dreams1 he first 8sent and called for all the magicians of ,egypt1 and all the wise men thereof3 and ,pharaoh told them his dreams2 but there was none that could interpret them unto ,pharaoh10 ,gen4 #da3h4 ,in like manner ,nebuchadnezzar 8commanded to call the magicians1 and the astrologers1 and the sorcerers1 and the ,chaldeans1 for to show the king his dreams4 ,so they came1 and stood before the king10 ,dan4 #b3b4 ,these things were practised to some extent in ,judah1 but were all put away by ,josiah4 8,moreover1 the workers with familiar spirits1 and the wizards1 and the images1 and the idols1 and all the abominations that were spied in the land of ,judah and in ,jerusalem1 did ,josiah put away1 that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that ,hilkiah the priest found in the house of the ,lord10 #b ,kings #bc3bd4 ,the acts and influences of demoniacal agencies are apparent from the foregoing2 and the symbolization under the sixth seal1 seems to indicate a revival of those teachings and manifestations at the present time4 ,within a few years1 the curiosity of the community has been excited1 and large numbers of persons greatly interested1 in various phenomena1 known as ,mesmerism1 ,animal-,magnetism1 ,clairvoyance1 ,pathetism1 ,neurology1 ,psychology1 ,biology1 ,electro-,biology1 c4 c4 ,similar manifestations have been before exhibited1 but not in modern times to the extent now witnessed4 ,these were regarded as harmless phenomena and independent of any supernatural agency1 till audible sounds were heard communicating intelligible responses4 ,then the claim was set up that these are caused by departed spirits4 ,these sounds were first heard near ,rochester1 ,new ,york1 in #ahdg2 and1 at the present time 7#aheb71 they are affirmed to exist in hundreds of places in this country1 and other sections of the globe4 ,they are audible raps1 the cause of which1 aside from the hypothesis of spiritual agency1 has never been satisfactorily accounted for4 ,by these raps1 unimpeached and credible witnesses testify that correct answers have been given to questions1 the facts respecting which were known to no one at the time of answering4 ,since then1 furniture has been seen to move about the room1 and other wonders1 or miracles1 been performed1 by invisible agency1 at the command of mediums to attending spirits1--i4e4 to demons4 ,mediums have written on paper1 as they profess1 involuntarily1 lengthy communications1 in poetry and prose1 the subjects of which they claim to have been ignorant of1 while the pen they held was moved independent of their own will4 ,these exhibitions have been attested by hundreds of credible witnesses4 ,by such manifestations large numbers of persons have given their adherence to these real or pretended agencies as truthful and reliable intelligences2 whose responses they receive with the same credence that we do the revelations of scripture4 8,circles0 are extensively formed1 who have sittings1 at stated times1 to receive communications from the spirits of the departed2 and these are enforced by miracles1 audible sounds1 the exercise of physical power1 c4 ,the reality and the credibility of these agencies are separate questions4 ,their reality is shown by their identity with similar manifestations of former times4 ,the ,bible affirms the existence of such3 8,for we wrestle not against flesh and blood1 but against principalities1 against powers1 against the rulers of the darkness of this world1 against spiritual wickedness in high places20 or 8wicked spirits0 in 8heavenly places10 as the margin reads1 ,eph4 #f3ab4 #a4 ,the familiar spirits of old responded in a manner similar to these4 ,they did 8peep0 and 8mutter20 their speech was low out of the dust2 they spoke out of the ground1 and whispered2 or1 as in the margin1 did 8peep0 or 8chirp0 out of the dust4 ,these 8rap0 and mutter4 ,they respond from beneath chairs1 tables and floors4 #b4 ,they exercised similar physical powers4 ,they threw down and tare the persons they possessed4 ,they turned the swine into the sea1 c4 ,these claim that chairs and tables1 are lifted and moved at will by an invisible agency4 #c4 ,they made similar pretensions to credibility4 ,simon ,magus gave out 8that himself was some great one20 and these1 that they utter divine truths4 #d4 ,similar regard was bestowed on those1 which is claimed for these4 ,to ,simon 8they all gave heed1 from the least to the greatest1 saying1 ,this man is the great power of ,god40 ,yet 8he had bewitched them with sorceries40 ,similar claims by1 and regard for these modern pretenders to the same art1 do not relieve them from the suspicion of a like agency4 8,for such are false apostles1 deceitful workers1 transforming themselves into the apostles of ,christ4 ,and no marvel2 for ,satan himself is transformed into an angel of light4 ,therefore1 it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness3 whose end shall be according to their works10 #b ,cor4 #aa3ac-ae4 #e4 ,both have given utterance to some truths4 ,the legion of demons who were cast out of the man into a herd of swine1 acknowledged ,jesus to be 8the ,son of the ,most ,high ,god20 and the pythonic spirit which so grieved ,paul1 declared the apostles to be 8the servants of the ,most ,high ,god1 which show unto us the way of salvation40 ,such communications with the invisible world being forbidden1 their credibility is disproved4 ,they claim that spirits of the departed are brought into direct and intelligent communication with the living1 who desire to interrogate them4 ,what more was claimed by the necromancers of old8 ,said ,saul to the woman of ,endor3 8,divine unto me by the familiar spirit1 and bring me him up whom ,i shall name unto thee10 #a ,sam4 #bh3h4 ,they claim that not all1 but only those persons are mediums who are peculiarly susceptible to spiritual influences4 ,wherein1 then1 admitting their claims1 do the 8mediums0 differ from those of old1 who divined by a familiar spirit8 ,their responses are frequently disproved by facts2 and themselves admit the existence of unreliable spirits1 which communicate like them4 ,they give contradictory responses1 and mutually criminate each other2 but their reality is not disproved by any discrepancy1 or want of truthfulness in their responses2 for if they are spirits1 none but unclean spirits would respond in a forbidden manner4 ,these spirits are to be discredited1 because they preach a different gospel from that preached by ,paul1 who says3 8,i marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of ,christ1 unto another gospel3 which is not another2 but there be some that trouble you1 and would pervert the gospel of ,christ4 ,but though we1 or an angel from heaven1 preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received1 let him be accursed10 ,gal4 #a3f-i4 8,if any man love not the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 let him be ,anathema1 ,maran-atha40 #a ,cor4 #af3bb4 ,said ,john1 8,beloved1 believe not every spirit1 but try the spirits whether they are of ,god3 because many false prophets are gone out into the world10 #a ,john #d3a4 ,also ,isaiah said1 8,and when they shall say unto you1 ,seek unto them that have familiar spirits1 and unto wizards that peep1 and that mutter3 should not a people seek unto their ,god8 ,to the law and to the testimony3 if they speak not according to this word1 it is because there is no light in them10 ,isa4 #h3ai1 #bj4 ,because of these practices1 the nations were driven out from before the children of ,israel4 ,and with the miracles to be wrought1 the frog-like spirits are to go forth to 8the whole world to gather them to the battle of that great day of ,god ,almighty40 ,in the time of ,abraham1 8the iniquity of the ,amorites was not yet full10 7,gen4 #ae3af72 but in four hundred years they had practised all the abominations for which they were to be destroyed1 and the practice of which ,god has expressly forbidden4 ,he said to ,israel1 in the wilderness1 8,when thou art come into the land which the ,lord thy ,god giveth thee1 thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nation4 ,there shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire1 or that useth divination1 or an observer of times1 or an enchanter1 or a witch1 or a charmer1 or a consulter with familiar spirits1 or a wizard1 or a necromancer4 ,for all that do these things are an abomination unto the ,lord3 and because of these abominations the ,lord thy ,god doth drive them out from before thee4 ,thou shalt be perfect with the ,lord thy ,god4 ,for these nations1 which thou shalt possess1 hearkened unto observers of times1 and unto diviners3 but as for thee1 the ,lord thy ,god hath not suffered thee so to do10 ,deut4 #ah3i-ad4 ,similar pernicious practices and dangerous heresies1 are to prepare the way for the final destruction of the nations who reject the claims of ,jehovah4 ,peter declares that 8there shall be false teachers among you1 who privily shall bring in damnable heresies1 even denying the ,lord that bought them1 and bring upon themselves swift destruction4 ,and many shall follow their pernicious ways2 by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of4 ,and through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you3 whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not1 and their damnation slumbereth not10 #b ,pet4 #b3a-c4 ,and ,paul says of that wicked3 8,whose coming is after the working of ,satan1 with all power1 and signs1 and lying wonders1 and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish2 because they received not the love of the truth1 that they might be saved4 ,and for this cause ,god shall send them strong delusion1 that they should believe a lie3 that they might be damned who believed not the truth1 but had pleasure in unrighteousness10 #b ,thess4 #b3i-ab4 8,the battle of that great day of ,god ,almighty10 it would seem1 must commence by a conflict of opinions4 ,mind will war with mind1 and puny man will stoutly contend against the truths of the ,almighty4 ,in this revival of demon-worship1 the old gods of the heathen are to be set up against the claims of ,jehovah4 ,his declarations are to be made to give place to 8doctrines of demons40 ,the teachings of ,god and of these spirits are to be brought into direct conflict4 ,the followers of the spirits have baptized their new theological dogmas1 8,the ,harmonial ,philosophy10 of which ,reason is the final umpire4 ,revelation no longer speaks to them in tones of authority4 ,from the ,bible1 it is claimed1 8the seal of infallibility must be broken away1 before a new light and beauty can enliven and embellish the mystical disclosures of any seer1 prophet1 or evangelist40 ,so writes ,andrew ,jackson ,davis1 the ,poughkeepsie seer1 one of the leaders of this new school1 who complains that 8owing to the dogmatism of infallibility1 the ,bible is taught now-a-days as it was nearly four centuries ago40--,review of ,dr4 ,bushnell1 p4 #aj4 ,the ,scriptures are1 with those of his faith1 only 8the paper and ink relics of ,christianity10 7,ib41 p4 #ba72 which they regard as 8a foundation as impermanent as the changeful sand0 7,ib4 p4 #bd71 and not adapted 8to the wants or requirements of the nineteenth century10 ,ib4 p4 #bf4 ,they reject ,him1 whom they style 8the cruel and capricious ,god generally worshipped by the ,bible ,christians10 ,ib4 p4 #dg4 8,the ,jewish ,god10 says ,davis1 8is cruel1 capricious and tyrannical10 whose 8kingdom is more despotic1 and more contracted in principle1 than the present government of the ,russian empire10 ,ib4 p4 #fa4 ,he adds1 8,the ,old ,testament idea of a ,deity is the outgrowth of the despotic stage of human mental development10 and 8a superannuated monotheistic conception10 ,ib4 p4 #fb4 ,in their opinion1 8the developments of republicanism1 and of mental happiness among men1 depend very much upon the absence of these dogmatical compilations1 or fossil relics1 of an old ,hebrew and ,chaldean theology10 ,ib4 p4 #gj4 ,with them 8the ,bible account of creation is a very interesting myth1--mainly a plagiarism from the early traditions and cosmological doctrines of the ancient ,persians and ,chaldeans20 and1 instead of being 8a divine revelation of truth10 is 8a pagan relic1 which should no more command serious respect than the ancient doctrines of ,fetichism10 ,ib4 p4 #ij4 ,these 8,harmonial ,philosophers0 are antagonistic to the teachings of ,jehovah in nearly all their theological notions4 ,they scout the idea that any actual evil exists in the universe4 ,they deny the existence of the devil1 and of evil spirits4 8,everything10 says ,davis1 8is forever progressing in goodness and perfection10 ,ib4 p4 #ahj4 ,the salvation of all men1 is with them as certain as the operation of fixed laws4 ,they recognize no ,saviour and no atonement in their system of faith4 ,the teachings of spirits1 and 8a certain organization of labor1 capital and talent10 they fancy1 8will effect the desired cure0 for all actual or supposed ills1 ,ib4 p4 #agh4 ,they recognize no responsibility in the sinner1 but attribute his wrong-doings to ignorance and accident2 and their laws of right1 are the dictates of their own wisdom4 ,their system is essentially ,pantheistic1 all things being regarded by them as a part and parcel of ,deity4 ,they argue that 8every object which has an existence in the universe must be in its nature good and pure1 on the principle that the effect must partake of the nature of the cause1 and the stream must be the corresponding emanation of the fountain from which it flows40--,elements of ,spiritual ,philosophy1 p4 #ee4 ,they teach that human spirits are 8formed primarily from the animating essences that pervade the creation1--which essences10 they say1 8are the breath and presence of the ,divinity20 and hence they argue1 8that there are no spirits which are intrinsically evil in their nature1 and none which do not present in their inward depths the reflection of divine purity10 ,ib4 p4 #ef4 ,going still further1 they claim that there is no existing 8source of positive evil10 8no principle of this nature in the human spirit10 and that consequently 8there can be no evil designs to emanate from such a source10 ,ib4 p4 #fj4 ,these assertions are put forth authoritatively2 for the 8,elements of ,spiritual ,philosophy0 are attested by witnesses to be 8written by ,spirits of the ,sixth ,circle1 ,r4 ,p4 ,ambler1 ,medium40 ,and if they are met by the declarations written by those who spake as they were moved by the ,holy ,ghost1 they reply3 8,the ,christian who deifies his ,bible is as much an idolater as the heathen who burns his incense before his household image4 ,it is surely attributing to the book what the ,pagan attributes to his image40--,shekinah1 ,april ,no41 p4 #bea4 ,christianity1 they denominate1 8learned scepticism1 baptized in the name of ,jesus10 c41 ,ib41 p4 #cja4 ,thus are they warring against the word of ,god1 and placing themselves in direct conflict with the ,almighty4 ,this warfare is not only avowed to be against the ,god of the ,bible1 but is recognized by themselves as the last great conflict previous to the millennium4 ,they regard this subject as 8the great question of the age1 which is destined to convulse and divide ,protestantism1 and around which all other religious controversies must necessarily revolve40--,davis' ,review of ,bushnell1 page #c4 ,the millennium which is to be thus ushered in1 they regard as a period when 8every one that desires will be able to hold direct intercourse and conversation with the spirit world40--,spiritual ,tel41 ,vol4 #a1 ,no4 #a4 ,says ,davis3 8,the thunders of a stupendous reformation are soon to issue from the now open mouth of the ,protestant church4 ,the supernatural faith10 i4e4 a belief in the authenticity of ,scripture1 8will be shaken1 as a reed in the tempest4 ,new channels will be formed for the inflowing of new truths1 and then a long-promised era will steal upon the religious and political world40--,review of ,bushnell1 p4 #ahg4 ,in another place he says3 8,you may be assured of the truth of this approaching crisis4 ,the world must recognize it1 because it will be accompanied with war2 for politics are inseparably connected1 all over the world1 with religious systems4 ,religion will develop reason2 but politics will impel the masses to unsheath the sword1 and to stain the bosom of ,nature with blood6 ,friends of progress6 be not discouraged2 for the ,,final ,,crisis must come2 then the strange interregnum10 ,ib4 p4 #bag4 8,protestantism as now constructed will first decay2 because it is to be divided into two1--the smallest party will go back into ,catholicism2 the other will go forward into ,rationalism4 ,and then1 after a succession of eventful years1 a political revolution will hurl the ,catholic superstructure to the earth1 and the prismatic bow of promise will span the heavens4 ,the children of earth will then be comparatively free and happy6 for the millennial epoch will have arrived2 and there will be something like a realization of peace on earth1 and good will toward all men60 ,ib4 p4 #bba4 ,such are their delusive hopes1 while setting themselves against the ,lord1 and against his ,anointed4 ,the ,bible teaches that multitudes will be deceived by them1 and1 if it were possible1 some of the elect2 and hence3 ,the ,admonition4 8,behold1 ,i come like a thief4 ,happy is he who watcheth1 and keepeth his garments1 lest he walk naked1 and they see his shame40 ,rev4 #af3ae4 8,the day of the ,lord will come as a thief in the night2 in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise1 and the elements shall melt with fervent heat10 #b ,pet4 #c3aj4 ,the ,saviour said to his disciples3 8,watch1 therefore2 for ye know not what hour your ,lord doth come10 ,matt4 #bd3db4 ,says ,paul3 8,yourselves know perfectly that the day of the ,lord so cometh as a thief in the night2 for when they shall say1 peace and safety1 then sudden destruction cometh1 444 and they shall not escape2 but ye1 brethren1 are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief10 #a ,thess4 #e3a-f4 ,thus will the day of the ,lord come1 as a thief1 on those who are careless and indifferent to its approach2 but it will not thus overtake those who watch1 and keep their garments4 ,because so many will be deceived by the strange performances of the spirits of demons1 and their miracles so delude the multitude1 ,christ's coming will be to them sudden and unexpected4 ,therefore the greater necessity for watchfulness4 ,while this is a predicted means for lulling the world to sleep1 it is given to the ,christian as an indication of the near coming of ,christ1 whose advent synchronizes with the outpouring of the seventh vial4 ,the blessing pronounced on those who watch1 is an intimation that the people of ,god will be expecting ,christ's advent1 while others will be taken by surprise3 8unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation10 ,heb4 #i3bh4 8,for the grace of ,god that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men1 teaching us1 that denying ungodliness1 and worldly lusts1 we should live soberly1 righteously1 and godly1 in this present world2 looking for that blessed hope1 and the glorious appearing of the great ,god1 and our ,saviour ,jesus ,christ10 ,titus #b3aa-ac4 ,those who keep their garments1 are those who have not 8defiled0 them with sin1 7#c3d72 they will walk with ,christ in white1 being worthy2 8for the fine linen0 in which they are to be arrayed 8is the righteousness of saints10 #ai3h4 ,to be destitute of this1 is to be unclothed2 and hence the ,saviour says3 8,i counsel thee to buy of me 444 white raiment1 that thou mayest be clothed1 and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear10 #c3ah4 ,the intimation is clear1 that to be deceived by the unclean spirits1 is to lose those robes of righteousness1 and to be found naked at ,christ's appearing4 ,the ,success of the ,spirits4 8,and they gathered them into a place called in ,hebrew ,armageddon40 ,rev4 #af3af4 ,before the coming of the ,lord1 and as a preparation for that event1 the nations are to be thus gathered4 ,armageddon is the name of a valley at the foot of ,mount ,megiddo1 famous for its bloody slaughters4 ,it fitly symbolizes the final gathering of the nations4 ,the enemies of ,god will marshal for the final conflict4 ,the powers of darkness will fancy themselves on the verge of victory2 and then will be poured out3 ,the ,seventh ,vial4 8,and the seventh poured out his bowl on the air2 and there came a loud voice from the temple of heaven1 from the throne1 saying1 ,it is done6 ,and there were lightnings1 and voices1 and thunders2 and there was a great earthquake1 such as was not since men were on the earth1 so mighty and so great an earthquake4 ,and the great city became three parts1 and the cities of the nations fell3 and great ,babylon was remembered before ,god1 to give to her the cup of the wine of his furious wrath4 ,and every island fled1 and the mountains were no more4 ,and vast hail1 weighing a talent1 fell from heaven on men2 and men reviled ,god because of the plague of the hail2 for the plague thereof was exceedingly great40 ,rev4 #af3ag-ba4 ,the atmosphere is not limited1 like a river1 or portion of the earth1 to a given locality1 but encircles the globe4 ,consequently the effect of the vial poured out on the air1 would be universal1 and not local like the effects of the previous vials4 ,the air is the region of storms4 ,these symbolize the expression of conflicting opinions1 and violent outbursts of passion2 which may be the commencement of that 8great battle10 for the preparation of which the unclean spirits went forth under the sixth vial1 to gather the people1 and which terminates by the slaying of the remnant with the sword of the ,lord1 #ai3ba4 ,an earthquake is a symbol of a political revolution4 ,as this is to be greater than all preceding ones1 it must extend to all nations4 ,it is during the earthquake1 that the cities fall and the mountains and islands flee away4 ,this commotion evidently synchronizes with the 8time of trouble1 such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time10 when ,god's 8people shall be delivered1 every one that shall be found written in the book10 ,dan4 #ab3a4 8,it is done10 is a declaration indicating the completion of the work symbolized4 ,it marks the termination of the events of the seventh vial1 which are described in the verses following3 8,the great city0 is 8,babylon10 7#ad3h72 which 8reigneth over the kings of the earth10 7#ag3h72 and which ,john had seen sitting 8upon many waters10 #ag3a4 ,this was doubtless seen when he saw the waters of the symbolic ,euphrates being dried up1 #af3ab4 ,babylon1 being a symbol of the ,roman hierarchy1 its triple division indicates a like division of the church of ,rome1 not geographical1 but under different leaders1 previous to its destruction4 8,the cities of the nations10 must symbolize other hierarchies1 analogous to that of ,rome1 of which there are the ,greek church1 in ,russia and ,greece1 the ,arminian and ,syrian churches1 and other corrupt nationalized establishments4 ,all such will become disconnected1 like ,babylon1 with the governments by which they are sustained4 8,great ,babylon0 then comes into remembrance to drink the cup of the wine of the fierceness of ,god's wrath4 ,because her sins have reached unto heaven1 8,god hath remembered her iniquities10 #ah3e4 ,this synchronizes with her destruction1 symbolized in ,rev4 #ah3h-bc4 ,as the ,papacy continues till ,christ's coming 7,dan4 #g3ba1 and #b ,thess4 #b3c-h71 this epoch must synchronize with that event1 when he comes to receive his chosen ones4 ,with the destruction of ,babylon1 occurs the subversion of all national authority4 ,as ecclesiastical hierarchies are symbolized by cities1 the 8mountains0 and 8islands0 on which they are situated must symbolize the larger and smaller governments2 and their removal from their places1 their subversion in the great moral 8earthquake0 which is to overwhelm them4 ,this synchronizes with the sixth seal1 when they are all 8removed out of their places10 7#f3ad72 and it leaves the inhabitants of earth in a state of anarchy4 ,it is at this time that the kings and great men of the earth become aware that the great day of ,god's wrath is come1 #f3ae-ag4 ,with this time of trouble1 comes the deliverance of ,god's people1 7,dan4 #ab3a72 who shall be caught up together 8to meet the ,lord in the air10 #a ,thess4 #d3ag4 ,to them the ,lord has said1 8,thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night2 nor for the arrow that flieth by day2 nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness2 nor for the destruction that wasteth at noon-day4 ,a thousand shall fall at thy side1 and ten thousand at thy right hand2 but it shall not come nigh thee4 ,only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked4 ,because thou hast made the ,lord which is my refuge1 even the ,most ,high1 thy habitation10 ,ps4 #ia3e-i4 ,the removal of the saints leaves the wicked exposed to the vengeance of ,god's wrath1 of which a terrific hail-storm on their defenceless heads1 is an expressive symbol4 ,the ,lord said1 by ,isaiah3 8,judgment also will ,i lay to the line1 and righteousness to the plummet3 and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies1 and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place4 ,and your covenant with death shall be disannulled1 and your agreement with hell shall not stand2 when the overflowing scourge shall pass through1 then ye shall be trodden down by it4 ,from the time that it goeth forth it shall take you3 for morning by morning shall it pass over1 by day and by night3 and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report4 ,for the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it3 and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it4 ,for the ,lord shall rise up as in ,mount ,perazim1 he shall be wroth as in the valley of ,gibeon1 that he may do his work1 his strange work2 and bring to pass his act1 his strange act4 ,now therefore be ye not mockers1 lest your bands be made strong3 for ,i have heard from the ,lord ,god of hosts a consumption even determined upon the whole earth10 ,isa4 #bh3ag-bb4 ,this must synchronize with the final conflict1 7symbolized in ,rev4 #ai3ai-ba73 also with the casting of the vine of the earth into the wine-press of ,god's wrath 7#ad3ai71 and terminates the battle of 8,armageddon10--the 8battle of that great day of ,god ,almighty10 #af3ad4 ,the ,judgment of the ,harlot4 8,and one of the seven angels1 who had the seven bowls1 came and talked with me1 saying1 ,come here2 ,i will show thee the judgment of the great harlot who sitteth on many waters2 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 fornication40 ,rev4 #ag3a1 #b4 ,the ,roman hierarchy had been frequently referred to in the preceding visions2 but an institution1 so interwoven with the history of the nations1 required a more full and minute symbolization4 ,the subject of this vision is announced to the revelator1 by one of the angels who had the seven vials2--very probably1 the seventh4 ,the harlot is identified as one 8that sitteth upon many waters40 ,ancient ,babylon was thus addressed3 8,o thou that dwellest upon many waters1 abundant in treasures1 thine end is come1 and the measure of thy covetousness10 ,jer4 #ea3ac4 ,she is also described as 8,the well-favored harlot1 the mistress of witchcrafts1 that selleth nations through her whoredoms1 and families through her witchcrafts10 ,nahum #c3d4 ,therefore the harlot whose judgment is to be more minutely shown1 is the city of the previous vision1 which received the cup of the wine of ,god's wrath 7#af3ai71 and which probably was shown to ,john on the waters of the ,euphrates1 7#af3ab72 for the reference indicates that she had been thus previously exhibited1--the waters on which she was seated1 being the people1 nations1 c41 which sustained and defended her idolatries1 #ag3ae4 ,in the vision now to be shown ,john1 the ,roman hierarchy is symbolized by ,babylon2 but it is first exhibited as3 ,a ,woman on a ,scarlet-,colored ,beast4 8,and he carried me away in spirit into a desert3 and ,i saw a woman seated on a crimson-colored wild beast1 full of names of reviling1 having seven heads and ten horns4 ,and the woman was arrayed in purple and crimson1 and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls1 having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and the impurities of her fornication2 and on her forehead a name was written1 ,a ,,secret3 ,,babylon1 ,,the ,,great1 ,,the ,,mother ,,of ,,the ,,harlots ,,and ,,the ,,abominations ,,of ,,the ,,earth4 ,and ,i saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints1 and with the blood of the witnesses of ,jesus2 and when ,i saw her ,i wondered greatly40 ,rev4 #ag3c-f4 8,and the angel said to me1 ,why dost thou wonder8 ,i will tell thee the secret of the woman1 and of the wild beast that carrieth her1 which hath the seven heads and the ten horns4 ,the wild beast which thou didst see1 was1 and is not1 and will ascend out of the abyss1 and go into destruction2 and those who dwell on the earth will wonder1 7whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world17 as they behold the wild beast that was and is not1 and will be4 ,and here is the mind having wisdom4 ,the seven heads are seven mountains1 on which the woman sitteth1 and they are seven kings3 five are fallen1 and one is and the other is not yet come2 and when he cometh he must remain a little while4 ,and the wild beast that was1 and is not1 even he is the eighth1 and is of the seven1 and goeth into destruction4 ,and the ten horns which thou didst see are ten kings1 who have not yet received a kingdom2 but they receive power as kings1 one hour1 with the wild beast4 ,these have one mind1 and will give their power and strength to the wild beast4 ,these will make war with the ,lamb1 and the ,lamb will overcome them2 for he is ,lord of lords1 and ,king of kings2 and those with him are called1 and chosen1 and faithful40 ,rev4 #ag3g-ad4 8,and he saith to me1 ,the waters which thou didst see1 where the harlot sitteth1 are peoples1 and crowds1 and nations1 and tongues4 ,and the ten horns which thou didst see1 and the wild beast1 these will hate the harlot1 and will make her desolate and naked1 and will eat her flesh1 and burn her up with fire4 ,for ,god hath put it into their hearts to perform his purpose1 and to agree1 and give their kingdom to the wild beast1 until the words of ,god shall be fulfilled4 ,and the woman whom thou didst see is the great city1 which reigneth over the kings of the earth40 ,rev4 #ag3ae-ah4 ,that the woman and city symbolize the same1 is shown by the declaration that she is that great city1 which reigneth over the kings of the earth1 v4 #ah4 ,she is also thus indicated by the name of 8,babylon10 on her forehead1 and the golden cup in her hand3 8,babylon hath been a golden cup in the ,lord's hand1 that made all the earth drunken3 the nations have drunken of her wine2 therefore are the nations mad10 ,jer4 #ea3g4 ,in like manner has the church of ,rome intoxicated the nations4 8,the scarlet-colored beast0 on which the woman is seated1 is evidently the same beast that ,john saw 8rise out of the sea1 having seven heads1 and ten horns10 #ac3a4 ,the ,roman empire had been symbolized by 8a great red dragon10 which also had seven heads and ten horns4 ,in that vision1 crowns were on the heads of the beast1 7#ab3c72 which indicated that ,rome1 during the period thus represented1 existed under the forms of government symbolized by the heads4 ,these heads1 the angel affirms1 are the seven mountains on which the woman sitteth1 7v4 #i72 and also that they are seven kings 7v4 #aj71 or forms of government4 ,mountains also symbolize governments1 7#af3bj72 and as the heads and mountains are the same1 they must alike symbolize the seven forms of government under which ,rome existed previous to its subversion by the northern barbarians1--viz43 #a1 the kingly2 #b1 consular2 #c1 dictatorial2 #d1 decemviral2 #e1 tribunitial2 #f1 pagan-imperial2 and #g1 ,christian-imperial4 ,at the time of the explanation of this vision to ,john1 the 8five0 first-named forms had passed away2 or1 as the angel says1 had 8fallen10 v4 #aj4 ,one then was3--,rome then existed under its pagan-imperial1 or sixth head4 ,the other1 the ,christian-imperial1 had not then come2 but after it came1 and had continued for a time1 the ,roman empire was subverted by the irruptions of northern barbarians4 ,thus 8the beast was20 and then1 was not for a season4 ,but afterwards it emerged again from the sea 7#ac3a71 under an 8eight0 form1 which was of the previous seven1 #ag3aa4 ,when it reppears1 its crowns are not upon its heads1 but encircle its horns1 7#ac3a72 indicating that those governments have the ascendency1 which are symbolized by the 8ten horns20 and which1 according to the angel1 are 8ten kings10 which had not received their kingdom at the time of the vision1 v4 #ab4 ,these were to be kings in 8one10 or the same hour with the beast1 and must therefore be contemporary kingdoms1 while the forms symbolized by the heads1 are evidently successive4 ,they constitute the government of ,rome1 in its eighth1 or decem-regal form2 and symbolize the ten kingdoms which arose after and out of the subversion of imperial ,rome4 ,under this form1 the beast goes into perdition1 7v4 #aa73--they continue under various combinations1 till the end of the world1 when they will war with and be overcome by the ,lamb 7v4 #ad71 in the great battle of ,armageddon1 #ai3ai-ba4 ,the ten contemporary kingdoms have one mind1 7v4 #ac73 they perpetuate the kingdom of the beast1 by adopting similar laws1 pursuing the same line of policy1 and assuming the same powers that the empire exercised4 ,the 8names of blasphemy0 which cover the beast1 symbolize its arrogating the right to dictate in matters of faith and religious worship1 and to punish those who dissent from its creed4 ,the ,roman hierarchy was supported by legal enactments against heretics in all of the ten kingdoms4 ,those who dissented from the church were delivered over to the power of the civil arm1 which punished by imprisonment1 confiscation of goods1 bodily torture1 and death4 ,the exercise of such power1 was a blasphemous usurpation of the prerogatives of ,christ1 and an assumption of authority over the legislation of ,god4 ,on this beast the woman is seated4 ,as its rider1 she guides it1 and is sustained by it4 ,she is its directing power2 and while she is thus seated1 there is no reference to crowns encircling either heads or horns4 ,all rule for a time is subservient to her control4 ,thus were the ten kingdoms obedient to the ,roman hierarchy1--sustaining1 and being controlled by it4 ,she crowned their kings1 and dethroned them at her pleasure4 ,the religion of the church was enforced by the sword of the state2 and thus did the kings of the earth commit fornication with her1--the idolatries of the church being sanctioned by them4 ,the superb attire of the woman1 and the costly gems with which she is decked1 denote the wealth1 luxury1 and regal splendor of the hierarchy which she symbolizes4 ,the cup1 and its abominations in her hand1 denote the false doctrines with which she would seduce the nations4 ,her names describe her nature1 and identify her with ,babylon2 and her intoxication with blood1 indicates her blood-thirsty1 persecuting character1 and the delight with which she would exult over the slaughter of the saints4 ,the ,roman hierarchy was not1 however1 always to retain her supremacy over the nations4 ,she was in due time to fall from the position symbolized by the woman seated on the beast2 and the kings of the earth were to hate and burn with fire1 her whom they had recognized as their mistress1 and to whose control they had submitted4 ,the governments which have sustained her pretensions1 were to cast her off contemptuously4 ,this has been in progress of fulfilment from the days of ,martin ,luther1 since which her control of the ten kingdoms has been only limited and partial4 ,many of her ecclesiastical estates have been confiscated1 and she has been deprived of her prerogatives in many countries4 ,there may1 perhaps1 be hereafter a more complete fulfilment of this prediction4 ,it is symbolized in the following chapter1 by3 ,the ,fall of ,babylon4 8,and after this1 ,i saw another angel descending from heaven1 having great power2 and the earth was enlightened by his glory4 ,and he cried with a mighty voice1 saying1 ,she is fallen3 ,babylon the great is fallen1 and is become a dwelling of demons1 and a prison of every unclean spirit1 and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird1 for all the nations have drunk of the wine of the fury of her fornication1 and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her1 and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury40 ,rev4 #ah3a-c4 ,this announcement of the fall of the city1 synchronizes with the same symbolization in the #adth chapter3 8,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 fornication10 #ad3h4 ,the angel1 proclaiming her fall1 doubtless symbolizes a body of men1 who shall give utterance to corresponding declarations4 ,the epoch of this utterance is shown by the identity of this angel with that of ,rev4 #aj3a-c4 ,they thus correspond3 ,they both descend from heaven3 the one is a mighty angel1 and the other has great power2 the one is enveloped with a robe of cloud1 his head is arched with the rainbow1 his face is like the sun1 and his feet like fire1 and he stands on both earth and sea2 the other is so glorified1 and occupies a position so conspicuous1 that the earth is enlightened with his glory2 and the one cries 8with a loud voice as when a lion roareth10 while the other cries 8mighty with a strong voice40 ,thus their position1 manner and conspicuousness1 are alike4 ,what was uttered by the angel of the tenth chapter1 is not revealed2 but the fall of ,babylon being announced in the eighteenth1 it follows that it was the subject of the angel's utterance in the tenth4 ,as the messenger of the tenth chapter appears subsequent to the sixth1 and before the seventh trumpet2 and as1 after this epoch1 there were to be prophesyings 8again1 before many peoples1 and nations1 and tongues1 and kings0 7#aj3aa71 it follows that the time then symbolized must be at an epoch anterior to the end of the world4 ,a corresponding reason--namely1 the command to come out of ,babylon1 and the fulfilment of her plagues and sorrows1 which are to intervene between the cry of the angel announcing her fall and the time of her actual destruction--proves that the mighty angel of the #ahth of ,revelation must also be at an epoch having a considerable period between it and the end4 ,it follows1 that when ,john saw the angel of the eighteenth chapter1 and 8the earth was lightened with his glory10 it did not symbolize a literal but a moral light1--the light of truth4 ,and as the enlightening of the earth by its promulgation1 pre-supposes a previous state of corresponding moral darkness1 it must1 as in the tenth chapter1 symbolize an epoch1 prominent in the history of the world1 as a time when the darkness of ignorance1 error and superstition1 began rapidly to disappear before the spread of the light of truth and knowledge4 ,these considerations point to the epoch of the ,,reformation1 when the midnight darkness of the dark ages began to be scattered before the uprising and onward progress of truth and knowledge4 ,then appeared a body of religious teachers1 aided by the newly discovered art of printing1 who so brought the ,scriptures out from their obscurity1 opposed the pretensions of the ,papal hierarchy1 and1 by the clear teachings of the word1 so secured the spread of gospel light and liberty1 that they might appropriately be symbolized by an angel coming down from heaven1 and enlightening the earth with his glory4 ,the descent from heaven would symbolize the heavenly origin of the doctrines promulgated4 ,his mighty power1 and the strong voice with which he proclaimed his cry1 would symbolize the greatness and earnestness of the movement1 and the mighty results to be effected by it4 ,this symbolization1 twice given1 could only be fulfilled by some great and mighty movement1 like the ,reformation4 ,the fall of ,babylon is distinct from and anterior to its destruction1 and must correspond with the fall of the woman from her position on the beast2--she is no longer to be the director of1 and to be sustained by1 the civil power4 ,the cry of the angel1 announcing her fall1 as ,mr4 ,elliot remarks1 seems to be anticipative1 and not retrospective4 ,the denunciations of the ,papacy by the reformers were of a character to fulfil this symbolization4 ,the year #acjj1 during the pontificate of ,boniface ,,viii41 may be regarded as marking the highest eminence to which the ,papal power ever attained4 ,from this period the dominion of the ,roman ,pontiffs appeared to be gradually undermined4 ,twenty-four years after this date1 ,john ,wickliffe was born1 who1 together with his followers1 made more vigorous attacks upon ,babylon itself4 ,some of these declared ,rome to be mystical ,babylon1 and the ,pope and church there to be ,antichrist4 ,these heralds announced the fall of mystical ,babylon1 as the ancient prophets had done that of literal ,babylon1 long before the event4--,jer4 #ea3g1 #h4 ,antichrist and ,babylon are identified in prophecy4 ,in #aeah1 ,luther first suspected their application to the ,papacy2 and1 writing to his friend ,link1 on sending him a copy of the acts just published of the conference at ,augsburg1 he says3 8,my pen is ready to give birth to things much greater4 ,i know not myself whence these thoughts come to me4 ,i will send you what ,i write1 that you may see if ,i have well conjectured in believing that the ,antichrist of whom ,st4 ,paul speaks now reigns in the court of ,rome40 ,at first1 ,luther and his companions sought only the reformation of that church4 ,they had no idea of dissolving their own connection with it4 ,but when the thunders of the ,vatican were hurled at them1 and they found themselves excommunicated as heretics1 they came to the conclusion that the church of ,rome was the ,babylon of the ,apocalypse4 ,immediately upon this conviction1 they began to cry1 8,babylon is fallen60 ,in #aebj appeared a famous book1 by ,luther1 on the 8,babylonish ,captivity of the ,church10 in which he attacked ,rome with great skill and courage4 ,in ,switzerland and ,england the reformers considered themselves as fulfilling this message of the ,apocalyptic angel4 ,elliot says1 8,they seized on this very prophecy for application2 and1 for the first time1 upon grounds of evidence sound and tenable1 concluded on the fact of progress having been made up to it1 in the evolution of the great mundane drama1 and on their own chronological place being already far advanced under the sixth trumpet1 and in near expectancy of the seventh trumpet1 of the ,apocalyptic prophecy40 ,these denunciations against ,mystic ,babylon1 and protestations against all her idolatrous ceremonies and superstitious appendages1 were given1 by the great body of the reformers1 within the very bounds of her empire4 ,they resulted in her loss of power1 and of control over the princes of ,europe4 ,in #aebf1 the other monarchs becoming jealous of the power of ,charles ,v41 ,emperor of ,germany1 8,pope ,clement ,,vii4 placed himself at the head of a league of the principal states of ,italy against him2 but their ill-directed efforts were productive of new misfortunes4 ,rome was taken by storm1 by the troops of the constable1 sacked1 and the ,pope himself made prisoner4 ,charles ,v4 publicly disavowed the proceedings of the constable1 went into mourning with his court1 and carried his hypocrisy so far as to order prayers for the deliverance of the ,pope4 ,on restoring the holy father to liberty1 he demanded a ransom of four hundred thousand crowns of gold1 but was satisfied with a quarter of that sum40--,ency4 ,am41 v4 #c4 p4 #gf4 ,all the ,protestant princes of ,germany denied the assumptions of the ,pope2 and the powers of western and northern ,europe1 one after another1 denied their allegiance to him4 ,in #agih1 ,pius ,,vi4 was taken prisoner by the ,french1 under ,gen4 ,berthier1 and died in exile4 ,when ,berthier entered ,rome1 many of the cardinals 8fled from the city on the wings of terror20 but those who remained 8were disposed still to uphold the authority of the ,pontiff40 ,finally1 however1 8with melancholy voice1 they pronounced their absolute renunciation of the temporal government40--,life of ,pius ,,vi4 ,his successor resumed his position4 ,but in #ahdh ,pius ,,ix4 fled from his own subjects1 and was only restored by ,french arms4 ,thus gradually the ,babylonish woman became unseated1 and fell from her position on the beast2 and1 instead of guiding and directing the civil power1 now only exists by sufferance4 ,as a city1 also1 her supremacy was gone4 ,being no longer the mistress of the nations1 or the ruling city1 the ,papal ,see is in the condition of ancient ,babylon when becoming a dependency of the ,medes and ,persians4 ,after the fall of ancient ,babylon1 it became gradually more and more deserted1 until there was a literal fulfilment of the words of ,isaiah3 8,wild beasts of the desert shall lie there2 and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures2 and owls shall dwell there1 and satyrs shall dance there4 ,and the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses1 and dragons in their pleasant palaces10 ,isa4 #ac3ba1 #bb4 ,in like manner the apocalyptic ,babylon1 after her fall1 and the withdrawal of ,protestants from her communion1 was to become the receptacle of corresponding spirits4 ,her members were to be more impious than before1 and were to adhere more closely than ever to her idolatrous practices4 ,the contrast between these and true ,christians would also be more apparent from the separation which succeeds her fall1 in obedience to3 ,the ,voice ,from ,heaven4 8,and ,i heard another voice from heaven1 saying1 ,come out of her1 my people1 that ye partake not of her sins1 and that ye receive not of her plagues1 for her sins have reached to heaven1 and ,god hath remembered her iniquities6 ,reward her even as she rendered to you1 and double to her according to her works1 in the cup which she hath poured out1 pour out double to her4 ,by as much as she hath glorified herself1 and lived luxuriously1 so much torment and mourning give her2 for she saith in her heart1 ,i sit a queen1 and am not a widow1 and shall see no mourning4 ,on this account1 her plagues will come in one day1 death1 and mourning1 and famine2 and she will be burned up with fire2 for strong is the ,lord ,god1 who judgeth her40--,rev4 #ah3d-h4 ,so long as the true character of the apostate church was unperceived1 she would contain many good1 as well as a multitude of bad members4 ,the voice from heaven1 indicates an epoch when there should be a widely extended and marked separation between these two classes4 ,till the time of that separation should be indicated1 the children of ,god would be justified in continuing members of her communion2 but not subsequently4 ,the condition of ,babylon1 at the time of her fall1 indicates that the separation must take place in near connection with that event2 and the cry must synchronize with that of the third angel in ,rev4 #ad3i1--which symbolized a body of men who should insist on such a separation from the ,papacy as that here symbolized4 ,after the discovery that the church of ,rome was the ,babylon of the ,apocalypse1 the reformers began to call on the people of ,god to desert her communion2 and the formation of the reformed churches was the consequence4 ,this was preached wherever the ,reformation extended1 and has been continued to the present time4 ,the ,protestant churches have proclaimed connection with ,romanism1 an obstacle to salvation2 and have called on its ,christian members to come out from her abominations4 ,even the name 8,protestant10 was given because of their protestation against the corruptions of the ,papal ,see4 ,after the fall of ancient ,babylon1 and before her destruction1 the people were1 in like manner1 commanded to forsake her4 ,said ,jeremiah3 8,flee out of the midst of ,babylon1 and deliver every man his soul3 be not cut off in her iniquity2 for this is the time of the ,lord's vengeance2 he will render unto her a recompense4 ,babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed3 howl for her2 take balm for her pain1 if so be she may be healed4 ,we would have healed ,babylon1 but she is not healed3 forsake her1 and let us go every one into his own country3 for her judgment reacheth unto heaven1 and is lifted up even to the skies10 ,jer4 #ea3f1 #h1 #i4 ,and ,isaiah said3 8,go ye forth of ,babylon1 flee ye from the ,chaldeans1 with a voice of singing declare ye1 tell this1 utter it even to the end of the earth2 say ye1 ,the ,lord hath redeemed his servant ,jacob10 ,isa4 #dh3bj4 8,depart ye1 depart ye1 go ye out from thence1 touch no unclean thing2 go ye out of the midst of her2 be ye clean1 that bear the vessels of the ,lord10 ,isa4 #eb3aa4 ,sins reaching to heaven1 indicate great wickedness4 ,thus ,god said to ,jonah3 8,go to ,nineveh1 that great city1 and cry against it2 for their wickedness is come up before me10 ,jonah #a3b4 ,and he said of old ,babylon3 8,her judgment reacheth unto heaven1 and is lifted up even to the skies10 ,jer4 #ea3i4 ,the ,destruction of ,babylon4 8,and the kings of the earth1 who have committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her1 will weep and wail for her1 when they see the smoke of her burning1 standing afar off through the fear of her torment1 saying1 ,woe6 woe6 that great city1 ,babylon1 that mighty city6 for in one hour is thy judgment come6 ,and the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her2 for no one buyeth their merchandise any more2 the merchandise of gold1 and silver1 and precious stones1 and pearls1 and fine linen1 and purple1 and silk1 and crimson1 and all thine wood1 and all kinds of vessels of ivory1 and all kinds of vessels of most precious wood1 and of brass1 and iron1 and marble1 and cinnamon1 and fragrant ointment1 and incense1 and myrrh1 and frankincense1 and wine1 and oil1 and fine flour1 and wheat1 and beasts1 and sheep1 and horses1 and chariots1 and bodies1 and souls of men4 ,and the autumnal fruit of thine appetite's desire is departed from thee1 and all things dainty and sumptuous are destroyed from thee1 and thou wilt find them no more at all4 ,the merchants of these things1 who were enriched by her1 will stand afar off1 through the fear of her torment1 weeping and mourning1 saying1 ,woe6 woe6 that great city1 that was clothed in fine linen1 and purple1 and crimson1 and adorned with gold1 and precious stones1 and pearls6 for in one hour such great wealth is destroyed4 ,and every pilot1 and every one sailing to any place1 and sailors1 and as many as trade by sea1 stood afar off1 and cried1 when they saw the smoke of her burning1 saying1 ,what city is like the great city8 ,and they cast dust on their heads1 and cried out1 weeping and mourning1 saying1 ,woe6 woe6 the great city by which all who had ships on the sea1 were made rich through her precious merchandise6 for in one hour she is desolated40 ,rev4 #ah3i-bj4 8,rejoice over her1 ,o heaven1 and ye saints and apostles and prophets2 for ,god hath avenged you on her60 ,rev4 #ah3bj4 8,and a strong angel took up a stone like a great mill-stone1 and cast it into the sea1 saying1 ,thus violently1 will ,babylon1 the great city1 be cast down1 and be no more at all4 ,and the voice of harpers1 and musicians1 and pipers1 and trumpeters1 will be heard no more at all in thee2 and no craftsman1 of any art1 will be found any more in thee2 and the sound of a mill-stone will be heard no more at all in thee2 and the light of a lamp will shine no more at all in thee2 and the voice of the bridegroom and the bride will be heard no more at all in thee2 for thy merchants were the nobles of the earth2 for by thy sorcery all nations were deceived4 ,and in her was found the blood of prophets1 and of saints1 and of all those slain on the earth40 ,rev4 #ah3ba-bd4 ,the punishment of ,babylon is proportioned to her wickedness1 and is to be inflicted partially by the kings of the earth1 and partially by other agencies4 ,the kings were to hate1 and burn her with fire1 7#ag3af72 and were also1 when they should see the smoke of her burnings1 to bewail and lament for her1 #ah3i4 ,the former passage indicates their agency in her impoverishment1 and has been fulfilled in the confiscation of her property in ,france and ,england1 the spoliation of churches and religious houses1 wherever the arms of ,napoleon extended2 the dethronement of the ,pope1 by ,gen4 ,berthier1 in #agih2 the refusal of some of the powers to permit her to nominate1 within their limits1 the candidates for ecclesiastical preferment1 c4 ,she is thus made to feel her widowhood1--her divorce from the secular arm1--and has mourned the loss of her most devoted children1 who have forsaken her communion4 ,her final destruction is1 however1 to be entire4 ,she is totally to disappear1 like the sinking of a millstone in the sea4 ,she is to be utterly burned with fire2 but the lamentation of the kings over her burning1 indicates that her destruction is to be completed by other instrumentality than theirs4 ,probably the multitude are to be incensed against her1 and will so manifest their hatred that the governments will neither join in it1 nor attempt to resist it1 for fear that the same torment will be inflicted on them1 #ah3aj4 ,but her existence is terminated by the brightness of ,christ's coming1 #b ,thess4 #b3h4 ,her destruction precedes that of the kings of the earth1 who mourn her end4 ,the merchants of the earth1 the captains1 sailors1 c41 symbolize those who bear a relation to the hierarchy1 analogous to that sustained by such to a great commercial emporium4 ,they are those who have the control of her preferments1 benefices and revenues1--who traffic in her indulgences1 and thereby become themselves enriched4 ,and these articles of traffic are symbolized by the merchandise which1 after her destruction1 no man would buy4 ,the commerce of this ecclesiastical city1 has been immense1--particularly in indulgences4 ,the sale of these was reduced to a system1 says ,d',aubign1 by 8the celebrated and scandalous ,tariff of ,indulgences10 which went through more than forty editions4 ,the least delicate ears would be offended by an enumeration of all the horrors it contains4 ,incest1 if not detected1 was to cost five groats2 and six1 if it was known4 ,there was a stated price for murder1 infanticide1 adultery1 perjury1 burglary1 c4 ,polygamy cost six ducats2 sacrilege and perjury1 nine2 murder1 eight2 and witchcraft1 two ducats4 ,the penances of various kinds which were imposed as a punishment for sin1 might also be compounded for money4 ,tetzel1 one of ,rome's travelling merchants1 told the people of ,germany that for 8a quarter of a florin0 they might 8receive letters of indulgence10 by means of which they might 8introduce into paradise a divine and immortal soul1 without its running any risk40 ,hist4 ,ref41 pp4 #ef1 #bdb4 ,he also said 8,indulgences avail not only for the living but for the dead4 ,with twelve groats you can deliver your father from purgatory40 8,at the very instant10 said he1 8that the money rattles at the bottom of the chest1 the soul escapes from purgatory1 and flies1 liberated to heaven40 ,this is but a specimen of her vile traffic4 ,responding to the command1 are heard the voices of much people in heaven1 ,rejoicing ,over ,babylon's ,destruction4 8,and after this1 ,i heard a loud voice of a mighty crowd in heaven1 saying1 ,praise ye ,jehovah6 ,the salvation1 and the glory1 and the power of our ,god6 ,for true and righteous are his judgments2 for he hath judged the great harlot1 who corrupted the earth with her fornication1 and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand6 ,and again they said1 ,praise ye ,jehovah6 ,and her smoke ascendeth for ever and ever4 ,and the twenty-four elders and the four living beings fell down and worshipped ,god1 who sat on the throne1 saying1 ,so be it6 ,praise ye ,jehovah60 ,rev4 #ai3a-d4 ,daniel1 in vision1 saw the same persecuting power symbolized by a 8,little ,horn10 having 8eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking great things20 and he beheld1 8and the same ,horn made war with the saints1 and prevailed against them1 until the ,ancient of days came1 and judgment was given to the saints of the ,most ,high1 and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom10 ,dan4 #g3h1 #ba1 #bb4 ,and ,paul testified of 8that ,wicked0 who was to be revealed1 that he was the 8,man of ,sin10 8whom the ,lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth1 and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming10 #b ,thess4 #b3c-h4 ,the destruction of that which was thus symbolized and predicted1 must1 consequently1 be at the epoch of ,christ's second coming and of the establishment of the kingdom of ,god4 ,it is also at the epoch anticipated by 8the souls of them that were slain for the word of ,god and for the testimony which they held10 who1 from under the altar1 on the opening of the 8fifth seal10 8cried with a loud voice1 saying1 ,how long1 ,o ,lord1 holy and true1 dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth80 #f3i1 #aj4 ,the epoch which they anticipated not having then arrived1 8white 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 brethren that should be killed as they were1 should be fulfilled0 7#f3aa71--;i4e41 till their number should be filled up4 ,as the destruction of that hierarchy1 in which 8was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all that were slain upon the earth0 7#ah3bd71 had just been symbolized 7in the #ahth chap471 and as these rejoicings are because ,god 8hath judged the great whore which did corrupt the earth with her fornication1 and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand0 7#ai3b71 it follows that the epoch here symbolized is that to which the saints were to wait1 and that they are now to be crowned with their reward4 ,as the destruction of ,babylon is a little anterior to that of the beast and false prophet 7#ai3bj71 and is to be destroyed by the brightness of ,christ's coming 7#b ,thess4 #b3h71 at a time when the kingdom is to be given to the saints of the ,most ,high 7,dan4 #g3bb71 it explains how it is that the kingdom is set up in the days of the kings symbolized by the divided toes of ,nebuchadnezzar's image3 symbolic of the same as the horns of the beast in ,dan4 #g3g1 #bd1 and ,rev4 #ag3c1 #ab1 #af2 for 8in the days of these kings shall the ,god of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed1 and the kingdom shall not be left to other people1 but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms1 and it shall stand forever10 ,dan4 #b3dd4 ,the kingdom is therefore commenced previous to the descent of the ,lord to the earth1 by the saints being caught up to meet him in the air4 8,for the ,lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout1 with the voice of the archangel and the trump of ,god2 and the dead in ,christ shall rise first2 then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds1 to meet the ,lord in the air3 and so shall we ever be with the ,lord10 #a ,thess4 #d3af1 #ag4 ,this epoch1 then1 is that of the sounding of the seventh trumpet2 for 8in the days of the voice of the seventh angel1 when he shall begin to sound1 the mystery of ,god shall be finished1 as he hath declared to his servants the prophets10 #aj3g4 ,this mystery ,paul thus explains3 8,now this ,i say1 brethren1 that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of ,god1 neither doth corruption inherit incorruption4 ,behold1 ,i show you a mystery3 ,we shall not all sleep1 but we shall all be changed1 in a moment1 in the twinkling of an eye1 at the last trump3 for the trumpet shall sound1 and the dead shall be raised incorruptible1 and we shall be changed10 #a ,cor4 #ae3ej-ed4 ,this 8saying0 was thus written by ,isaiah1--8,he will swallow up death in victory2 and the ,lord ,god will wipe away tears from off all faces2 and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth2 for the ,lord hath spoken it4 ,and it shall be said in that day1 ,lo1 this is our ,god2 we have waited for him1 and he will save us3 this is the ,lord2 we have waited for him1 we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation10 ,isa4 #be3h1 #i4 ,it follows1 then1 that the voices heard in heaven1 shouting 8,alleluia10 and ascribing 8salvation1 and glory1 and honor1 and power1 unto the ,lord our ,god0 7v4 #a71 synchronize with those heard when 8the 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 for ever and ever4--,and the four and twenty elders1 which sat before ,god on their seats1 fell upon their faces and worshipped ,god1 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 reigned3 ,and the nations were angry1 and thy wrath is come1 and the time of the dead1 that they should be judged1 and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets1 and to the saints1 and them that fear thy name1 small and great2 and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth10 ,rev4 #aa3ae-ah4 ,the time of the dead being come that they should be judged1 and the saints rewarded1 is another evidence that this epoch is that of the second advent and kingdom of ,christ1 8who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and kingdom10 #b ,tim4 #d3a4 ,consequently it must synchronize with that of3 ,the ,marriage of the ,lamb4 8,and a voice came from the throne saying1 ,praise our ,god1 all ye his servants1 and ye that fear him1 both the small and the great6 ,and ,i heard a voice like that of a great crowd1 and like the voice of many waters1 and like the voice of mighty thunders1 saying1 ,praise ye ,jehovah6 for the ,lord ,god ,almighty reigneth4 ,let us rejoice and exult1 and give glory up him3 for the marriage of the ,lamb hath come1 and his wife hath prepared herself6 ,and it was granted to her to be arrayed in fine linen1 clean and white3 7for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints47 ,and he saith to me1 ,write1 ,happy are those called to the marriage-supper of the ,lamb4 ,and he saith to me1 ,these are the true words of ,god4 ,and ,i fell before his feet to worship him4 ,and he saith to me1 ,see thou do it not3 ,i am thy fellow-servant and one of thy brethren1 who have the testimony of ,jesus3 worship ,god3 for the testimony of ,jesus is the spirit of prophecy40 ,rev4 #ai3e-aj4 ,the marriage of the ,lamb is at the epoch when 8the kingdoms of this world are to become our ,lord's and his ,christ's0--when the ,lord ,god ,almighty takes to himself his great power and reigns1 #aa3ae1 #ag4 ,therefore1 in connection1 are heard the mighty thunderings1 saying1 8,alleluia2 for the ,lord ,god ,omnipotent reigneth10 #i3af4 ,this scripture1 then1 corresponds with that in ,matt4 #bd3cj1 #ca1 when 8they shall see the ,son of ,man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory2 and he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet1 and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds1 from one end of heaven to the other40 ,for1 8when the ,son of ,man shall come in his glory1 and all the holy angels with him1 then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory3 and before him shall be gathered all nations3 and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats--the one on his right hand and the other on his left10 ,matt4 #be3ca1 #cb4 ,those on his right1 we learn from #a ,cor4 #ae3ea1 and #a ,thess4 #d3af1 #ag1 are the elect1 gathered by the angels from all parts under heaven1 who are caught up to meet the ,lord in the air--and those on the left are consequently the living wicked1 who are to be slain by the sword which proceedeth out of the mouth of the ,lamb1 #ai3ba4 ,the wife who 8hath made herself ready10 is shown by the foregoing scriptures to be1 undoubtedly1 the church triumphant--the redeemed1 who have been raised out from among the dead1 and the living saints1 caught up together to meet the ,lord in the air2 to welcome him in his coming to reign4 ,these constitute the bride1 the ,lamb's wife2 for as 8the husband is the head of the wife10 even so 8,christ is the head of the church10 ,eph4 #e3bc4 ,he 8loved the church1 and gave himself for it1 that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word1 that he might present it to himself a glorious church1 not having spot or wrinkle1 or any such thing2 but that it should be holy and without blemish10 ,eph4 #e3be-bg4 ,this accords with ,god's ancient promises to his people4 ,thus ,isaiah saith3 8,thy ,maker is thy husband2 the ,lord of hosts is his name1 and thy ,redeemer the ,holy ,one of ,israel3 the ,lord of the whole earth shall he be called10 ,isa4 #ed3e4 ,also ,hosea3 8,and it shall be at that day1 saith the ,lord1 that thou shalt call me ,ishi10 my husband2 8and shalt call me no more ,baali10 my ,lord4 8,and ,i will betroth thee unto me in righteousness1 and in judgment1 and in loving kindness1 and in mercies4 ,i will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness2 and thou shalt know the ,lord10 ,hos4 #b3af1 #ai4 ,thus is the church 8espoused to one husband10 to be presented 8as a chaste virgin to ,christ10 #b ,cor4 #aa3b4 ,the epoch of this presentation being here symbolized1 it synchronizes with that part of the parable of the 8ten virgins which took their lamps and went forth to meet the ,bridegroom10 when1 the ,bridegroom having come1 8they that were ready went in with him to the marriage1 and the door was shut0--those left without1 afterwards crying in vain for admittance1 ,matt4 #be3aj4 ,the wife had been made ready by its having been 8granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen1 clean and white--mar4 #8bright'2 for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints10 #ai3h4 ,such were the 8white robes0 given to those who cried from under the altar 7#f3aa71 and who afterwards1 at an epoch synchronizing with the marriage of the ,lamb1 appeared1 8a great multitude which no man could number1 of all nations1 and kindreds1 and people1 and tongues10 who 8stood before the throne1 and before the ,lamb1 clothed with white robes1 and palms in their hands1 and cried with a loud voice1 saying1 ,salvation to our ,god which sitteth upon the throne1 and unto the ,lamb10 #g3i1 #aj4 ,these were they of whom one of the elders asked1 saying1 8,what are these which are arrayed in white robes8 and whence came they80 and who was answered3 8,these are they which came out of great tribulation1 and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the ,lamb4 ,therefore are they before the throne of ,god1 and serve him day and night in his temple3 and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them4 ,they shall hunger no more1 neither thirst any more2 neither shall the sun light on them1 nor any heat4 ,for the ,lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them1 and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters2 and ,god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes10 #g3ac-ag4 ,these had complied with the condition to the promise3 8,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 the ,father and before his holy angels10 #c3e4 8,these are they which follow the ,lamb whithersoever he goeth4 ,these were redeemed from among men1 being the first fruits unto ,god and to the ,lamb10 #ad3d4 8,blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the ,lamb10 #ai3i4 ,truly are they blessed2 for 8they shall hunger no more1 neither thirst any more2 neither shall the sun light on them1 nor any heat10 #g3af4 ,they attain the promised blessing3 8,blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection10 #bj3f4 8,and ,god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes2 and there shall be no more death1 neither sorrow1 nor crying1 neither shall there be any more pain3 for the former things are passed away10 #ba3d4 ,so entranced was the apocalyptic seer at these symbols of the glorified redeemed1 that he fell at his feet to worship the angel who showed him these things4 ,but his fellow servant shrank back from the reception of homage1 and pointed to ,god as the only object of adoration4 ,the union of the saints to ,christ in the clouds of heaven being symbolized1 they receive the gracious welcome3 8,come1 ye blessed of my ,father1 inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world10 ,matt4 #be3cd4 ,but first it is necessary to redeem the 8purchased possession0 7,eph4 #a3ad71 to reconquer the revolted province1 which1 since the fall1 has been subject to 8the god of this world0 7#b ,cor4 #d3d71 the 8prince of the power of the air0 7,eph4 #b3b71 to rescue it from the dominion of the usurper1 and deliver it from its present mis-rule 8up to ,god the ,father0 7#a ,cor4 #ae3bd71 who will bestow it on ,one who is worthy to wear its crown4 ,for when ,daniel saw that 8the judgment was set and the books were opened10 he also 8saw in the night visions1 and1 behold1 one like the ,son of man came in the clouds of heaven1 and came to the ,ancient of days1 and they brought him near before him2 and there was given him dominion1 and glory1 and a kingdom1 that all people1 nations and languages1 should serve him3 his dominion is an everlasting dominion1 which shall not pass away1 and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed10 ,dan4 #g3aj1 #ac1 #ad4 ,he comes1 then1 to dispossess the usurper1 and to take possession of his kingdom4 ,the next representation1 then1 symbolizes the coming of3 ,the ,king and his ,armies4 8,and ,i saw heaven opened1 and behold1 a white horse3 and he who sat on him was called ,faithful and ,true1 and in righteousness he judgeth and maketh war4 ,his eyes were like a flame of fire1 and on his head were many diadems2 and he had a name written which no one knew except himself4 ,and he was clothed with a garment dipped in blood3 and his name is called ,the ,word of ,god4 ,and the armies in heaven followed him on white horses1 clothed in fine linen1 white and clean4 ,and from his mouth goeth forth a sharp sword1 that he may smite the nations with it3 and he will rule them with a rod of iron3 and he treadeth the wine-press of the furious wrath of ,god1 the ,almighty4 ,and he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name written1 ,,king ,,of ,,kings ,,and ,,lord ,,of ,,lords40 ,rev4 #ai3aa-af4 ,according to the significance of symbolic language1 ,christ is here represented as coming personally4 ,the heavens open and he appears in resplendent majesty1 in accordance with the predictions respecting his second advent4 ,when the clouds of heaven had received the ascending ,saviour1 the shining ones who stood by said to the gazing disciples1 8,this same ,jesus which is taken up from you into heaven1 shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven10 ,acts #a3aa4 8,and they shall see the ,son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory10 ,matt4 #bd3cj4 8,behold1 he cometh with clouds2 and every eye shall see him1 and they also which pierced him3 and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him10 ,rev4 #a3g4 ,the white horse of the ,king1 and those of his armies1 are symbols of the pomp and grandeur of their descent1 and show that they will triumph in victory4 ,the names ascribed to the descending ,monarch are applicable only to ,christ4 ,he was 8the ,faithful and ,true ,witness0 who commanded ,john to write 8to the angel of the church of the ,laodiceans10 7#c3ad72 for he who commanded ,john to 8write in a book and send it unto the seven churches0 of ,asia 7#a3aa71 was the ,one whom ,john saw 8in the midst of the seven candlesticks1 like unto the ,son of man0 7#a3ac71 and who announced himself as 8the ,alpha and ,omega1 the beginning and the ending1 saith the ,lord1 which is1 and which was1 and which is to come--the ,almighty10 #a3h4 8,the ,word of ,god10 was the 8,word0 that was 8in the beginning10 that 8was with ,god10 and that 8was ,god10 the same that was 8in the beginning with ,god10 and which 8was made flesh and dwelt among us1 and we beheld his glory1 the glory as of the only begotten of the ,father1 full of grace and truth10 ,john #a3a-ad4 ,jesus is 8the ,lamb of ,god which taketh away the sin of the world10 7,ib41 #bi72 and 8the ,lamb0 8is ,lord of lords and ,king of kings10 #ag3ad4 ,it is 8,jesus ,christ1 who is the faithful witness1 and the first begotten of the dead1 and the ,prince of the kings of the earth10 7#a3e72 and he alone is possessed of that incomprehensible 8,name0 which no man knoweth1 and which he hath promised to write on 8him that overcometh10 #c3ab4 ,that the visible and personal coming of ,christ1 and not any providential interposition1 is here symbolized1 is self-evident4 ,for1 while no created object can adequately symbolize ,him1 it would derogate from the dignity of his character and position to be a symbol of some inferior object4 ,in all mere providential interpositions1 foreshown by symbolic imagery1 the predicted events are represented by corresponding acts of symbolic agents4 ,war between nations is symbolized by beasts1 representatives of the nations1 contending with each other4 7,see ,dan4 #hth chap47 ,pestilence and famine are symbolized by analogous results1 and not by ,christ's appearing4 ,when1 therefore1 he is seen coming in person1 it must symbolize his personal advent4 ,his eyes 8as a flame of fire10 show his identity with the one 8like unto the ,son of man0 in the 8midst of the seven candlesticks0 7#a3ac71 the author of the message to 8the church in ,thyatira20 which 8things saith the ,son of ,god1 who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire1 and his feet like unto fine brass10 #b3ah4 ,his 8many crowns0 are symbols of his sovereignty4 ,rome undivided and mistress of the world1 when symbolized by the seven-headed and ten-horned dragon1 is represented with the crowns on the heads1 which were the seven successive kinds of government by which its sovereignty was enforced1 #ab3c1 and #ag3i1 #aj4 ,but when its imperial had given place to its decem-regal form1 and it is to be shown under the government of ten contemporaneous kingdoms1 8the crowns10 the symbols of sovereignty1 are represented as encircling the 8horns0 of the beast1 #ac3a4 ,so1 when 8the ,king of kings0 cometh1 to take to himself his great power1 and to reign1 and 8the kingdoms of this world are become those of our ,lord and of his ,christ0 7#aa3ae1 #ag71 ,he1 8the head of all principality and power0 7,col4 #b3aj71 at whose name 8every knee should bow0 7,phil4 #b3i71 is shown the wearer of 8many crowns40 8,come1 then1 and1 added to thy many crowns1 ,receive yet one1 the crown of all the ,earth1 ,thou who alone art worthy6 ,it was thine ,by ancient covenant1 ere nature's birth2 ,and thou hast made it thine by purchase since1 ,and overpaid its value with thy blood40 ,cowper's ,task4 ,his 8vesture dipped in blood0 is symbolic of his coming to tread 8the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of ,almighty ,god0 7#ai3ae71 when he shall 8smite the nations10 and 8rule them with a rod of iron10 7,ib47 ,thus ,isaiah prophesied3 8,who is this that cometh from ,edom1 with dyed garments from ,bozrah8 this that is glorious in his apparel1 travelling in the greatness of his strength8 ,i that speak in righteousness1 mighty to save4 ,wherefore art thou red in thine apparel1 and thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine-fat8 ,i have trodden the wine-press alone2 and of the people there was none with me3 for ,i will tread them in mine anger1 and trample them in my fury2 and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments1 and ,i will stain all my raiment4 ,for the day of vengeance is in my heart1 and the year of my redeemed is come4 ,and ,i looked1 and there was none to help2 and ,i wondered that there was none to uphold3 therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me2 and my fury1 it upheld me4 ,and ,i will tread down the people in mine anger1 and make them drunk in my fury1 and ,i will bring down their strength to the earth10 ,isa4 #fc3a-f4 ,the 8armies0 which follow him1 symbolize the attending saints and angels who will accompany his advent4 ,they are all 8clothed in fine linen1 white and clean10 which constituted the wedding garments of those who were called to the marriage-supper of the ,lamb1 and which was worn by those who had washed their robes1 and made them white in his blood1 7#g3ad72 8for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints10 #ai3h4 ,the righteous being caught up in the clouds to meet the ,lord in the air 7#a ,thess4 #d3ag71 8when ,christ1 who is our life shall appear10 they will 8appear with him in glory10 7,col4 #c3d72 so that 8the ,lord my ,god shall come and all the saints with thee10 ,zech4 #ad3e4 8,enoch also1 the seventh from ,adam1 prophesied of these1 saying1 ,behold1 the ,lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints1 to execute judgment upon all1 and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed1 and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him10 ,jude #ad1 #ae4 ,not only saints1 but angels also1 will attend his coming4 ,for 8when the ,son of man shall come in his glory10 there will be 8all the holy angels with him10 ,matt4 #be3ca4 8,he cometh in the glory of his ,father1 with the holy angels10 ,mark #h3ch4 8,the ,lord ,jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels10 #b ,thess4 #a3g4 ,the 8sharp sword10 going out of his mouth1 must be a symbol of his word4 ,he speaks1 and it is done1 ,psa4 #cc3i4 8,for the word of ,god is quick and powerful1 and sharper than any two-edged sword1 piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit1 and of the joints and marrow1 and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart10 ,heb4 #d3ab4 ,as 8he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth1 and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked10 7,isa4 #aa3d72 and as 8the ,lord shall consume0 8that ,wicked0 one 8with the spirit of his mouth0 7#b ,thess4 #b3h71 it follows that the sword proceeding out of his mouth is a symbol of the words he shall speak for their destruction2 for with it he smites the nations1 #ai3ae4 ,and this he does when he comes to 8rule them with a rod of iron0 7,ib47 and tread them in 8the wine-press0 of the wrath of ,god4 ,this brings us to the object of his coming1 which is to 8judge and make war10 #ai3aa4 ,and first1 8,to judge40 ,this proves1 that ,christ's second advent is here symbolized2 for1 as before quoted1 he is to 8judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and kingdom10 #b ,tim4 #d3a4 ,this is at the sounding of the seventh trumpet1 for then is 8the time of the dead that they should be judged10 #aa3ah4 8,with righteousness shall he judge the poor1 and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth10 when he 8shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth1 and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked10 ,isa4 #aa3d4 8,let the heavens rejoice1 and let the earth be glad2 let the sea roar1 and the fulness thereof4 ,let the field be joyful1 and all that is therein3 then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the ,lord3 for he cometh to judge the earth3 he shall judge the world with righteousness1 and the people with truth10 ,psa4 #if3aa-ac4 ,he cometh 8to execute judgment upon all10 ,jude #ae4 ,to 8make war40 ,that this is another object of his coming1 is shown by3 ,the ,final ,conflict4 8,and ,i saw an angel standing in the sun2 and he cried with a loud voice1 saying to all the birds flying in the midst of heaven1 ,come6 gather yourselves to the great supper of ,god2 that ye may eat the flesh of kings1 and the flesh of commanders1 and the flesh of the mighty1 and the flesh of the horses1 and of those who sit on them1 and the flesh of all1 both free and bond1 both small and great4 ,and ,i saw the wild beast1 and the kings of the earth1 and their armies1 gathered to make war with him1 who sat on the horse1 and with his army4 ,and the wild beast was taken1 and with him the false prophet1 who wrought signs in his sight1 with which he had deceived those who received the mark of the wild beast1 and those who worshipped his image4 ,these two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone4 ,and the rest were slain with the sword of him who sat on the horse1 which sword goeth forth from his mouth2 and all the birds were filled with their flesh40 ,rev4 #ai3ag-ba4 ,the contest being between the ,lord and his armies on the one part1 and the wicked nations on the other1 the angel seen standing in the sun and performing an important act in connection with the ,lord's army1 must represent one of his attending angels2 for the acts to be performed are to be by their instrumentality3 8,in the end of this world1 the ,son of man shall send forth his angels1 and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend1 and them which do iniquity2 and shall cast them into a furnace of fire10 ,matt4 #ac3dj-db4 ,his crying to the fowls of heaven to come and sup on the bodies of the slain1 is indicative of the certainty of victory and of the entire overthrow of those who war against the ,lamb4 ,as birds gather on fields of slaughter to feast on the slain1 so a cry to 8all the fowls of heaven0 is expressive of the extent and thoroughness of the destruction to be inflicted4 ,it is the same cry which is made in ,ezekiel1 #ci3ag1 when the armies of ,gog are slain on the mountains of ,israel4 ,the beast and the kings of the earth symbolize the various governments in the world4 ,the 8beast0 is that which had seven heads and ten horns 7#ac3a1 and #ag3c71 and was a symbol of ,rome in its decem-regal form4 ,it was said of this beast1 it shall 8go into perdition10 7#ag3h72 so that under some manifestation1 it must continue till the end of the world3 the earth being 8reserved unto fire against the day of judgement1 and perdition of ungodly men10 #b ,pet4 #c3g4 ,as only in its divided form1 the ,roman empire continues till then1 the beast is here significant of the divisions represented by its ten horns--the governments of modern ,europe4 8,these shall war with the ,lamb1 and the ,lamb shall overcome them3 for he is ,lord of lords and ,king of kings2 and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful10 #ag3ad4 8,the false prophet10 which is taken with the beast1 is described as the one 8that wrought miracles before him1 with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image10 v4 #bj4 ,this identifies him as the two-horned beast of ,rev4 #ac4 7#ac3aa-ag74 ,the two-horned beast being a representative of the ,eastern ,roman empire1 when that was subverted by the ,turks it became the seat of the false prophet1--the ,mahometan hierarchy4 ,the kings of the earth must be the remaining governments which are not represented by those two4 ,by their subsequently warring with the ,lamb1 it follows that the previous resurrection and translation of the saints does not produce a cessation of all government4 ,those events may not be apparent to all eyes2 or they may serve only to madden the unbelieving1 and to make them more desperate in their infidelity4 ,they gather their armies to war against the ,lamb4 ,they resist his authority4 ,they will not have ,him to reign over them4 ,they are instigated to oppose him by 8unclean spirits like frogs0 7#af3ac71 which are the spirits of devils demons1 understood by the ,jews to be spirits of the wicked dead 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 ,almighty1 ,ib4 v4 #ad4 ,this is when ,christ is to 8come as a thief20 and they are to be gathered 8into a place called in the ,hebrew tongue ,armageddon10 #af3ae1 #af4 ,this was the name of the valley at the foot of ,mount ,megiddo 7,judg4 #e3ai71 which was famous as a valley of slaughter4 ,in it ,jehu fought against ,ahaziah and ,joram1 and slew both the kings of ,israel and ,judah1 #b ,kings #i3bg4 ,it was afterwards memorable for the death of king ,josiah1 when ,pharaoh-necho fought against him1 7#b ,kings #bc3bi72 so that the mourning as 8in the valley of ,megiddon10 became a proverbial expression in ,israel for great mourning1 ,zech4 #ab3aa1ab4 ,it is therefore significantly applied to the final battle4 ,thus do 8the kings of the earth set themselves1 and the rulers take counsel together against the ,lord1 and against his ,anointed20 but 8,he that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh2 the ,lord shall have them in derision40 ,for the decree has gone forth3 8,i shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance1 and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession4 ,thou shalt break them with a rod of iron2 thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel10 ,ps4 #b3b-i4 ,in this victory the saints1 also1 have a part2 for it is written3 8,he that overcometh1 and keepeth my works unto the end1 to him will ,i give power over the nations1 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron2 as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers3 even as ,i received of my ,father10 #b3bf1 #bg4 ,as thus predicted1 in this final conflict the nations are smitten1 #ai3ae4 ,those symbolized by the beast and false prophet are cast alive into the burning flame2 i4e41 the individuals constituting the bodies of those beasts are cast therein3 their governments cease when taken by the ,lamb and his armies4 ,this is in accordance with what ,daniel saw1 who 8beheld1 even till the beast was slain1 and his body destroyed and given to the burning flame10 ,dan4 #g3aa4 8,the remnant0 also are slain2 so that there are none left alive on the earth of all the wicked4 ,thus ,daniel interpreted to king ,nebuchadnezzar his dream3 8,thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands1 which smote the image representing the governments of earth upon his feet1 that were of iron and clay1 and brake them to pieces4 ,then was the iron1 the clay1 the brass1 the silver1 and the gold broken to pieces together1 and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors2 and the wind carried them away1 that no place was found for them10 ,dan4 #b3cd1 #ce4 ,it will 8break in pieces1 and consume all these kingdoms0 7,ib471 according to the prediction3 8,the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish2 yea1 those nations shall be utterly wasted10 ,isa4 #fj3ab4 8,and this shall be the plague wherewith the ,lord will smite all the people which have fought against ,jerusalem3 ,their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet1 and their eyes shall consume away in their holes1 and their tongues shall consume away in their mouth10 ,zech4 #ad3ab4 8,for1 behold1 the day cometh1 that shall burn as an oven2 and all the proud1 yea1 and all that do wickedly shall be stubble1 and the day that cometh shall burn them up1 saith the ,lord of hosts1 that it shall leave them neither root nor branch10 ,mal4 #d3a4 8,behold1 the day of the ,lord cometh1 cruel both with wrath and fierce anger1 to lay the land desolate3 and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it10 ,isa4 #ac3i4 ,thus will the ,saviour come 8in flaming fire1 taking vengeance on them that know not ,god1 and obey not the gospel of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 who shall be punished with everlasting destruction1 from the presence of the ,lord1 and from the glory of his power1 when he comes to be glorified in his saints1 and to be admired in all them that believe in that day10 7#b ,thess4 #a3h-aj73 saying to the nations on his left1 8,depart from me ye cursed1 into everlasting fire1 prepared for the devil and his angels10 ,matt4 #be3da4 ,thus will he 8gather out of his kingdom all things that offend1 and them which do iniquity1 and shall cast them into a furnace of fire3 there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth10 ,ib41 #ac3da1 #db4 ,the destruction of all the wicked from the earth is followed by3 ,the ,binding of ,satan4 8,and ,i saw an angel descending from heaven1 having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand4 ,and he seized the dragon1 the old serpent1 who is the ,devil1 and ,satan1 and bound him a thousand years1 and cast him into the abyss1 and shut him up1 and set a seal over him1 that he should deceive the nations no more1 till the thousand years were completed2 and after that1 he must be loosed a short time40 ,rev4 #bj3a-c4 ,the angel descending from heaven1 must be a representative of his own order2 for at this epoch there are no other orders of beings for him to be a representative of4 ,he therefore symbolizes the angels who are commissioned to 8gather out of his kingdom all things that offend10 ,matt4 #ac3da4 ,the 8key10 8pit10 and 8chain10 symbolize the instruments of restraint and confinement to which ,satan is to be subjected2 and his being bound and confined symbolize his restraint4 ,the 8,dragon0 is expressly called 8that old serpent1 which is the ,devil and ,satan40 ,with the appendages of heads and horns--symbols of political sovereignty--he is used in ,rev4 #ab3c1 as a symbol of the ,roman civil power1 under ,pagan rule2 and in verse #g1 when divested of political insignia1 of the pagan hierarchy4 ,but now1 as the beast1 another symbol of ,roman civil rule1 has been cast into 8the lake of fire and brimstone10 and the 8remnant0 are 8slain with the sword0 7#ai3ba71 there are no analogous powers remaining on earth for him to be a representative of1 and consequently he is here represented as a symbol of himself4 ,of his identity there can be no question3 ,he is 8that ,old ,serpent10 who1 being 8more subtle than any beast of the field which the ,lord ,god had made0 7,gen4 #c3a71 8beguiled ,eve through his subtlety10 #b ,cor4 #aa3c4 ,he is also the ,devil1 by whom our ,saviour was tempted in the wilderness1 7,matt4 #d3a-ab72 and the ,satan1 whose working is 8with all power and signs and lying wonders10 #b ,thess4 #b3i4 ,he is our adversary the devil1 who1 8as a roaring lion1 walketh about seeking whom he may devour10 7#a ,pet4 #e3h72 and against whom we are to guard continually1 8lest ,satan should get an advantage of us10 #b ,cor4 #b3aa4 ,coval with the fall1 the promise was given that his head should in due time be bruised1 and he is not ignorant of his doom2 for when the legion saw the ,saviour about to dispossess them of the two men among the tombs1 they recognized him as 8the ,son of ,god10 and cried1 8,art thou come hither to torment us before the time80 7,matt4 #h3bi72 8and they besought him1 that he would not command them to go out into the deep10--the pit1 or abyss1 ,luke #h3ca4 ,the epoch when he should be there confined1 is also shown by ,isaiah to be when 8the ,lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity10 when 8the earth also shall disclose her blood1 and no more cover her slain10 ,isa4 #bf3ba4 ,for 8in that day the ,lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the dragon1 the piercing serpent1 even leviathan that crooked serpent10 ,ib4 #bg3a4 ,this synchronizes with the slaying of the remnant with the sword1 when ,satan is bound and cast into the abyss1 to continue there a thousand years4 ,his being bound and confined must symbolize his dejection to a position where he can have no possible influence over the nations during the time he is bound4 ,it can be no partial restraint1 as some theologians hold2 for that is contrary to the conditions of the symbolic representation4 ,his restraint is full1 complete1 and entire4 ,consequently his influence1 for the time being1 will have entirely ceased4 ,the period of his confinement1 therefore1 cannot be one of partial exemption from sin2 but the living will be perfectly free from all its contagious influences4 ,he is to deceive the nations no more1 till the thousand years shall be fulfilled4 8,the nations0 who are freed from his influences1 and also those whom he is subsequently to deceive1 are not1 necessarily1 organized political bodies1 under civil rulers1 as they now exist4 ,the original term1 1 is defined by ,robinson to be 8a multitude1 people1 race1 belonging and living together40 ,at this epoch1 the national organizations having disappeared1 and the people constituting them being translated or slain1 the only nations remaining will be 8the nations of them which are saved0 7#ba3bd71 over whom the influence of ,satan will have ceased forever2 and those constituting 8the rest of the dead0 7#bj3e71 who will not live again till the end of the thousand years--at the very time when ,satan is to be loosed from his prison to go out to deceive them1 #bj3g1 #h4 ,the ,cleansing of the ,earth4 ,there is1 in the ,apocalypse1 no symbolic representation of the act of the cleansing of the earth1 yet various scriptures show that it is at the epoch of the second advent1 and of the establishment of the kingdom of ,god4 ,if so1 it follows the destruction of the wicked and the binding of ,satan1 while the raised and transfigured saints--constituting 8the bride0--are still with the ,lord in the clouds of heaven 7#ai3g-i71 where they were caught up to meet him in the air1 #a ,thess4 #d3ag4 ,a restoration of the earth1 in connection with the first resurrection1 is in accordance with the testimony of scripture1 and was the opinion of the ancients4 ,we read in ,isaiah3 8,behold1 ,i create new heavens and a new earth3 and the former shall not be remembered1 nor come into mind10 ,isa4 #fe3ag4 8,as for my opinion10 saith ,r4 ,menasse1 a ,jewish ,rabbi1 8,i think that after six thousand years1 the world shall be destroyed1 upon one certain day1 or in one hour2 that the arches of heaven shall make a stand as immovable2 that there will be no more generation or corruption2 and that all things by the resurrection shall be renovated1 and return to a better condition40 ,he also assures us that 8this1 without doubt1 is the opinion of the most learned ,aben ,ezra10 who looked for it in the new earth of ,isa4 #fe3ag4 8,man shall be restored in that time1 namely1 in the days of the ,messiah1 to that state in which he was before the first man sinned40--,r4 ,moses ,nachmanides in ,duet4 #de4 8,although all things were created perfect1 yet when the first man sinned1 they were corrupted1 and will not again return to their congruous state till ,,pherez 7i4e41 the ,,messiah7 comes40 8,there are six things which shall be restored to their primitive state1 viz43 the splendor of man1 his life1 the height of his stature1 the fruits of the earth1 the fruits of the trees1 and the luminaries1 7the sun1 moon1 and stars470--,r4 ,berakyah1 in the name of ,r4 ,samuel--,bereshith ,rabba1 ,fol4 #aa1 ,col4 #c4 8,in that time 7i4e41 of the ,messiah7 the whole work of creation shall be changed for the better1 and shall return into its perfect and pure state1 as it was in the time of the first man1 before he had sinned40--,r4 ,becai1 in ,shilcan ,orba1 ,fol4 #i1 ,col4 #d1 p4 #cfj4 8,theopompus1 who flourished three hundred and forty years ,b4 ,c41 relates that the ,persian ,magi taught that the present state of things would continue #fjjj years2 after which hades1 or death1 would be destroyed1 and men would live happy10 c4 8,the opinion of the ancient ,jews1 on this head1 may be gathered from the statement of one of their ,rabbins1 who said1 #8,the world endures #fjjj years1 and in the thousand1 or millennium that follows1 the enemies of ,god would be destroyed4' ,it was in like manner a tradition of the house of ,elias1 a holy man1 who lived about ,b4 ,c4 #bjj1 that the world was to endure #fjjj years1 and that the righteous1 whom ,god should raise up1 would not be turned again into dust4 ,that1 by this resurrection1 he meant a resurrection prior to the millennium1 is manifest from what follows4444 ,it is worthy of remark1 that the two ancient authors1 whose words have just been quoted1 speak of the seventh millennium as #8that day'--the day in which ,god will renew the world1 and in which he alone shall be exalted40--,dis4 on ,mill4 by ,bishop ,russell1 ,prof4 ,eccl4 ,hist4 in the ,scottish ,epis4 ,ch4 8,the ,divine institution of a sabbatical1 or seventh year's solemnity among the ,jews1 has a plain typical reference to the seventh chiliad1 or millenary of the world1 according to the well known tradition among the ,jewish doctors1 adopted by many in every age of the ,christian ,church1 that this world will attain to its limit at the end of #fjjj years40--,mede4 8,the observance of the ,sabbath is essential to the faith2 for such only as observe the ,sabbath confess that the earth will be renewed3 because ,he who created it out of nothing will renew it40--,david ,kimchi1 on ,isa4 #ee3e1 quoted by ,mede4 8,in as many days as this world was made1 in so many thousand years it is perfected2 for if the day of the ,lord be as it were a #ajjj years1 and in six days those things that are made were finished1 it is manifest that the perfecting of those things is in the #fjjjth year1 when anti-,christ1 reigning #abfj years1 shall have wasted all things in the world1 444 then shall the ,lord come from heaven in the clouds1 with the glory of his ,father40 ,irenus1 ,bish4 of ,lyons1 ,a4 ,d4 #agh4 8,in six thousand years1 the ,lord will bring all things to an end1 444 when iniquity shall be no more1 all things being renewed by the ,lord40--,epst4 of ,barnabas1 sec4 #ad1 #ae4 8,let philosophers know1 who number thousands of years1 ages since the beginning of the world1 that the #fjjjth year is not yet concluded or ended4 ,but that number being fulfilled1 of necessity there must be an end1 and the state of human things must be transformed into that which is better40--,lactantius1 ,b4 of ,divine ,inst41 ,a4 ,d4 #caj4 ,thomas ,burnet 7,theory of ,earth1 ,lon4 #afig7 states 8that it was the received opinion of the primitive church from the days of the apostles to the council of ,nice1 that this earth would continue #fjjj years1 when the resurrection of the just1 and conflagration of the earth1 would usher in the millennium and reign of ,christ on earth40 8,god's blessing the ,sabbath day1 and resting on it from all his works1 was a type of that glorious rest that the saints shall have when the six days of this world are fully ended4444 ,he will finish the toil and travail of his saints1 with the burden of the beasts and the curse of the ground1 and bring all into rest for a thousand years4444 ,none ever saw this world as it was in its first creation but ,adam and his wife1 neither will any see it until the manifestation of the children of ,god2 i4e41 until the redemption or resurrection of the saints40--,john ,bunyan's ,works1 vol4 #f1 pp4 #cja1 #cbi4 8,i expect with ,paul a reparation of all the evils caused by sin1 for which he represents the creatures as groaning and travailing40--,john ,calvin1 in his 8,institutes40 ,the reformation of the earth 8never was1 nor yet shall be1 till the righteous ,king and ,judge appear for the restoration of all things40--,john ,knox4 8,the groans of nature in this nether world1 ,which heaven has heard for ages1 have an end4 ,foretold by prophets1 and by poets sung1 ,whose fire was kindled at the prophet's lamp1 ,the time of rest1 the promised ,sabbath1 comes3 ,six thousand years of sorrow have well nigh ,fulfilled their tardy and disastrous course ,over a sinful world2 and what remains ,of this tempestuous state of human things1 ,is merely as the working of a sea ,before a calm1 that rocks itself to rest2 ,for ,,he1 whose car the winds are1 and the clouds ,the dust that waits upon his sultry march1 ,when sin hath moved him1 and his wrath is hot1 ,shall visit earth in mercy2 shall descend1 ,propitious1 in his chariot paved with love2 ,and what his storms have blasted and defaced ,for man's revolt1 shall with a smile repair40 ,cowper's ,task4 ,the above are only a few of many extracts which might be made1 showing the faith of the church in past ages2 but which are of no weight1 only as they are in accordance with the harmony of scriptural testimony4 ,when man sinned1 this earth was cursed for his sake4 ,the ,lord said to him1 8,cursed is the ground for thy sake2 in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life2 thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth unto thee1 and thou shalt eat the herb of the field2 in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread1 till thou return unto the ground2 for out of it wast thou taken3 for dust thou art1 and unto dust shalt thou return10 ,gen4 #c3ag-ai4 ,such was the curse to which the whole creation was subjected because man sinned4 8,for the creature was made subject to vanity1 not willingly1 but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope10 ,rom4 #h3bj4 ,and this hope is for a removal of the curse thus inflicted1 and a restoration of all things to their original condition4 ,as the earth was subjected to the curse at the time when man was made subject to death1 the removal of the former would naturally be expected at the epoch of the fulfillment of the promise to the just3 8,i will ransom them from the power of the grave2 ,i will redeem them from death3 ,o death ,i will be thy plagues2 ,o grave ,i will be thy destruction10 ,hos4 #ac3ad4 ,and thus ,paul testifies3 8,for the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of ,god1 444 ,because the creature itself1 also1 shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of ,god4 ,for we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now4 ,and not only they1 but ourselves also1 which have the first fruits of the ,spirit1 even we ourselves groan within ourselves1 waiting for the adoption1 to wit1 the redemption of our body10 ,rom4 #h3ai1 #ba-bc4 ,the removal of the curse removes also its consequences4 ,thus it is promised3 8,instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree1 and instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle tree10 ,isa4 #ee3ac4 8,the inhabitant shall not say ,i am sick3 the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity10 ,isa4 #cc3bd4 8,he will swallow up death in victory2 and the ,lord ,god will wipe away tears from off all faces2 and the rebuke of his people will he take away from off all the earth2 for the ,lord hath spoken it10 ,isa4 #be3h4 8,for behold1 ,i create new heavens and a new earth10 ,isa4 #fe3ag4 8,and there shall be no more curse10 ,rev4 #bb3c4 8,for the ,lord shall comfort ,zion3 he will comfort all her waste places2 and he will make her wilderness like ,eden1 and her desert like the garden of the ,lord2 joy and gladness shall be found therein1 thanksgiving1 and the voice of melody10 ,isa4 #ea3c4 ,the removal of the curse is called 8the regeneration0 7,matt4 #ai3bh71 8the times of refreshing10 and of 8restitution20 which ,peter places at the advent of ,christ3 8whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution7#aj7 of all things1 which ,god hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began10 ,acts #c3ba4 ,he also places it at 8the perdition of ungodly men10 which must synchronize with the epoch when the beast 8goeth into perdition0 7#ag3aa71 and 8the remnant0 are 8slain with the sword10 7#ai3ba72 8when the ,lord ,jesus shall be revealed from heaven1 with his mighty angels1 in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not ,god1 and that obey not the gospel of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ10 #b ,thess4 #a3g1 #h4 ,says ,peter3 8,the heavens and the earth1 which are now1 by the same word #8whereby the world that then was1 being overflowed with water1 perished' v4#f are kept in store1 reserved unto fire1 against the day of judgment1 and perdition of ungodly men4444 ,but the day of the ,lord will come1 as a thief in the night2 in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise1 and the elements shall melt with fervent heat1 the earth also2 and the works that are therein shall be burned up4444 ,nevertheless1 we1 according to his promise1 look for new heavens and a new earth1 wherein dwelleth righteousness10 i4e41 8righteous persons0--,horsely1 #b ,pet4 #c3g-ac4 ,this harmonizes with the day that 8cometh that shall burn as an oven10 when 8all the proud1 yea1 and all that do wickedly0 shall be burned up1 and become 8ashes under the soles0 of those on whom 8shall the ,sun of righteousness arise10 7,mal4 #d3a-c72 which must be the time intervening between the resurrection of the righteous and that of the wicked4 ,this also harmonizes with the testimony of our ,saviour1 that when1 8in the end of this world10 ,he 8shall send forth his angels and gather out of his kingdom all things that offend1 and them which do iniquity1 and shall cast them into a furnace of fire2 444 then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their ,father10 ,matt4 #ac3dj-dc4 ,the earth being cleansed1 and all things made new1 it will have been prepared for the 8dwelling0 of 8righteous persons0 7#b ,pet4 #c3ac71 who1--having 8put on incorruption0 7#a ,cor4 #ae3ec71 and been 8caught up 444 in the clouds to meet the ,lord in the air0 7#a ,thess4 #d3ag71 where1 constituting 8the bride10 8the ,lamb's wife10 they were 8called unto the marriage supper of the ,lamb0 7#ai3g-i71--will descend from heaven to take possession4 ,thus ,john writes1 that one of the angels said to him3 8,come hither1 ,i will show thee the bride1 the ,lamb's wife4 ,and he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain1 and he showed me that great city1 the holy ,jerusalem1 descending out of heaven from ,god10 #ba3i1 #aj4 8,lo1 what a glorious sight appears ,to our believing eyes3 ,the earth and seas are passed away1 ,and the old rolling skies6 ,from the third heaven where ,god resides1 ,that holy1 happy place1 ,the ,new ,jerusalem comes down ,adorned with shining grace4 ,attending angels shout for joy1 ,and the bright armies sing1 ,mortals1 behold the sacred seat ,of your descending ,king40--,watts4 ,the ,kingdom given to the ,saints at the resurrection of the just4 8,and ,i saw thrones1 and they sat on them1 and judgment was given for them3 and ,i saw the persons of those beheaded for the testimony of ,jesus1 and for the word of ,god1 and those1 who had not worshipped the wild beast1 nor his image1 nor had received the mark on their forehead1 or on their hand2 and they lived and reigned with ,christ the thousand years4 ,but the rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years were completed4 ,this is the first resurrection4 ,happy and holy is he1 who bath part in the first resurrection3 on such1 the second death hath no power1 but they will be priests of ,god and of ,christ1 and will reign with him a thousand years60 ,rev4 #bj3d-f4 8,thrones0 are symbols of power4 ,as the saints are to reign with ,christ on the renewed earth1 in obedience to the invitation3 8,come ye blessed of my ,father1 inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world10 7,matt4 #be3cd72 their being inducted into the kingdom is symbolized by their being seated on thrones4 ,thus they sing in the 8new song10 addressed to ,christ3 8,thou wast slain1 and hast redeemed us to ,god by thy blood1 out of every kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 and nation1 and hast made us unto our ,god kings and priests3 and we shall reign on the earth10 #e3i1 #aj4 ,in the first chapter1 also1 all who ascribe praises to 8,him that loved us1 and washed us from our sins in his own blood10 also add3 8and hath made us kings and priests unto ,god1 and his ,father10 #a3e1 #f4 ,all the saints being thus exalted to kingly and priestly dignity1 symbolizes the exalted rank they are to hold in the new creation--the symbols of their station being taken from the most exalted offices known on earth4 ,thus ,god said to ancient ,israel3 8,ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests1 and a holy nation10 7,ex4 #ai3f72 and the ,christian church is addressed as 8a chosen generation1 a royal priesthood1 a holy nation1 a peculiar people10 #a ,pet4 #b3i4 ,the time when the saints shall reign on the earth is in connection with the destruction of the 8little horn0 of ,daniel's 8fourth beast10 which1 as he saw1 8made war with the saints and prevailed against them1 until the ,ancient of days came1 and judgment was given to the saints of the ,most ,high1 and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom10 ,dan4 #g3ba1 #bb4 8,the saints of the ,most ,high shall take the kingdom1 and possess the kingdom forever1 even forever and ever10 ,ib4 v4 #ah4 8,and the kingdom and dominion 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 dominions shall serve and obey him10 ,ib4 v4 #bg4 8,and they shall reign forever and ever10 #bb3e4 ,thus the ,saviour said3 8,fear not1 little flock2 for it is your ,father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom10 ,luke #ab3cb4 ,those who receive the kingdom are symbolized by the souls of martyrs1 c41 living again and reigning with ,christ4 ,the symbol includes1 with the martyred saints1 those who had stood aloof from the worship of the beast and his image1 and those who had not received his mark2 who are shown by a parallel scripture to represent all who are redeemed to ,god 8out of every kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 and nation10 #e3i1 #aj4 ,some of these were symbolized1 under the fifth seal1 as crying from under the altar in anticipation of this day1 #f3i4 ,now1 with 8their fellow servants10 they receive their reward4 ,the souls of the departed living again1 can only symbolize those who have been subjected to death1 and are again raised4 ,consequently they are the subjects of a real resurrection4 ,and this is shown by the explanation of the symbol1 which affirms that1 8,this is the first resurrection40 ,it is denied by many that a literal resurrection is here taught2 but in so doing they deny the faith of the church in its best and purest ages4 ,in the first two centuries after ,christ1 there was not an individual1 who believed in any resurrection of the dead whose name or memory has survived to the present time1 who denied that the resurrection of the just is here taught4 ,eusebius1 who opposed this view1 quotes ,papias1 who he admits was a disciple of ,st4 ,john and a companion of ,polycarp1 as saying that 8after the resurrection of the dead the kingdom of ,christ shall be established corporeally on this earth40 ,and ,jerome1 another opposer1 quotes from him that 8he had the apostles for his authors2 and that he considered what ,andrew1 what ,peter said1 what ,philip1 what ,thomas said1 and other disciples of the ,lord40 ,polycarp was another of ,john's disciples2 and ,irenus testifies in an epistle to ,florinus1 that he had seen ,polycarp1 8who related his conversation with ,john and others who had seen the ,lord1 and how he related their sayings1 and the things he had heard of them concerning the ,lord1 both concerning his miracles and doctrine1 as he had received them from the ,lord of life2 all of which ,polycarp related agreeable to the scriptures40 ,following such a teacher1 ,irenus taught that at the resurrection of the just1 the meek should inherit the earth2 and that then would be fulfilled the promise which ,god made to ,abraham4 ,justin ,martyr1 born ,a4 ,d4 #hi1 says that1 8,a certain man among us1 whose name is ,john1 being one of the twelve apostles of ,christ1 in that ,revelation which was shown him1 prophesied that those who believe in our ,christ shall fulfil a thousand years at ,jerusalem40 ,he affirms that himself 8and many others are of this mind0--8that ,christ shall reign personally on earth20 and that 8all who were accounted orthodox so believed40 ,tertullian1 about ,a4 ,d4 #ahj1 says it was a custom for ,christians to pray that they might have part in the first resurrection4 ,and ,cyprian1 about #bbj1 says that ,christians 8had a thirst for martyrdom that they might obtain a better resurrection40 ,mosheim assures us that the opinion 8that ,christ was to come and reign #ajjj years among men10 had1 before the time of ,origen1 about the middle of the #c;d century1 8met with no opposition40 ,and it is the testimony of ecclesiastical historians1 that the first who opposed it1 seeing no way of avoiding the meaning of the words in ,rev4 #bjth1 denied the authenticity of the ,apocalypse1 and claimed that it was written by one ,cerenthus1 a heretic1 for the very purpose of sustaining what they called 8his fiction of the reign of ,christ on earth40 ,this doctrine is not now evaded in this way1 but by spiritualizing the language of the ,apocalypse1 and thus finding a meaning in it which is not expressed by any of the admitted laws of language4 ,theologians who thus reason make the first resurrection the conversion of the world4 ,but those who are affirmed to be raised1 are persons who have lived and are dead4 ,if the resurrection is a mere metaphor1 then the martyrs must have metaphorically died1 and must have comprised only those who had been previously converted and were fallen away4 ,the rest of the dead must then be understood as persons morally dead1 which would be inconsistent with the idea of a converted world4 ,those who were raised being those who were previously converted1 they must have been literally dead1 and the only resurrection predicable of such is a literal resurrection4 ,the ,bible teaches such a resurrection of the righteous prior to that of the wicked4 ,thus the ,psalmist says of them3 8,like sheep they are laid in the grave2 death shall feed on them1 and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning40 ,but of himself he says3 8,but ,god will redeem my soul from the power of the grave10 ,psa4 #di3ad1 #ae4 ,of the wicked ,isaiah testifies3 8,they are dead1 they shall not live2 they are deceased1 they shall not rise10 i4e4 with the righteous2 but to ,zion he says3 8,thy dead men shall live1 together with my dead body shall they arise4 ,awake and sing1 ye that dwell in the dust3 for thy dew is as the dew of herbs1 and the earth shall cast out her dead10 ,isa4 #bf3ad1 #ai4 ,to the same import is the prophecy of ,daniel1 respecting the time when ,michael shall stand up1 and 8thy people shall be delivered1 every one that shall be found written in the book4 ,and many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake1 some1 the awakened1 shall be to everlasting life1 and some1 the unawakened1 shall be to shame and everlasting contempt10 ,dan4 #ab3a1 #b4 ,such1 according to ,prof4 ,bush1 is the precise rendering of the original4 ,the ,new ,testament also teaches a resurrection of the just1 in distinction from that of the wicked4 ,paul says1 while all are to be made alive1 that it will be 8every man in his own order10 or band--8,christ the first fruits2 afterwards they that are ,christ's at his coming10 #a ,cor4 #ae3bc4 ,none others are spoken of as being raised at that epoch4 ,when the ,lord descends from heaven with a shout1 at the trump of ,god1 not the entire mass of the dead1 but 8the dead in ,christ shall rise first10 before the righteous living are changed1 #a ,thess4 #d3af4 ,in accordance with this priority in the resurrection of the righteous1 ,paul teaches that the worthies who died in faith 8accepted not deliverance1 that they might obtain a better resurrection10 7,heb4 #aa3ac72 and himself1 he says1 counted all things loss for ,christ1 8if by any means ,i might attain unto the resurrection of the dead10 7,phil4 #c3aa72 which is 8the resurrection from among the dead0--it being a resurrection to which some will not attain4 ,thus also the ,saviour taught3 while 8they that have done good shall come forth at as it is literally the resurrection of life1 and they that have done evil at the resurrection of damnation0 7,john #e3bi71 the two are not co-etaneous2 for the righteous shall be 8recompensed at the resurrection of the just10 ,lu4 #ad3ad4 ,that must be the resurrection of which those are the subjects who receive the kingdom2 for 8flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of ,god10 #a ,cor4 #ae3ej4 ,while 8the children of this world marry and are given in marriage10 8they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world1 and the resurrection from the dead1 neither marry1 nor are given in marriage2 neither can they die any more3 for they are equal unto the angels1 and are the children of ,god1 being the children of the resurrection10 ,lu4 #bj3cd-cf4 ,the children of the resurrection thus include all who attain unto that world1 which1 consequently1 the wicked do not obtain1 and of which the righteous dead and the living saints are made equal subjects1 according to ,paul's 8mystery30 8,we shall not all sleep1 but we shall all be changed1 in a moment1 in the twinkling of an eye1 at the last trump3 for the trumpet shall sound1 and the dead shall be raised incorruptible1 and we shall be changed10 i4e41 to the same incorruptible state to which the dead are raised1 7#a ,cor4 #ae3ej-ed72 so that all the righteous will alike 8bear the image of the heavenly0 7v4 #di7 when they 8shall be caught up together0 7#a ,thess4 #d3af7 8to meet the ,lord in the air40 ,the resurrection state is that to which the ancients looked for the restoration of ,israel4 ,rabbi ,eliezer the great1 supposed to have lived just after the second temple was built1 applied ,hosea #ad3h to the pious ,jews1 who seemed likely to die without seeing the glory of ,israel1 saying3 8,as ,i live1 saith ,jehovah1 ,i will raise you up1 in the resurrection of the dead2 and ,i will gather you with all ,israel40 ,the ,sadducees are reported to have asked ,rabbi ,gamaliel1 the preceptor of ,paul1 whence he would prove that ,god would raise the dead1 who quoted ,deut4 #i3ba3 8,which land the ,lord sware that he would give to your fathers40 ,he argued1 as ,abraham1 ,isaac and ,jacob had it not1 and as ,god cannot lie1 that they must be raised from the dead to inherit it4 ,rabbi ,simai1 though of later date1 argues the same from ,ex4 #f3d1 insisting that the law asserts in this place the resurrection from the dead1 when it said3 8,and also ,i have established my covenant with them1 to give them the ,canaan20 for1 he adds1 8it is not said to you1 but to them40 ,mennasseh ,ben ,israel says3 8,it is plain that ,abraham and the rest of the patriarchs did not possess that land2 it follows1 therefore1 that they must be raised in order to enjoy the promised good1 as otherwise the promises of ,god would be vain and false40--,de ,resurrec4 ,mort41 ,l4 i41 c4 #a4 #d4 ,rabbi ,saahias ,gaion1 commenting on ,dan4 #ab3b1 says3 8,this is the resuscitation of the dead ,israel1 whose lot is eternal life1 and those who shall not awake are the forsakers of ,jehovah40 8,in the world to come10 says the ,sahar1 fol4 #ha1 8the blessed ,god will vivify the dead and raise them from their dust1 so that they shall be no more an earthly structure40 ,thus 8,abraham1 when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance 444 sojourned in the land of promise1 as in a strange country1 dwelling in tabernacles1 with ,isaac and ,jacob1 the heirs with him of the same promise2 for he looked for a city which hath foundations1 whose builder and maker is ,god10 ,heb4 #aa3h-aj4 ,while he dwelt in that land1 ,god 8gave him none inheritance in it1 no1 not so much as to set his foot on2 yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession1 and to his seed after him10 ,acts #g3e4 ,this was also true of all those 8who died in faith1 not having received the promises1 but having seen them afar off1 and were persuaded of them1 and embraced them1 and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth10--desiring 8a better country1 that is1 a heavenly0 7,heb4 #aa3ac-af71 8not accepting deliverance1 that they might obtain a better resurrection0 7v4 #ce71 8,god having provided some better thing for us1 that they without us should not be made perfect10 v4 #dj4 ,when the promises are thus made good to ,israel1 all who are of the faith of ,abraham will participate in the same promises4 ,for 8,christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law 444 that the blessing of ,abraham might come on the ,gentiles through ,jesus ,christ40 8,and if ye be ,christ's1 then are ye ,abraham's seed1 and heirs according to the promise10 ,gal4 #c3ac1 #ad1 #bi4 ,so the ,saviour said to the ,jews3 8,many shall come from the east and west1 and shall sit down with ,abraham1 and ,isaac1 and ,jacob1 in the kingdom of heaven2 but the children of the kingdom unregenerate ,jews shall be cast into outer darkness10 ,matt4 #h3aa1 #ab4 ,and then1 as the ,saviour said to the twelve3 8,ye which have followed me1 in the regeneration when the ,son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory1 ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones1 judging the twelve tribes of ,israel10 ,matt4 #ai3bh4 8,the rest of the dead10 who live not again till the thousand years are ended1 must be the wicked dead2 for1 the righteous being raised1 no other dead ones remain4 ,they include all the wicked1 who have died in all ages1 and 8the remnant0 who 8are slain with the sword0 7#ai3ba71 when the kingdom is cleansed from all things that offend4 8,the thousand years0 to intervene between the two resurrections1 are regarded by some as a symbol of #cfj1jjj years4 ,there seems to be no necessity for such an interpretation4 ,when time is symbolized1 it is always proportioned to the duration of the other symbols used4 ,thus1 in ,dan4 #hth1 when beasts symbolize kingdoms1 it would have been incongruous to have specified the duration of the vision in literal years2 for beasts do not continue during centuries1 as the kingdoms symbolized by them have done4 ,but days are proportioned to years1 as beasts are to kingdoms2 so that there is a fitness in symbolizing the years foreshadowed in that vision1 by #bcjj days2 between which measure of time and the duration of the existence of beasts1 there is a perfect congruity4 ,in the #dth of ,daniel1 where the cutting down of a tree is used to symbolize the loss of the king's reason1 there is no such disproportion between the duration of man's existence and that of a tree1 as there is between the life of a beast and that of an empire4 ,and therefore there is no incongruity if the time specified is a symbol of literal time1 i4e41 if a time is used to symbolize a year4 ,in this case1 the seven years could not have been symbolized by seven days2 for there is no marked disproportion between the duration of the other symbols in connection1 and the things symbolized2 and had days been used1 days must have been understood in the fulfilment4 ,there might be either #ajjj years1 or #cfj1jjj1 between the first and second resurrections1 without conflicting with any other ,scripture4 ,but there is no disproportion between the other symbols and the things symbolized1--the living again of the martyrs in vision1 and their actual resurrection2 and therefore the #ajjj years need not1 by any parallel usage or law of language1 be understood1 to be other than a literal thousand4 ,the ,wicked ,raised1 and ,satan ,loosed 8,and when the thousand years are completed1 ,satan will be loosed out of his prison1 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth1 ,gog and ,magog1 to gather them to battle3 the number of whom is like the sand of the sea4 ,and they ascended on the breadth of the earth1 and encompassed the camp of the saints1 and the beloved city3 and fire descended from ,god out of heaven1 and devoured them4 ,and the devil1 who deceived them1 was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone1 where both the wild beast and the false prophet are1 and will be tormented day and night for ever and ever4 ,and ,i saw a great white throne1 and him who sat on it2 from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away1 and a place was not for them4 ,and ,i saw the dead1 the small and the great1 standing before ,god2 and the books were opened3 and another book was opened1 which is the book of life3 and the dead were judged from the things written in the books1 according to their works4 ,and the sea gave up the dead in it2 and death and the pit gave up the dead in them3 and they were judged every one according to their works4 ,and death and the pit were cast into the lake of fire4 ,this is the second death1 the lake of fire4 ,and whoever was not found written in the book of life1 was cast into the lake of fire40 ,rev4 #bj3g-ae4 ,verses #aa-ae contain the record of the symbolization ,john saw1 of what was to transpire at the end of the thousand years2 while verses #g-aj appear to be explanatory of events which would then be fulfilled4 ,this explanation1 previous to the exhibition of the symbolization1 is appropriate in the connection1 and makes more forcible the fact that 8the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished40 ,as the rest of the dead live not till the end of the thousand years1 they come forth at 8the resurrection of damnation10 at the end of a thousand years of the reign of the saints on the earth1 and at the epoch when ,satan was to be loosed from his prison4 ,as all who had part in the first resurrection were to be exempted from the power of the second death1 the nations who are then deceived by ,satan1 must be the nations composing the rest of the dead1 who live again at that epoch4 ,their number 8as the sand of the sea10 and their coming from 8the four quarters of the earth10 show that they are no obscure people1 living unknown to the saints2 and their existence can only be accounted for by the event of a resurrection of the wicked4 ,their names1 8,gog and ,magog10--those applied to the ancient enemies of ,israel1 7,ezek4 #ch3ch71--;are appropriate titles to designate the subjects of the second resurrection4 ,they encompass the camp of the saints1 and the beloved city--showing that the city descends at the commencement of the thousand years--but there is no battle3 before they are permitted to harm the saints1 fire from heaven devours them2 and the devil that thought to lead them against the holy city1 is cast into the lake of fire1 where the beast and false prophet were cast at the commencement of the millennium4 ,in connection with the resurrection of the wicked1 is their judgment--not following necessarily in the precise order of the record4 ,the 8small and great0 who stand before ,god1 are not small and large persons1 but those from all stations and ranks in society4 ,the king and the beggar equally receive according to their deserts3 ,they are the bond and the free1 the high and the low1 the rich and the poor1 including those who fought against the ,lamb1 and were overcome by ,him1 #ai3ah4 ,the open books symbolize the record of their evil deeds1 for which they are to be judged4 ,and the 8book of ,life0 is opened to symbolize that the names of those who are judged are not there recorded1 and that consequently they are justly condemned4 ,to 8him that overcometh10 the ,saviour promised 8,i will not blot his name out of this book of life10 #c3c4 ,the sea1 death1 and hell giving up their dead1 indicates that all of the 8rest of the dead0 are here resurrected1 and that none are left out from among whom these are raised1 as these were1 from whom came forth the subjects of the first resurrection4 ,the casting of death and hell into the lake of fire1 symbolizes the casting in of those who were within their domains2 and 8the lake of fire10 symbolizes the place into which--the impenitent are consigned--which is the 8second death40 ,the ,new ,creation4 8,and ,i saw a new heaven and a new earth3 for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away2 and the sea was no more4 ,and ,i saw the holy city1 new ,jerusalem1 descending out of heaven1 from ,god1 prepared like a bride adorned for her husband40 ,rev4 #ba3a1 #b4 ,the new heaven and new earth are symbols of the new order of things4 ,the old heavens and earth having been dissolved1 their elements melting with fervent heat 7#b ,pet4 #c3ab71 the 8new heavens and the new earth1 wherein dwelleth righteousness10 for which ,peter looked1 succeed to their place4 ,so much more resplendent are these than the former1 that those 8shall not be remembered1 nor come into mind10 i4e41 to be desired1 ,isa4 #fe3ag4 ,this is the eternal state in which we are commanded to be 8glad and rejoice forever10 when ,god shall 8create ,jerusalem a rejoicing1 and her people a joy40 ,then 8the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her1 nor the voice of crying40 ,there 8the elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands20 for 8as the days of a tree1 are the days of my people10 saith the ,lord2 who has also declared that1 8as the new heavens and the new earth1 which ,i will make1 shall remain before me1 so shall your seed and your name remain10 ,isa4 #ff3bb4 ,the sea is now 8no more10 in the same sense that the first heavens and earth are passed away--all having disappeared in the conflagration1 and given place to the 8restitution of all things spoken of by the mouth of all the holy prophets10 ,acts #c3ba4 ,whether the new creation will comprise both sea and dry land1 as was first created 7,gen4 #a3aj71 is not here decided2 but there is no reason to suppose that this characteristic of the original creation will be forever obliterated4 ,the new ,jerusalem descends1 adorned as a bride for her husband4 ,she is shown in the #aith chapter to be 8arrayed in fine linen1 clean and white0--a symbol of 8the righteousness of the saints40 ,as the corrupt ,roman hierarchy was symbolized by an adulterous woman 7#ag3c71 and also by the corrupt city of ,babylon 7#ah3b71 so symbols of an opposite character--a chaste bride1 and the new ,jerusalem--are chosen representatives of the church triumphant1 whose ,maker is her husband4 ,mr4 ,lord very justly remarks3 8,the descent of the city is to take place at the commencement of the millennium1 manifestly from the representation that the marriage of the ,lamb was come1 and that his wife had prepared herself1 immediately after the destruction of great ,babylon1 7#ai3g1 #h72 from the exhibition of the risen and glorified saints1 as seated on thrones1 and reigning with ,christ during the thousand years2 and from the representation of the beloved city as on earth at the revolt of ,gog and ,magog1 after the close of the thousand years40--8,ex4 ,apoc40 p4 #ebi4 8,jerusalem1 my happy home1 ,o how ,i long for thee2 ,when shall my sorrows have an end8 ,thy joys when shall ,i see8 8,when shall these eyes thy heaven-built walls ,and pearly gates behold6 ,thy bulwarks with salvation strong1 ,and streets of shining gold8 8,o when1 thou city of my ,god1 ,shall ,i thy courts ascend1 ,where congregations ne'er break up1 ,and ,sabbaths have no end80 ,the ,tabernacle of ,god with ,men4 8,and ,i heard a loud voice out of heaven1 saying1 ,behold1 the tabernacle of ,god is with men1 and he will dwell with them1 and they will be his people1 and ,god himself will be with them1 even their ,god4 ,and ,god will wipe away every tear from their eyes2 and there will be no more death1 nor mourning1 nor crying out1 nor will there be any more pain3 for the former things are passed away4 ,and he who sat on the throne said1 ,behold1 ,i make all things new4 ,and he said1 ,write1 for these words are faithful and true4 ,and he said to me1 ,it is done4 ,i am the ,alpha and the ,omega1 the beginning and the end4 ,i will give to him1 who thirsteth1 from the fountain of the water of life freely4 ,he1 who overcometh1 will inherit these things2 and ,i will be his ,god1 and he will be my son4 ,but the cowardly1 and unbelieving1 and abominable1 and murderers1 and fornicators1 and sorcerers1 and idolaters1 and all liars1 will have their part in the lake burning with fire and brimstone1 which is the second death40 ,rev4 #ba3c-h4 ,the utterances of the 8great voice out of heaven0 are not what ,john saw1 but are what he heard2 and are therefore to be interpreted1 not by the laws of symbols1 but by those of tropes and literal language4 ,the 8tabernacle of ,god with men0 is explained in the same connection to be his 8dwelling with them40 8,when our ,saviour was incarnate1 and vouchsafed to dwell amongst the children of men1 the same phrase is used by this same author1 ,eskeenoose 7,john #a3ad71 #8,the ,word was made flesh1 and tabernacled amongst us3 and we beheld his glory1' etc4 ,we read it1 he dwelt amongst us3 but rendered more closely1 it is1 he set his tabernacle amongst us4 ,and that which the ,hebrews call the ,shekinah1 or divine presence 7,maimon1 ,mor4 ,nev4 par4 #a1 chap4 #be71 comes from a word of the like signification1 and found with the ,greek word here used4 ,therefore there will be a ,shekinah in that kingdom of ,christ40--,tho4 ,burnett4 ,when ,israel first entered the wilderness1 ,god entered into a covenant with them 7,ex4 #ai3c-h71 in consequence of which he said to ,moses1 8,let them make me a sanctuary1 that ,i may dwell among them10 7,ex4 #be3h7--the pattern of which was shown ,moses in the mount2 and when completed 8the glory of the ,lord filled the tabernacle0 7,ex4 #dj3cd71 and there 8the ,lord talked with ,moses10 ,ex4 #cc3i4 ,thus did ,god dwell among them while they were in a probationary state2 but he indicated a more intimate connection with them1 by promising1 if they were obedient to his statutes in all things1 that 8,i will set my tabernacle among you3 and my soul shall not abhor you4 ,and ,i will walk among you1 and will be your ,god1 and ye shall be my people10 ,lev4 #bf3aa1 #ab4 ,this promise was not fulfilled to the ,jews1 because of their sins2 but ,paul quotes it 7#b ,cor4 #f3af71 and applies it as a promise still to be made good to the church of ,christ4 ,thus1 the 8,word0 that 8was ,god10 who was made flesh and tabernacled among us at his incarnation1 is again to come and dwell with us in his human tabernacle1 as at his first advent4 ,then will ,god enter into a new covenant with his people1 as he has said3 8,behold1 the days come1 saith the ,lord1 that ,i will make a new covenant with the house of ,israel1 and with the house of ,judah2 not according to the covenant that ,i made with their fathers1 in the day that ,i took them by the hand1 to bring them out of the land of ,egypt1 which my covenant they brake1 although ,i was a husband unto them1 saith the ,lord2 but this shall be the covenant that ,i will make with the house of ,israel2 ,after those days1 saith the ,lord1 ,i will put my law in their inward parts1 and write it in their hearts2 and will be their ,god1 and they shall be my people4 ,and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor1 and every man his brother1 saying1 ,know the ,lord3 for they shall all know me1 from the least of them unto the greatest of them1 saith the ,lord3 for ,i will forgive their iniquity1 and ,i will remember their sin no more10 ,jer4 #ca3ca-cd4 ,as the saints1 before the resurrection of 8the rest of the dead10 8reign with ,christ #ajjj years10 7#bj3d72 it follows that during that period the tabernacle of ,god is with men1 when he dwells among them1 which is an additional evidence that 8the restitution of all things0 7,acts #c3ba7 is at the commencement of the millennium4 ,this is a tearless state--all tears being then wiped from every eye4 ,isaiah predicted1 when 8,he will swallow up death in victory10 that 8the ,lord ,god will wipe away tears from off all faces3 and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth3 for the ,lord hath spoken it4 ,and it shall be said in that day1 ,lo1 this is our ,god2 we have waited for him1 and he will save us3 this is the ,lord2 we have waited for him1 we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation10 ,isa4 #be3h1 #i4 ,the commencement of the tearless state is thus placed by ,isaiah at the resurrection1 and at the appearance of ,christ2 which is confirmed by ,paul1 in his inspired commentary on the same1 who affirms that at the last trump1 8when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption1 and this mortal shall have put on immortality1 then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written1 ,death is swallowed up in victory10 #a ,cor4 #ae3ed4 ,this state was also promised to the entire company 8which came out of great tribulation1 and have washed their robes1 and made them white in the blood of the ,lamb4 ,therefore are they before the throne of ,god1 and serve him day and night in his temple3 and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them4 ,they shall hunger no more1 neither thirst any more2 neither shall the sun light on them1 nor any heat4 ,for the ,lamb1 which is in the midst of the throne1 shall feed them1 and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters3 and ,god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes10 ,rev4 #g3ad-ag4 ,there shall then 8be no more death0--for that 8last enemy shall be destroyed0 7#a ,cor4 #ae3bf71 and there shall be nothing to 8hurt nor destroy1 in all my holy mountain1 saith the ,lord40 ,death will have been swallowed up in victory1 7,isa4 #be3h7--the redeemed having been ransomed 8from the power of the grave10 ,hos4 #ac3ad4 8,neither can they die any more3 for they are equal unto the angels2 and are the children of ,god1 being the children of the resurrection10 ,luke #bj3cf4 ,after the destruction of death1 there shall be 8neither sorrow1 nor crying1 neither shall there be any more pain40 ,this was to be when 8the ransomed of the ,lord shall return1 and come to ,zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads3 they shall obtain joy and gladness1 and sorrow and sighing shall flee away10 ,isa4 #ce3aj4 ,and one of these songs was to be3 8,thou wast slain1 and hast redeemed us to ,god by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue1 and people and nation2 and hast made us unto our ,god kings and priests3 and we shall reign on the earth10 ,rev4 #e3i1aj4 ,then1 everything which distinguishes the present world from that1 will have passed away2 for all things will be created anew4 ,these words1 uttered by ,him who is the 8,alpha and ,omega10 are no rhetorical flourishes1 nor mere figures of speech1 but contain the exact and literal truth1 and are not to be set aside as unmeaning figures4 ,for ,he who sat upon the throne has declared3 8,these words are true and faithful40 ,faithful is ,he who hath promised1 and he will surely make good his words--bestowing on the righteous the inheritance of all things2 and on the wicked1 their fearful doom4 ,the ,new ,jerusalem4 8,and there came to me one of the seven angels1 who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues1 and talked with me1 saying1 ,come1 ,i will shew thee the bride1 the wife of the ,lamb4 ,and he carried me away in spirit to a vast and high mountain1 and shewed me the holy city ,jerusalem1 descending out of heaven from ,god1 having the glory of ,god4 ,her light was like a most precious stone1 like a jasper stone1 clear as crystal2 having a wall vast and high1 and having twelve gates1 and at the gates twelve angels1 and names written on the gates1 which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of ,israel4 ,on the east1 three gates2 on the north1 three gates2 on the south1 three gates2 and on the west1 three gates4 ,and the wall of the city had twelve foundations1 and on them1 the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the ,lamb4 ,and he1 who talked with me1 had a golden measuring-reed to measure the city1 and its gates1 and its wall4 ,and the city lieth square1 and the length is as much as the breadth3 and he measured the city with the measuring-reed1 twelve thousand furlongs4 ,the length1 and the breadth1 and the height of it are equal4 ,and he measured its wall1 a hundred and forty-four cubits1 according to the measure of a man1 that is1 of the angel4 ,and the structure of its wall was jasper3 and the city was pure gold1 like clear glass4 ,and the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of precious stone4 ,the first foundation was a jasper2 the second1 a sapphire2 the third1 a chalcedony2 the fourth1 an emerald2 the fifth1 a sardonyx2 the sixth1 a sardius2 the seventh1 a chrysolite2 the eighth1 a beryl2 the ninth1 a topaz2 the tenth1 a chrysoprasus2 the eleventh1 a jacinth2 the twelfth1 an amethyst4 ,and the twelve gates were twelve pearls2 each one of the gates was of one pearl2 and the wide street of the city was pure gold1 like transparent glass40 ,rev4 #ba3i-ba4 8,and he shewed me a pure river of water of life1 clear as crystal1 proceeding out of the throne of ,god and the ,lamb4 ,in the midst of its wide street1 and on each side of the river1 was the tree of life1 bearing twelve kinds of fruit1 yielding its fruit monthly1 and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations4 ,and there will be no more curse3 but the throne of ,god and of the ,lamb will be in it2 and his servants will serve him3 and they will see his face2 and his name will be on their foreheads4 ,and there will be no night there2 and they have no need of the light of a lamp1 nor of the light of the sun2 for the ,lord ,god giveth them light3 and they will reign forever and ever40 ,rev4 #bb3a-e4 ,objects of great interest1 of which only a passing glance was permitted in previous visions1 are again and again presented1 until their relative glory is sufficiently manifested4 ,thus the new earth was considered worthy of being the subject of a special vision2 and now the ,bride1 the ,lamb's wife1 although before referred to1 is again made the subject of a special vision1 under the symbol of a city1 explained to be the bride4 ,the descent of the city1 to harmonize with corresponding scriptures1 has been shown to be at the commencement of the millennium1 when those who are called to the marriage supper of the ,lamb descend from the clouds of heaven1 to receive 8an inheritance incorruptible1 and undefiled1 and that fadeth not away1 reserved in heaven for you 444 ready to be revealed in the last time10 #a ,pet4 #d3e4 8,the glory of the ,lord10 which is the light of the city1 is explained to be 8the ,lamb0 7#ba3bc71 which 8is the light thereof40 8,in him was life1 and the life was the light of men40 8,that was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world10 ,john #a3d1 #i4 ,in ,him dwelleth all the fulness of the ,godhead bodily 7,col4 #b3i71 so that as the ,holy ,shekineh illumined the pathway of ancient ,israel1 the nations of the redeemed will walk in the light of ,his glory4 ,the gates of the city correspond with the number of the tribes of ,israel2 and the 8names of the apostles0 are in its foundations4 ,thus ,paul affirms that the 8fellow citizens0 of 8the household of ,god0 are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets1 ,jesus ,christ himself being the chief corner-stone1 ,eph4 #b3bj4 ,the dimensions of the city are in length equal to the breadth--and #aejj miles in circumference1 or #cge miles square4 ,the length is in all parts equal2 and so is the breadth1 and the height1--the latter being #baf feet4 ,its splendor is fully equal to all that inspiration has recorded respecting those on whom the ,lord will have 8everlasting kindness20 and to whom he saith3 8,o thou afflicted1 tossed with the tempest1 and not comforted6 behold1 ,i will lay thy stones with fair colors1 and lay thy foundations with sapphires4 ,and ,i will make thy windows of agates1 and thy gates of carbuncles1 and all thy borders of pleasant stones4 ,and all thy children shall be taught of the ,lord2 and great shall be the peace of thy children4 ,in righteousness shalt thou be established3 thou shalt be far from oppression2 for thou shalt not fear3 and from terror2 for it shall not come near thee10 ,isa4 #ed3aa-ad4 8,therefore thy gates shall be open continually2 they shall not be shut day nor night2 that men may bring unto thee the forces of the ,gentiles1 and that their kings may be brought4 ,for the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish2 yea1 those nations shall be utterly wasted4 ,the glory of ,lebanon shall come unto thee1 the fir-tree1 the pine-tree1 and the box together1 to beautify the place of my sanctuary2 and ,i will make the place of my feet glorious4 ,the sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee2 and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet2 and they shall call thee1 ,the city of the ,lord1 ,the ,zion of the ,holy ,one of ,israel4 ,whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated1 so that no man went through thee1 ,i will make thee an eternal excellency1 a joy of many generations4 ,thou shalt also suck the milk of the ,gentiles1 and shalt suck the breast of kings3 and thou shalt know that ,i the ,lord am thy ,saviour and thy ,redeemer1 the mighty ,one of ,jacob4 ,for brass ,i will bring gold1 and for iron ,i will bring silver1 and for wood brass1 and for stones iron3 ,i will also make thy officers peace1 and thine exactors righteousness4 ,violence shall no more be heard in thy land1 wasting nor destruction within thy borders2 but thou shalt call thy walls ,salvation1 and thy gates ,praise4 ,the sun shall be no more thy light by day2 neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee3 but the ,lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light1 and thy ,god thy glory4 ,thy sun shall no more go down2 neither shall thy moon withdraw itself3 for the ,lord shall be thine everlasting light1 and the days of thy mourning shall be ended4 ,thy people also shall be all righteous3 they shall inherit the land forever1 the branch of my planting1 the work of my hands1 that ,i may be glorified4 ,a little one shall become a thousand1 and a small one a strong nation2 ,i the ,lord will hasten it in his time10 ,isa4 #fj3aa-bb4 ,o scenes surpassing fable1 and yet true1 ,scenes of accomplish'd bliss6 which who can see1 ,though but in distant prospect1 and not feel ,his soul refresh'd with foretaste of the joy8 ,rivers of gladness water all the ,earth1 ,and clothe all climes with beauty4 ,the reproach ,of barrenness is past4 ,the fruitful field ,laughs with abundance2 and the land1 once lean1 ,or fertile only in its own disgrace1 ,exults to see its thistly curse repeal'd4 ,the various seasons woven into one1 ,and that one season an eternal spring1 ,the garden fears no blight1 and needs no fence2 ,for there is none to covet3 all are full4 ,the lion1 and the libbard1 and the bear1 ,graze with the fearless flocks2 all bask at noon ,together1 or all gambol in the shade ,of the same grove1 and drink one common stream4 ,antipathies are none4 ,no foe to man ,lurks in the serpent now3 the mother sees1 ,and smiles to see1 her infant's playful hand ,stretch'd forth to dally with the crested worm1 ,to stroke his azure neck1 or to receive ,the lambent homage of his arrowy tongue4 ,all creatures worship man1 and all mankind ,one ,lord1 one ,father4 ,error has no place2 ,that creeping pestilence is driv'n away3 ,the breath of ,heav'n has chas'd it4 ,in the heart ,no passion touches a discordant string1 ,but all is harmony and love4 ,disease ,is not3 the pure and uncontaminate blood ,holds its due course1 nor fears the frost of age4 ,one song employs all nations2 and all cry1 8,worthy the ,lamb1 for he was slain for us60 ,the dwellers in the vales and on the rocks ,shout to each other1 and the mountain-tops ,from distant mountains catch the flying joy2 ,till1 nation after nation taught the strain1 ,earth rolls the rapturous ,hosanna round4 ,behold the measure of the promise fill'd6 ,see ,salem built1 the labor of a ,god6 ,bright as a sun the sacred city shines3 ,all kingdoms and all princes of the ,earth ,flock to that light2 the glory of all lands ,flows into her2 unbounded is her joy1 ,and endless her increase4 ,thy rams are there1 ,nebaioth1 and the flocks of ,kedar there3 ,the looms of ,ormus1 and the mines of ,ind1 ,and ,saba's spicy groves1 pay tribute there4 ,praise is in all her gates2 upon her walls1 ,and in her streets1 and in her spacious courts1 ,is heard salvation4 ,eastern ,java there ,kneels with the native of the farthest west2 ,and thiopia spreads abroad the hand1 ,and worships4 ,her report has travel'd forth ,into all lands4 ,from ev'ry clime they come ,to see thy beauty1 and to share thy joy1 ,o ,sion6 an assembly such as ,earth ,saw never1 such as ,heav'n stoops down to see4 ,thus ,heav'nward all things tend4 ,for all were once ,perfect1 and all must be at length restor'd1 ,so ,god has greatly purpos'd3 who would else ,in his dishonor'd works himself endure ,dishonor1 and be wrong'd without redress4 ,haste then1 and wheel away a shatter'd world1 ,ye slow-revolving seasons6 we would see 7,a sight to which our eyes are strangers yet7 ,a world that does not dread and hate his laws1 ,and suffer for its crime2 would learn how fair ,the creature is1 that ,god pronounces good1 ,how pleasant in itself what pleases him4--,cowper4 ,final ,admonitions4 8,and he said to me1 ,these words are faithful and true4 ,and the ,lord1 the ,god of the spirits of the prophets1 sent his angel to shew his servants the things1 which must shortly take place4 ,and behold1 ,i come quickly3 happy is he1 who keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book4 ,and ,i ,john saw and heard these things4 ,and when ,i had heard and seen1 ,i fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who shewed me these things4 ,and he saith to me1 ,see thou do it not3 ,i am thy fellow-servant1 and one of thy brethren the prophets1 and one of those1 who keep the words of this book3 worship ,god4 ,and he saith to me1 ,seal not up the words of the prophecy of this book3 for the season is near4 ,he1 who is unjust1 let him be unjust still3 and he1 who is filthy1 let him be filthy still3 and he1 who is righteous1 let him perform righteousness still3 and he1 who is holy1 let him be holy still4 ,behold1 ,i come quickly2 and my reward is with me1 to give each one as his work shall be4 ,i am the ,alpha and the ,omega1 the first and the last1 the beginning and the end4 ,happy are those1 who do his commandments1 that they may have the privilege of the tree of life1 and may enter through the gates into the city4 ,for without are the ,sodomites1 and the sorcerers1 and the fornicators1 and the murderers1 and the idolaters1 and whoever loveth and practiseth falsehood4 ,i ,jesus have sent mine angel to testify to you these things in the congregations4 ,i am the root and the offspring of ,david1 the bright morning-star4 ,and the ,spirit and the bride say1 ,come6 ,and let him1 who heareth1 say1 ,come6 ,and let him1 who thirsteth1 come4 ,and whoever will1 let him take the water of life freely4 8,i testify to every one1 who heareth the words of the prophecy of this book1 ,if any one shall add to these things1 ,god will add to him the plagues written in this book3 and if any one shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy1 ,god will take away his part from the tree of life1 and out of the holy city1 and from the things written in this book4 ,he1 who testifieth these things1 saith1 ,surely ,i come quickly4 ,so be it1 come1 ,o ,lord ,jesus6 8,the grace of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ be with all the saints40 ,rev4 #bb3f-ba4 ,with the representation of the city1 the symbols of the ,apocalypse are terminated4 ,what follows are the words of ,christ4 ,the import of these is guarded by his declaration that they are 8true and faithful40 ,there is a reality and definiteness in them1 which will not admit of their being added to1 or taken from4 ,so that any attempt to fritter away their meaning1 will be followed by the curses written in the book1 and a loss of the blessings therein promised4 ,the command not to seal this prophecy1 is in contrast with the close of ,daniel's prophecy1 which was 8closed up and sealed till the time of the end10 ,dan4 #ab3i4 ,the ,apocalypse1 as its name imports1 being an 8unveiling0 of the obscurities of ,daniel1 the seal from the former was removed--the time of the end1 in that sense1 being equivalent to the last days1 or the gospel dispensation4 ,the time was 8at hand10 when the great series of predicted events was to commence4 ,as he that was unjust was to be unjust still1 and he that was righteous was thus to remain1 it follows that the visions therein recorded1 continue down to the close of probation2 and that the new earth is one of everlasting reward1 wherein is to be fulfilled the promise3 8,blessed are the meek2 for they shall inherit the earth10 ,matt4 #e3c4 ,in this connection the ,saviour answers the question1 which so perplexed the ,pharisees3 ,if ,david then call him ,lord1 how is he his son8 ,matt4 #bb3de4 ,being the ,root from whence ,david sprang1 and in his humanity ,david's offspring1 he was both his ,lord and son4 ,the invitation appended is one of the most endearing that it is possible to conceive of1 and the threats are the most terrific4 ,these are given for the admonition of all2 and yet how many will turn away from the study of the book1 which commences with a blessing on him 8that readeth1 and they that hear the words of this prophecy1 and keep those things which are written therein10 7#a3c72 and closes with an invitation for all to come and 8take of the water of life freely40 ,it is no mystical record1 and there is nothing equivocal in its predictions4 ,neither is it to be fulfilled in the distant future2 for 8,he which testifieth these things saith3 ,surely ,i come quickly40 ,and shall not every one who loves his ,lord respond1 8,even so2 come1 ,lord ,jesus40 8,the ,church has waited long ,her absent ,lord to see2 ,and still in loneliness she waits1 ,a friendless stranger she4 ,age after age has gone1 ,sun after sun has set1 ,and still1 in weeds of widowhood1 ,she weeps1 a mourner yet40 8,the whole creation groans1 ,and waits to hear that voice ,that shall restore her comeliness1 ,and make her wastes rejoice4 ,come1 ,lord1 and wipe away ,the curse1 the sin1 the stain1 ,and make this blighted world of ours ,thine own fair world again4 ,come1 then1 ,lord ,jesus1 come60 ,rev4 ,h4 ,a4 ,bonar1 7,eng47 ,,the ,,old ,,earth4 ,old ,mother ,,earth is wan and pale1 ,her face is wrinkled sore2 ,her locks are blanched1 her heart is cold1 ,her garments stiff with gore2 ,with furrowed brow and dim sad eyes1 ,with trembling steps and slow1 ,she marks the course that first she trod ,six thousand years ago6 ,the ,earth is old1 the ,earth is cold1 ,she shivers and complains2 ,how many ,winters fierce and chill ,have racked her limbs with pains6 ,drear tempests1 lightning1 flood and flame ,have scarred her visage so1 ,that scarce we deem she shone so fair1 ,six thousand years ago6 ,yet comely was the youthful ,earth1 ,and lightly tripped along ,to music from a starry choir1 ,whose sweet celestial song ,through ,nature's temple echoed wild1 ,and soft as streamlets flow1 ,where sister spheres replied with her1 ,six thousand years ago6 ,and many happy children there ,upon her breast reclined1 ,the young ,earth smiled with aspect fair1 ,the heavens were bright and kind2 ,the azure cope above her head ,in love seemed bending low1 ,o happy was the youthful ,earth1 ,six thousand years ago6 ,alas6 those children of the ,earth ,with hate began to burn1 ,and ,murder stained her beauteous robe1 ,and bade the young ,earth mourn4 ,and ages1 heavy ages1 still ,have bowed with gathering woe ,the form of her whose life was joy1 ,six thousand years ago6 ,old ,earth6 drear ,earth6 thy tender heart ,bewails thy chosen ones2 ,thou look'st upon the myriad graves ,that hide their gathered bones2 ,for them1 by day and night1 thy tears ,unceasingly must flow2 ,death chilled the fountain-head of life ,six thousand years ago6 ,old ,earth6 old ,earth6 above thy head ,the heavens are dark and chill1 ,the sun looks coldly on thee now1 ,the stars shine pale and still2 ,no more the heavenly symphonies ,through listening ether flow1 ,which swelled upon creation's ear1 ,six thousand years ago6 ,weep not in bitter grief1 ,o ,earth6 ,weep not in hopelessness6 ,from out the heavens 8a still small voice0 ,whispers returning peace4 ,thy tears are precious in the sight ,of ,,one who marks their flow1 ,who purposes of mercy formed1 ,six thousand years ago6 ,thy days of grief are numbered all1 ,their sum will soon be told3 ,the joy of youth1 the smile of ,god1 ,shall bless thee as of old2 ,shall shed a purer1 holier light ,upon thy peaceful brow1 ,than beamed upon thy morning hour ,six thousand years ago6 ,thy chosen ones shall live again1 ,a countless1 tearless throng1 ,to wake creation's voice anew1 ,and swell the choral song4 ,go1 ,earth6 go wipe thy falling tears1 ,forget thy heavy woe3 ,hope died not with thy first-born sons1 ,six thousand years ago6 ,,knickerbocker4 ,,footnotes #a ,the first ,advent was1 according to the best-settled chronological data1 about four thousand one hundred and twenty years from creation4 #b ,see margin of ,whiting's ,testament4 ,lord has it1 8when he can be ready to sound40 #c ,the constitutional language was1 8,by the authority of the senate1 and consent of the soldiers40--,gibbon1 vol4 ,i41 p4 #dd4 #d ,this is given on the authority of the ,london ,quarterly ,journal of ,prophecy1 for #aheb1 p4 #ccj1 which states that the edict will be found in the 8,theodosian ,code1 ,,xvii4 to ,,xx40 #e 8,ubi cogniti fuerint illius hresis sectatores1 ne receptaculum iis quisquam in terra sua prbere prsumat3 sed nec in venditione aut emptione aliqua cum iis omnino commercium habeatur40--,hard41 vi4 ii4 #aeig4 #f ,the following philological law or canon of criticism is universally admitted1 and all dictionaries1 grammars1 and translations1 are formed in accordance with it3 8,every word not specially explained or defined in a particular sense1 by any standard writer of any particular age and country1 is to be taken and applied in the current or commonly received signification of that country and age in which the writer lived and wrote40--,campbell4 #g ,this possession by demons is similar to the mode by which pretended spirits claim that they communicate through mediums4 ,one of them1 purporting to be the spirit of a departed son of ,adin ,ballou1 in answer to the question1 by his father1 8,can you describe how you are able to write through a medium80 says1 8,i feel as though ,i enter into her for the time being1 or as if my spirit entered into her4 ,i am disencumbered of my spiritual form1 and take hers4 ,more than one spirit can enter the medium at once4 ,the mediums all go into the trance by means of several spirits entering the body at one time40--,spiritual ,telegraph1 ,may #h1 #aheb4 #h ,the word is demon or demons in all the instances referred to4 #i ,necromancy is derived from the ,greek words nekros1 dead1 and mantis1 a diviner4 ,the ,greek1 ,necromantia1 is defined3 8,the revealing future events by communication with the dead2 necromancy40 ,and ,nekromantis3 8,one who reveals future events by communication with the dead2 a necromancer40 #aj ,this is in the ,syriac1 8,until the fulness of the time of all things40 ,irenus says1 8,till the time of the exhibition or disposal of all things20 and cumenius1 8,till the time of all things does come to an end20 and we have the suffrage of ,thesychius and ,phavorinus1 that 8 is 1 #8the consummation' of a thing40--,whitby4