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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 z 3 1 MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 2.2 Li ■atbu 3.2 3.6 4.0 nil! z. IHIOQ 1.8 A ^> PLIED IM/IGE Inc ^^SrZ 1653 L.sl Main Street —m^ .-^ Rochester, New York 14609 USA S^^ (716) 482 -0300 -Phone '——— (716) :^88- 5989 -Fax / '' / /( r , / i PREFACE. ^ " The Revelation" is divided into Seven Parts, inasmuch a« It represents the future in seven diflferent aspects. In the First Part, Jesus describes the state and circumstances' of his Church from the apostles' days to the present time At the commencement of the Second Part, the apostle says, Behold, a door was opened in heaven : and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me, which said, Come up hither" (i.e., into heaven), "and I will show thee things which must be hereafter" in heaven (not on the earth) ; accordingly we find that the second part unveils the spiritual world to our view, and gives us some idea of the state and circumstances of the spirits of the just in the spiritual world The Third Part gives us a brief outline of the history of the world from the apostles' days to the commencement of the mil- lennium. The Fourth Part describes the various forms of Antichrist through a like period of time. The Fifth Part shows us the means by which these var^'ous forms of Antichrist shall be finally overcome; so that "the kingdoms of this world [shall eventually] become the kingdoms V our Lord and of his Christ." (\The Sixth Part describes fullv and cIpptI^ fh- "^— - .<■*, .( VI PREFACE. tion of the power and influence of " the Great Babylon,"] whole nominally Christian world of the present day, as "fallen" before the clear light of heaven which will now abroad in the hearts and understandings of the best amon^ who are shortly to be separated from among others, even as wheat" is finally separated from " the tares," in the parabl Jesus (Matt. xiii. 24-43). The Seventh Part describes the millennium, when " the king- dom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given unto the people of the saints of the Most High." Which '•'■people'^ will be influenced, guided, and directed by " the spirits of just men made perfect" who are to be raised from the dead at the commencement of the millennium ; that they muy live and reign with Christ the thousand years which constitute the millennium (Eev. xx. 4), so that we shall have one universal and righteous government over the whole earth ; for which state of things the progress made in this genera- tion is preparatory : for we could not conveniently have a uni- versal government without railroads, steamboats, and telegraphs ; for, without these., the various nations of the earth would be too far asunder to be conveniently placed under one government, — with these a universal government is quite practicable ; there- fore these as surely indicate the approach of a universal govern- ment, as the young leaves of spring foretell the approach of summer. The Seventh Part not only describes the millennium but also the state of the world subsequently to the millennium. It assures us that (after the Almighty shall have agai;.: inflicted certain judgments upon the rations) Jesus with all his holy angels will come, and dwell with men upon the earth ; so that men shall PREFACE. Vll then attain the highest degree of perfection of which they are suRceptiblo in this life; insomuch that "death shall be swallowed up in victory," « mortality" " swallowed up of life ;" for the spirit or soul of man shall then attain such a degree of perfec- tion while connected with his mortal body, that as soon as he ceases to live as a man, he will immediately live as an angel. " We shall not all sleep {i.e., die, says the apostle), but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye," &c. : changed from a man into an angel, without undergoing death ; for " there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain." This state of things is to exist in the eighth thousand years, which was typified in the law by the eighth day for circumcision, and for the offering up of the lamb, or the young bullock ; and also by the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the eighth day, which, for that reason, has since been called the Lord's Day. The milleimium was typified by the seventh day or Sabbath, and occurs in the seventh thousand years from man's creation ; but men do not then attain perfection, they merely enjoy a gene- ral and continual peace instead of occasional war, and a univer- sal and righteous government instead of numerous petty and (more or less) unrighteous and imperfect governments. It is not in the seventh thousand years, but in the eighth that the prophecy which says that the whole " earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Hab. ii. 14), shall be fulfilled in its fullest sense. Such is the general tenor of the Revelation : each of the seven parts regards the future from one particular point of view; and, by means of signs, describes events accurately hundreds of years before they actually occur. But one may say, how can we possibly till viii PIIEFACE. ■nterpret those signs? Simply w «„,,;„„ „„, ,. . « sufficient number of them as Lv „ """"'"« "* the other Scriptures- f, r T 7 T '"^'"''''^^ interpreted in ese words or " signs "mea^, ? ,d\ *"'"'"""• ''''^' >'" ^";; that .e have .^.nd ::rjrjzz::is " ~:ri:rtr:trr"'-^ «ndlesticks " are said to r i^ese" ^U s '"""T' " '"^ """ " fine linen, white and clean 'Ms •/. '" "''""'''^ '" ^"<» eonsness ofsaints " ' '^ ^''"' '" ^^^Wize " the right- "^^^tniVatr;:"'^ "^^"--^ -^ -'"- ^■>. vi., -^ What willXinX',i;~;-/-n the e.,,^ to be baptized with • anri 1.. 7 ^ ^ ^^""^ ^ ^^P^^'^^ p>*d,r snpp::v:i rareo'jetr '"""'^"""""- j'uu, xNay, but rather dmstnn " Jim n i Jesus did not send /?.. T ' ^^"^^ ''"• ^^'^l.) kindled as soon as he L ^ t ^ ^""'^' " *""»" to be soon as he should have accomplished the "iapiUn, >■ ;/ PREFACE. ^hk-h ],o speaks of. But Jesus which the word gospel was IX or sign "//.g lipened symbol ision 'ristian, his fath( 'ision II ized ; for wherever his ' immediately. If the T opposed him : but if -.: on son ;;;;:;;;::::r::::r " '""'"""' "■- '"- -fi often .e "«vo L o.:i::^t^:r:::, " "• " "'"° *.na>,, a/«..e^i:— ;,;;■;::. — " —-..■*. «' Ag-ain, Jeremiah internrets n-nn, «!* «m is broken " N,,' , °°'' '" '"* "ff- ""d I'is V-., Ins po^er , „,eref„.e wo conclnde ,te "II - ^ """' P--. So when Jes„s is represented by "a LanTh '" "" horns," we know that the i.l t , '' ''"'"« ^"•'n '« i".en.W to ho ct e ^ts ::.r" "^ °'"''^'"^ ^"'^^ and " «.,„ .. i, evident^ h, I' , '™ '^"'''"''■^<^'' ■P"""^''. ''-»/»^».-^;rh:£:x;i::r-•-^»^^ Agam, we find that as seven is tho « i i - '- is the indefinite n„n,h r fo L Chr "l ''''''' """■""• tW "shai, have trihni.tion .'„ :","-»;-';•<> '^- know that no large body of rhri.t; I ^' ''"'"• *« abl, distingnisbed for hv ^ C; .T "^'' ^ "'""'"'- "'«" days, or "ten" ye.n „""-?' r'"" '" ^"^"'^^•^ fore we nat„ra„y eoncln e 'a -< J™ ,,'7 1 f"" ' '""^■ signifying „a.^,, j„stas ",,'„•' is he " ' ""' ""'"'^'^• So when the "beast " wb !| • '''*"' "' ^''"'^ """"'«>■• Koosl, which IS represented a. "risi„g „„t „f S^ PREFACE. tho sea," is said to Itavo " ten horns," wo know that tlio power fivmbolized by tLo " beast " is not to be one power alone, but is to be composed oi lany powers. But all the Higiis in tho Kevelution are not plninly interpreted in the other Scriptures ; therefore we must interpret many of tliem by analogy (comparing spiritual things with temporal) ; for example, "the sun," being iho greatest natural light we know of, would represent the greatest spiritual light, viz., the gospel; "the moon," the law; and "the stars," those who pro- fess to reflect the light of the gospel as some of tho stars do that of tho sun. There are some signs also which it is not easy to interpret, either by analogy or by a reference to the other Scriptures. The meaning of these we must find out by tho connexion, just as one would make out the meaning of a manuscript, half of which was illegible owing to the badness of the handwriting. If any one desired much to read and understand such a manuscript, he would not throw it aside in despair merely because at the first reading he could only make out half the words ; but he would read it over and over, and mark well the position of the words which he could read, and gradually he would make out what the other words were by their relative positions in the various sentence-*, or by the connexion. So it is with the Eevelation ; about half of it can be plainly read and understood by a reference to the other Scriptures and by analogy ; the other half (owing to the difficulty of expressing spiritual things or future events by signs) is' not so clear ; so we must be particularly careful to notice whether the same signs will bear the same meaning or interpretation in all cases where- ever they occur ; and if they occur often, one may thus prove li // I'llEfACE. Xl tbo interpretation to be oi'her correct or otherwise. Unt if the .amo Bign „|,oulcl only ocenr once or twice, then one can only test the .ntcrpretation by seeing if it i„ i„ „„eor,iance with the general tenor of the Uevelation, and also will, reason. After wo have interpretcl the Uevelation by these rnles, wo find ,t to be precisely „ l,at it professes to be, viz., " The licvela- -n of Jcsns Christ, which God gave nnto bin,, to show nnto "8 servants things which mnst shortly come to pass." We find ha ,t contains the history of .be world from the apostles' davs to he present , and we know it to be correct so far. And . hit .t states coneernmg the spiritual worU, and concerning lUMure "f tins world, seems so perfectly in accordance with what we mi-^ht reasonably expect would be the designs of onr heavenly Father whose goodness, we know, mnst b„ at least eqnal to bis power) that we can scarcely avoid feeling that to be correct also. When I s..y «e, I mean any who can lay aside prejn.lices, and preconceived or erroneons and unreasonable opinions (which have been instilled into them from their infancy , even as heathen d e«;;:: ^-^^^r^^' ■"'" ""> y^™. heathens, or Catholic do lines into the yonng Catholics), and look into the matter wih an unclouded and unbiased reason, even as a man of sci nl mi?ht look into any of the various sciences. That the Revelation was intended to be understood is apna- ^eal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book ; " and when -ipon one occ,.sion he is told to " ual ., '■ certain prophecies, ha 3 told also io"n,r„e,ke,n not;" so we may reasonably ifer .bat wbatev«. he was permitted to write is not seaU „p, but is intende to be understood whenever we take the propefml to do so. And we are confirmed in this conviction, when we v.t-aj : a ^ . _ iii ji,i «. zu PREFACE. find a blessing pronounced 'ipon those who sliall be enabled to read and understand it : " Blessed is he who readeth and they who hear the words of this prophecy^ and keep those things that are written therein, for the time is at hand." So it is quite clear that some are intended to read and understand the Eevelation. And if we are to interpret it, how can we possibly do so but by a reference to the other Scriptures and by analogy f If there are any other methods of interpreting it, let some of the Chris- tian teachers tell us of them. But if it is acknowledged that these are the methods, let them correct this interpretation where- ever it is faulty ; showing how it is not in accordance with the other Scriptures, or how inconsistent with analogy ; and let them supply its deficiencies, for it is the merest outline, and very im- perfect in many respects ; and among the first to acknowledge his obligations to them will be the Author, HENRY WENTWORTH MONK. Worksop, Nottinghamshike, April 1859. \ll PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION. summation of all things Zt two ..r '/ "'^^ ™"= ""^ »"- The Interpretation of .h»P ■'""'^ y""" ''<""=«■ H>-d, i'«^'ma;;reoi,^r;';';" -''-'« -fer. to events world, and thns proved to b'e coL"; '""' "'"""-^ "' *<■ lie Revelation which refers tn tl,^ ^ - , . ■•^ «o elear as to need no Tnteraretl i ^ '^ '"'"^ "^ "'^ ""'d the>fa., histo „f the wo rr ■■ ^"' *"" ''^ » P« of revealed in the ll^Zft " X„T'"' "' '^,'''^" '^-^ "<" nttered their voiees," the amstlet '"'"" ""'"*'■« ^ad 'hose things which he scverh^d ""T^-^^ "> "^^''' "P not " (Eev. x. 4). ""'"'^'"•' """'e-J- «nd write them the "time, times, andlMT^^?: tlT"? f/°->-- of Of the "1260 days "which are tn '^"y-'wo months," Phecies-see InteUa.i n E:v"i?r'^";' '" "=^ "- PP- 55, 62, 63, 65, 68),i and the e-t^H L ' ""'• *' '* ' ^i"'- 5- i» the earth , U, 'to tt seventt fi *"'™* "^ *^ "iHenninm __ ^j_^tte^nty-five years which intervene be- out ,te"4f o^rif; HigTtj^^ hey shall be given i„.„ u, t^ ™, f "l'' '» "ha-ge ,i„ee «„d ].„ , ^^J . ^"^ \ '"""'<' *e man dothed in linen »1,; l nver, when he held „p his right handl? .T."'""' ""^ ™''«" of the »w™ by him that hVeth for fve, thf. i, V n °'*,'"""' ""'» '«"», and Wpfe, „« (&« ad«o, .!.„,: '. r^f !?'"«•' to Katter the nm^ J, 7.. ;..,„ XIV PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION. tween the 1260 years and the 1335 years, or prophetic days epoken of in Dan. xii. 12, When the first thirty of these seventy-five years are expired, God "shall have accomplished to scatter [i.e., to diffuse or spread abroad] the power of the holy people," so that " all these things shall be finished," i.e., all which is foretold in Dan. xii. 1-3 (see Dan. xii. 7) ; for when Daniel asks, " What shall be the end of these things ?" he is told that " from the time the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety [prophetic] days " (Dan. xii. 8, 11). 1260 + 30 = 1290. As the yearly sacrifice of the lamb of the passaver symbolized the sacrifice of » Christ our passover," so also " the daily sacri- fice " symbolized the daily sacrifice of the best among mankind who were persecuted and slain for righteousness' sake, and who when they had ceased to live in fleshly bodies on the earth, be- came " as the angels of God " in heaven. It was about the be- ginnmg of the seventh century that even the best among man- kind were found to be too im^.erfect to become " as the angels of God," when they had departed this life. It was at this same time also that the "abomination that maketh desolate" {i.e., " Satan's throne," or the Papal dominion) was "set up" (see Interpretation, Rev. ii. 13 ; iv. 4, 6, pp. 8, 9, 18, 19). From the beginning of the seventh century to the present time IS a }.'\^^^^ ^c>aCl 12G0 years ; so we may conclude that within about thirty years, " the power of the holy people " will be " spread abroad." Nevertheless, " all the nations of the earth shall [not yet] be blessed," for this blessing is reserved for a time about seventy- five years hence. " Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty [prophetic] days," for then the millennium shall commence. Universal peace shall prevail over the whole earth. Men " shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruninghooks : nation shall not lift up sword againsc nation, neither shall they learn war any more " (Isa. ii. 4). V i / PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION. XV " The holy people " are those who shall now engage in the service of the Lord, " to raise up he tribes of Jacob, and to re- store the preserved of Israel," ar ' ;o to establish the kingdom of God, of righteousness, and of txiuti, in that part of the earth, at least, which God has set apart for that purpose, viz., the land of Israel, the holy land (see Interpretation, pp. 47-51). The Interpretation of the Revelation is written in the hope that some of the best-disposed among men will perceive how many most interesting and important truths may be learned by study- ing the Bible, and so will be induced to " search the Scriptures " for themselves, comparing Scripture with Scripture ; for " no pro- phecy of the Scripture is of any separate (iStas) interpretation " 2 Peter i. 20) ; and thus acquire a knowledge of the will and purposes of God, which will urge them to engage in the work of setting up his kingdom on the earth, so that his will may be done on earth as it is in heaven. Though for good and wise reasons, the particulars of those things which are now about to take place in the earth during the next thirty or seventy-five years are not revealed, surely enough is revealed to induce the wisest among men to engage in a work which most certainly will eventually result in the kingdom of God on the earth. Those who now engage in the service of the Lord are " the last [who] shall be first " to receive their reward, as shown by the parable in Matt. xx. 1-16, in connexion with the last four verses of the preceding chapter.-^ ^ Then answered Peter, and said unto him, Behold, toe have forsaken all and followed thee ; what sholhce have therefore ? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye shall also sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaJcen houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or chil- dren, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred-fold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall he last, and the last shall he first. ^ For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an house, holder, which went out early in tjie morning to hire labourers into his vine- ! ■ \t V XVI PREFACE TO FIKST EDITION. Their reward will U to " receive an Lnndredfold " for every sacrifice which they may make, and to be the first who shall be raised from among the dead to live and reign with Christ the housand years which intervene between the time appointed for the first resurrection" of the just only, mentioned in Rev. xx. 4 and the general resurrection of both just and unjust, mentioned m Kev. XX. 32 (see Interpretation, pp. 118, ]23). Surely this is recompense enough for any sacrifice whatever, which men can pos- sibly bp called upon to make in the cause of the kingdom of God It ,nere are any who really desire to labour in this cause, let them now show themselves, that from henceforth we may labour not as isolated individuals but as an organized community. HENEY WENTWORTH MONK. Township op March, CxyxhA West, I2th May 1857. yard. _ And when he had agreed with the hibourers for a penny a day, he sent them in „s vineyard. And he went out about the third ^hour.'^nd saw others standing idle in the market-place, and said unto them. Go y Z Z the vineyai^; and whatsoever is right I will give yon. And they went thr way Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likew^'se ttfl Tt Tf' '""' ^'' "''"'''"^' "'^^^""^ others standing idle, and smth unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto hhn Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto Ln, Go ye alsoZ^Z v^ fC^ff "^P "T""'^ '"f ""'" '"■' '''''"'''^' ^«^^ ^'"^ ^^^^^^ers, and give them the^rh^re begtnmngfrom the last unto the first. And whenthev fame that. ere Mred about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. Z when the hrst came, t .j supposed that they should have received more ; and they hkewise received every man a penny. And when they had receiv d it they murmured against the goodman of the house, saying. These last have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one ;f them, and tI' ; W f; • . °' T""^ '• ^'^'^ ""' *''°'^ 'Sree with me for a penny v Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last even as unto thee. Is It not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own ? Is thine eye evil, because I am good ? So the last shall be .first, and the iir.t 1^.t • L many be caiieu, but few < hosen.— Matt. six. 27-30; xx. 1-16. ' "' 11 / A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION. • The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto his Servants things which must shortly oome to pass." — Rbv. i. 1. ^ ' PAET I. The latter part of the first verse informs us in what manner this Kevelation was communicated to the Apostle John : " Jesus sent and signified it (/.e., represented it by signs, cV^/iavcv) by his angel unto his servant John." The first sign which the Apostle saw was "seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle ; his head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire ; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace ; and his voice as the sound of many waters : and he had in his right hand seven stars, and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength." In the last verse of this first chapter we learn that " the seven candlesticks" represent " the seven churches," and what more suitable symbol could be chosen? "for as when a candle is placed in a candlestick it freely sheds its light on all around," so it was intended that the.churc^es (or,com»ames-pf ll ' U^i C fr rifl- :.. , jx, -■ ~ '\ (W/^^i^^^. ^^Y /^^^i^ ^«.^; ^/ff^ i«^.w%i^ ^^L ) •1^ f ^ Jl'^d /^ i l^^mx Sh/t . A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION ^)^^should serve to render the light of truth as conspicuous as By Jesus being represented " in the midst of the seven candle- sticks IS signified his continual presence a«««^^^Tpeep^^ ,pi^i-CH.a.^^4fe^ ,^^^^ arelWWed together in my name, there am I in the midst of them," were his words to his disciples while he was yet their visible com- panion and teacher ; and after that lie had ascended to heaven and many spirits were made his angels (or messengers and mini-' sters to execute his will),2 it was as easy for him to attend to all the requirements of his faithful followers, as it is for an ordinary man to attend to a few candlesticks. Jesus is i-epresented as being " clothed with a garment down to the foot, to signify hi^ perfect righteousness ;3 and his bein^ : girt about the paps with a golden girdle," signifies that he is m the expressive language of Scripture) "girt about with truth 4 His perfect purity is signified by "his head and his hairs being "white like wool, as white as snow; "5 and his hid n! 1. a' f\ ^''^^- ^ "*^ *^^* ^« ''' °» ^" 1"" cannot be h.d Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candesueh; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let Tour it^vjiiTrT' '"'V^'* they may see your good works, and g^fy your lather which is m heaven.— Matt. v. 14-16 '8 ""^y orl f "'^ ^/> f ^t^' ^f' \ ^° *^' "^'^'^ ""^ ^''^'^ ^^^'•°««' ^«<1 «f tbe four living creatures (f^o,.). and in the n^idst of the elders, stood a Lamh as it ha^ b en slam, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.~Rev. v. 6. "^ ' Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their mr- mens; and the^, shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.-Eev in. 4. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen' cleanandwhite:for^7.^„.Z.-„.«,,,,,,,,^^^^^ Stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.—Eph. vi. 14. « Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord : though your sins ^a. W... .% shall he as white as sno. ; though they be red mZ^l, they shall be as woo/.— Isa. i. 18. * •/ " "i^^'h OF THE REVELATION. 8 discernment, or perfect ability to distinguish between the right- eous and the wicked, is signified by " his eyes" being " as a flame of fire ;" for as fire distinguishes between the precious metals, and other substances comparatively worthless, as " wood, hay, stubble," &c., destroying the latter while it only purifies the for- mer, so do his eyes discern between the good and the evil ; "^ and his perfect ability to crush the power of the nations, more effectually even than grapes were anciently crushed and trodden by the feet of men, is signified by " his feet being like unto fine brass ;"^ and the "voice" of Jesus being likened unto "the sound of m.iny waters," signifies that he is irresistible by reason of the " multitude " who are with him.^ In the 20th verse we read that " the seven stars " which Jesus is represented as having " in his right hand," signify " the angels of the seven churches;" and that by the angels of the *. churches is meant the loading men of the churches, is evident , ^ ^ For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble ; every man's work shall be made manifest ; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire ; and the fire shall try ev'-iry man's ivork of what sor'-it is. — 1 Cor. iii. 11-13. * A ad out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the ufitions ; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron : and he treadeth the wine-press of the fi£rceness and wrath of Almighty God. — Rev. xix. 15. I have trodden the wine-press alone ; and of the people there was none with me ; for / will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury ; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to tJie earth. — Isa. Ixiii. 3, 6. 8 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of light- ning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and tlie voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. — Dan. X. 6. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall pre- sently give me more than twelve legions of angels f — Matt. xxvi. 53. •A 'x. * A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION from the second and third chapters, where the apostle is repeat- edly directed to write many things to the angels of the churches, which, doubtless, applied exceedingly well to the l«kdi»gjiujn- of those churches, but which we well know could not apply to theangels of God in heaven. Tb^e ^oftding maQ of the churches might very appropriately be likenea to stars in the right hand of Jesus, to signify that they were destined to shed a feeble light on the inhabitants of the earth, during a long period of spiritual darkness.^ The " sharp two-edged sword " is " the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God ;" 2 and by the " countenance " of Jesus appearing " as the sun when ho shineth in his strength," is signified his ability to dispel spiritual darkness as effectually as the sun dispels natural darkness.^ Thus we have the perfections of Jesus; his righteousness, truth, purity, discernment, and power, represented by the most appropriate and significant symbols : also the means by which he jvast£^ enlighten and perfect . the souls of men ; first, by the "stars- in his right hand," le., theS*adi»^HKim of his churches; secondly, by " the sword " which ^oceedeth " out of his mouth," i.e., by " the word of God " being presented to the world in a \ ^ ^ Ye are the light of the world, &c. — Matt. v. 14-16. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightnesn of the firmament : and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. — Dan. xii. 3. 2 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of Ood. — Eph, vi. 17. 8 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it ; for the glory of God did lighten it, and tJte Lamb is tlte light tliereof— Rev. xxi. 23. The sun shall be no more thy light by day ; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee : but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlast- ing light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down : neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be onded.--Isa, Ix. 19, 20. 4- s repeat- \ , ihurches, ing mpn ^ apply to lately be hat they ts of the 16 Spirit, mce" of rength," Fectually joiisness, the most tvhich he , by the lurches ; mouth," 3rld in a lent : and er. — ^Dan. t, which is shine in thereof. — ness shall I everlast- i : neither ting light, ^^ OP THE REVELATION. 5 far more convincing and overpowering manner ; ^ and lastly, by the light of "his countenance," i.e., by his actual and perceptible presence among men." After such a description of Jesus, we are somewhat prepared to hear the surprising truth that he has " the keys of hell and of death," i.e., by his power " death is swallowed up in victory," 3 or the soul, or spirit of man is so perfected while it is connected with his earthly body, that the dissolution of the earthly body is but the signal for the entrance of the soul, or " spiritual body," into a far superior state of existence.' By Jesus having " the keys ^ Repent ; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and iciU fight against them with the sicordofmy mouth.— 'Rev. ii. 16. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp stvord, that loith it lie should smite the nations ; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, &c.— Rev. xix. 15. 2 And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of Qod is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself .shall be with them, and be their God Rev. xxi. 3. 3 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal sjiall have put on immortality, then shall he brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. — 1 Cor. xv. 54. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. Be ivill swallow up death in victory ; and the Lord God shall wipe away tears from off all faces ; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth ; for the Lord hath spoken it.— Isa. xxv. 7, 8. * For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven (if so be that being clothed we shall not he found naked). For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we ivould be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be awallmved up of life. — 2 Cor. v. 1-4. It is sown a natural body ; it ib raised a spiritual body. There is a natu- ral body, and there is a spiritual body And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God ; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery ; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the '.^: 'il^ j^ 4/' e A SIMPLE INTEnPRETATION I'lSl/ n'T''"l ^'^ ^'!''*^ '' '^P- ^^"' -•' to lead even the imperfect or "unclean spirits" (therein bound as it were "in chamsof sjuntual] darkness," or ignorance) into the way of si^ntrnvl l.ght or knowledge, peace, holiness, and perfection' After having finished describing the signs which represent the _pe^.t:on and power of Jesus, the apostle proceeds to write out . ?;r''' '' f \"-^^ ^ or Wi«^^ of the seven churches. of clr^JlT tZ "^oubtedly signify all the churches of Christ from the first until his second coming ; just as " the seven spirits which are before his throne" r^p^s^t all tt a:r:rtle t "? '*r.': *'""^ '" ^ ^^ ^^^ --^^- ^hal Chii.t s church during a definite period of time. Now, if we al- -w each period to be about three centuries, we shall find that each ot Che messages of Jesus are peculiarly applicable to his church as it existed urider each of those periods All which the apostle is directed to write " unto the angel of the church Ephesus " is perfectly applicable to the 4^4^ ^ of the whole church of Christ during the first three cen- ^ tunes; they had "patience" and "laboured," and were not jjiscourag^neverthejess^jl^^ ^°^°"ff the Christians . ot the third^century were somewhat inferior to those of the first century ; and Jesus exhorts them to call to mind the degree of perfection from which they had " fallen," and "to repent and do .the first wor j^s^rjlse^ says he, " I will come u nto thee S^'"."^n'^r T' ft.th« la«t trump ;" for the trumpet shall sound, ai^e dead 8hall be raised incorruptible, and toe [i.e., those who shall bo on the earth at the timoj shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incor- ruption, andthis mortal must put on immortality.— 1 Cor. xv 44 49 53 h« Zl?^'^'' "^Z ' n^ T' '"^^'^^ ^''' ^'"^' '^' J"«t f^"- ti^« "njust. 'that he might bring usto God, being put to death in the flesh, but quicken;d by the Spirit : hj tohich also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison- touch somet^me tvere disobedient, tvhen once the Icmg-suffering of God waited ^n the days of Noah M. the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.— 1 Pet. iii. 18-20. ^ - acl oven the t were " in tho way of perfection.* present the write out n churches, e churches 1st as " the snt all the nsider that 10 whole of ^, if we al- 1 find that ible to his e angel of hree cen- were not Christians f the first degree of epent and unto thee id, and the I be on the tt on incor- 49-53. njust, that ickened by in prison; }od waited w, that is, I OF THE REVELATION. m change tl,o pos.t.on of his church, which, acconlingly ho didtn ha l,cg,„„,„, of the .,„,„„ p^.,,„, ^j ,,_;^ » y- .0 d d „ m tho fourth century, tho Christians had so far fillen f ,!,? 7- This, doubtless, added greatly to the number of nominal Chl7nn!* but nevertheless 1^ mio-i^f . * ^i . """^"''*' ^^"stians, ytnneiess It might, at tho same time, be very nreiiidJpia to the increase of true Christians; and we find thJ.W ?. symho.i.0 tho elect of'christ,tho To etc o " o"r' f f' suffer; beWd the devil °, V )°^ """«' """'' '■">"" «halt ye may bo tried and li'lfnT' '""V^ ^°" »'» P™». "^at , -ot'tr;"*" """■ "-'«" ™. -^ changed „, ™ges fe„ ti.e«, &„. IteM to times have ye reproached me, fe._J„b ^j^. 3, } 8 A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION X T period (MventI,, eighth, and ninth ecnturies), Jcsns savs " I throne (9p6vo,) „.,'■ ..,< j, , „„,,,^„,,,„ „ . ,,„, '■"; " zr;::;': " '■*"' t" '"" """ f'-^^'i^" •-! ^ -^"S, . *-"""='>™'' flm'y e8tal,ll«hed in the .arth • vet nevertheN-, conc.,n!„g the true Olinstiahiof the thinl L^d^ Jeans test.fl., ^,„g, .Thou holde.. faj^n,y nan-e, an' hit not demed my tM, ,,.n in those days wheroi- An ipas w" ■AmVa, is compounded of two Greek words (dvrl and «5) mficant name for the iriw},s...m^nity efttema fca n i„:5lZ, who lived on the carthZ^TZr^^X^rtT as much opposed to other people as light is to darkness/^ By Aniipas" being " slain where Satan dwelleth " is si^. that Sa an ,.e the adversary, or "Antichrist," had set up h.s dommjon ,„ the form of the Catholic religion, which was so IJ VT '";' '".""=" '"^ ''"' "^""^ '• y^' -er'thlle^, tlo gh P^/ect CL. stians have not existed on the earth since about the commenc aent of the seventh century, multitudes of -.rclrir t;ans have , for all those Christians who sincerely and consci n tu>usly persevered in endeavouring to do heartily'^whateve" thev thought to be right, were true Christians-yet they d dTot be ^equal unto the ange.s" when they had ceased to e^ist in this ■ Ye are the link of the ^rld, &c.-Matt. v. 14 •> i IS says, "I ero Satan's during the ans became 8 " Satan's ?arth; yet, ircl period, J, and hast itipas was ere Satan and Tras), I verysig. Dliiib'limi y they were 91 * • , 18 Slg- arth after ad set up ih was so !, though bout the le Chris- onscien- vev they not be- become I in this ^els; and ;e XX. 36. le body, i Xac^i »/ OP THE REVELATION. 9 , That the im,M,,,,^i^ ,f this thir-l period were not r-.U- ciontly perfect, is proved from the char s which Jesus V i:" . against them ; after having assured them that he knows how' to maice every a lowance "or them on account of their dwolh'ng whore Satan's throne is;" ''But," ..ys be, "T have a few doctnne of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a .tumbling-block and to commit fornication : so hast thou also them that hold the Tt^ y^- ^ fr nin rhnMimu^ of the second period ng those of iM.e first period he says, " Thou hatest the deeds of the ^ joolaitanes, which I also hate." a, TJie word N.KoAamu. is compounded of two Greek words ^ ¥ (...a. and Aa6.) signifying literally " to overcome the pec"! " ' ^ tmed to overcome the people of God," that is " the saints."U Balaam, knowing well that the Moabites could never prevail against Israel, as long as they were obedient to their God / And I Jclm saw these things, and heard them. And when T had heanl » And It was given unto him to make war with the «mr,i» „n^ ♦. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation a pecu- tou Tf ^ th.; ye should show forth the praises 'of him 'who haJh cS rinll W "'". "'' marvellous h-ght ; which in time past were not a people, but are now thepeople of God: which had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.— l Peter ii. 9, lo. ^' 1 1 10 A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION counsols Balak to entice the children of Israel with the dauffhters Thus the policy of Balaam aptly symbolizes that of Satan It was not hard for the " adversary" to perceive plainly hat f Chnsfans ma ntained their prim-itive pnrity, they conld not fa [ eventually to influence the whole world , and finciing that Ise out,ng and slaying true Christians only increased thfi numtr ' he ms.d,ously contrives to corrupt with heathenism those whom he could not overpower by open hostility. the wTf "^f in'""™ "'^"'^''^ ^P'"'""y> the departing from Zl ^ I'f,^' ""^ " '" "'" l^n""" that during this period hl^Mahol d"™' " T™'™* »"™= ">'' ---' Chris'S idok wbT\ /r'' "P *° ''^ instrumental in abolishing Slst tell' "'^ '"""""- "' --' ^^-"'^ '« -' truth, that he threatens to " come qnickly, and fightlS ^ hem with the sword of his mouth" {i.e., the word of Godf u„ tent, for Jesus says of the true Christians who lived on the earth tur™f ^/"-''•.f ™^- tie tenth, eleventh, and twd he ' tunes), I know thy works, and love (dyi^y), and service and i :^'';LV'ir"™™'""'.*^'''^'''*^"'^''»-tra"^ ' first (^a. TO. epya ^ov, rb. l-rxaro. ric&m rZv TrpAr^v) ■ which ev,dently means that the u,orke, or the evidence of the faith „f he true Chnstmns, during the twelth century were more han •'"Cst^fc'd-^'Tr"'"^- "N''t-thstLing,"ertinue: _the^onofGod ^ I have a few things against thee, because tl,„' ^nT.'"' ?T* "'»* -P'"* •" '^ rmuntaim of Judah: and caJi^ ^ » I [ i. i- »wt»». « .n w iii M n j ii mi ! daughters 3 sacrificed Satan. It ly that if Id not fail hat perse- ' numbers, 3se whom •ting from zek. xvi. lis period Christians, bolishiug in many even the OF THE REVELATION. 11 t against rod), un- •tain ex- he earth ilth cen- ice, and ban thy ; which faith of re than 'Utinues because d caused i Judah Jk^ f thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a pro- ! phetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornica- tion, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her time n (X^«';°;) to repent of her fornication, and she repented not. , i^ehold I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adul- ! tery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death." Jezebel, who persecuted and slew the Lord's prophets, and sought to establish idolatry in Israel, was a fit symbol of the papal dominion as it existed during this fourth period ; and the Idolaters, who were Christians but in name, were given " time to repent" of their idolatry, and they " repented not ;" therefore Jesus threatens to " cast her [the papal dominion] into a bed," t.e., render her comparatively powerless, and to afflict the nations who submit to her influence with " great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds," and to " kill her children with, death, te., to takeaway what spiritual life might yet remain among those who still submitted to the papal dominion. Man i>.^ said to be spiritually dead when he exhibits no^^^to^orspi- ritual life but gives himself up to sensual pleasures and gratifica- tions, and thus lives an animal life rather than a spiritual life.i Jesus continues his message " to the remnant " of true Chris- tians of this fourth period, even to "as many as have not this doctrine, which have not known the depths of Satan," by telling them that he will put upon them "none other burden ;" ^..^ that he will not call upon them to evince any greater proof of their being true Christians, than they have already given bv their having resisted successfully the false doctrines of Antichrist and the crafty deceits of Satan : but, at the same time, he urges them to " hold fast," till he comes, the little truth and faith Eph^'^r" ^^^^^^ quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sim.- But she that liveth iu pleasure, is dead while she liveth.-l Tim. v. 6. h»»< ri mm„„ MK; 'W. ''"'^■■•^■-s^^.ii^^ 12 A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION wh,oh they yet had, which it appears they scarcely did during the fifth period («.,the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth cen^ tunes) ; for Jesus commences his message to the best Christians of ths period, by saying, " Thoa hast a name that thou livest and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which" mat that are ready to d.e : for I have not found thy worlds perfect be- ! ?°, J J^'^^'"^' 'herefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast, and repent. If, therefore, thou Shalt not watl I m]\ come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what houi I will come upon thee ;" and concludes by testifying to the fact that even during this fifth period there were " a L " who hrf ' '„o defiled their garments" {i.e., who maintained their integrity °„ spite of the moral pollution of nearly all of those who called them- selves Christians, during the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth centuries and concerning those "few" he say , that "they shall walk with him 5n white, for they are worthy."i ^ To the true Christians of the sixth period, viz., the sixteenth ZZtTt:' """?"" 'T""'' '"^"^ '^y^ "Behold, I have name. Th« 'open door "fitly symbolizes the Reformation which ' floumhed during this sixth period, and which was as an Ce„ door" to multitudes, who by means of it were enabled to walk „ the way of righteousness and truth. But concerning the Roman Catholics who were opposed to the Protestants of this perTod of Satan, which say they are Jews (i.e., chosen people or tnie «» f^ J ^/*Tl *^'!-^ ^'^'^'' f "*^' ^"' ^ ^''""^ °^"'*^t"^«' ^Iiich no man could num- And to her was granted that she should be arravprl in fir,^ r i «-A*e.- for the flu. li„e„ i. the righ.eo„»e. Sl'lt. ,L".' 8 "' ■i- V 1 i iid during ieenth cen- bristians of livest, and ch remain, perfect be- and heard, t watch, I lat hour I ) fact, that had "not tegrity in led them- l fifteenth at "they lixteentb, id, I have thou hast enied my on which n " open walk in 3 Eoman ! period, nagogue or true )uld num- jefore the in their ilean and «^ OF THE REVELATION. 13 Christians), and are not, but do lie ; behold, I will make them come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Which promise was fulfilled during this sixth period, when Protestant nations were blessed and prospered much more than the Eoman Catholic nations, and Roman Catho- ics were generally servants to the Protestants. And to^'the ^'^>/ ' m ip ,hn Ttn n8 of this sixth period, Jesus adds, " Because thou"^ hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." This " hour of temptation came upon all the world " about the beginning of the seventh period, VIZ this nineteenth century. The unprecedented pro.perit^T^^ which prevails in these our own days, is the great " temptation^ forget God and to cease to have faith in him, and it has tried those who dwell on the earth " so effectually, that even the bes of those who profess to be Christians are now destitute of that vital and active faith which Jesus requires ;i therefore, he pronuances them " neither cold nor hot," and declares thai he will -^eject them as men reject lukewarm water : " Because," says ' the faithful and true Witness " (speaking concerning the ve^ best of those who call themselves Christians during this seventh period , " because thou sayest, I am [spiritually] rich, and in- creased with [spiritual] goods, and have need of nothing, and knowest not that thou art [spiritually] wretched and pitiable (eAcetvos), and poor, and blind, and naked." Such then being the judgment which Jesus pronounces upon ^the very best Christians who are now on the earth in these our days and as doubtless this their character will shortly be made manifest to the eyes of men, as it already is to the eyes of Jesus, and his holy angels; let the wise among them listen to the counsels of Jesus : " I counsel thee," says the Saviour to every e.Z-LlZts. ''' '" '' "^" ^°"^*'' ^'^^ '' «^^ '^'^ - ^^« u IC ty^*t-lLt^l( iS-^n,! W'^ ^^^ ^^^i4^x .n^ ". 14 A SIMPLE INTERPRETATIO>) counsel thee to buy of me golrl tried in tbe fire 'dh^^ be rich ; and white raiment th»t ih ' V ™ ""y^^ that the shame of thv nXdne^donoT """''' ''?'°"""' »<* eyes with eye-salve, "that thou 1^ t L?^^"" ' ""^ »-'*■■■- perlold S mets If trtf 1 " 'f f ''^ " '"""'" "'™'> ''-"-s .old PurehLs :n\:t ^'7 f »!'--' »ffl-«o-;' "-i - all spiritual blessings.2 ^ ^ "*' '" ' ^y ^th " we may obtain The " white raiment " sienifies " n,„ -■ i . (Eev. ^h. 8). While men ^„ \ "gMeousness of saints " reason to be ashamed Z\ T'^^""""' '% always have when they are oIored„if.r™' ™'' '^''' ■"■1"«'«.- bnt - have L •:■ S : bel'137 ^^ "'' " ~*'">^^ tba!t„rorma1"otS"w: '!/""'' '^'"=- «^ *"«> ^'"''y of apostle Paul W tat'tt T" '"' "'"""•" ^"^ -ke" one "wise ^r^^o'll^XL^Z: Zf'' •*" Christ Jesus :" for "all RPv,Vf, • . ""s*^ ^^"^i which is m and is Komablfforl re;rre^p:o?L'7'n'-"1''"^' struction in riffhteousnes« ih.l r '^^P'^'^^V °°^^^«^^on, for in- thoroughly fuLhZ:: :«"';: :r f. "ft^:'^.- [,t,t And the apostle Peter, speaHng of thetstil;":!::, ^ tlli and glo^ at the appearing of JeJShS-iC"??'" *"' ^""™"' ?lso if ye .ball say unto thl Zutt ^ fit;. " '""'' ,"> ""= "«■"-• "•■' Mto the eea; it shall be done -Sf x'i 21 " ' ""'' "^ ""'" ™' Lielii'so:*' '° "'°*°'"'" ^*^^'-« ^'tt »ved thoe; go ia peaee.- OF THE EEVELATION. Jit "James and John" received "from God the Father " concern .ng Jesu. when he " was transfigured before them "m7Z 2, 5), says, " And this voice which came from heaven we heard when wo were with him in the l>oly monnt. We have also ' more sure word of prophecy, whereunto yo do well tZ\sZit heed, as unto a light that sbinoth in a da'rk pla" „"« fhVdt dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts" 2 P^ter i 18 lof Here the apostle distinctly pronounces the " lord f , 'ropbeo'l- to be "n,ore sure," more convincing, than the "voice f 1 the excellent glory from God the Father," and so nndoubtel i .», for did we hear "a voice from heaven" we might in tfmo persuade ourselves that either our imagination or our elrs had ing ot man, and not to his eyes or ears alone, and, conscnnentlv standing of enlightened and reasonable men. th„ mr?""'"'''' ""^ ^'^'"''''' ""'' *" history contained in he Bible, form a compound which is calculated to act mo t effe tually as a spirit,u.l "eye-salvc," to open the spiritual eyes of unholv „n,r . ;■ "^ '"" "S^" "'^'^ '0 '^■•^'iicate every unholy and corrupt inclination, and to pursue a course of riX eousness by the light of truth, and under the guidance of wiSm" tions andToTf '%^f ^T^ ''^'"'"^' *«<=»"««- "^ ^t' tions, and so deterred from following hiscounwl, d, .,•„» *v- seventh period our Lord reminds us !f his inval e p" ^ "^f Hove " st\t" : rf' fT'" ^""^"-^ = " " ^~ « repent'." ' ' ™'^ '^^^^ ^ ''^ ^"^""^ therefore and This time Jesus comes not to this our world natnrallv „» poor infant, but spiritually, as the " Lord from heav^™"'o't now m obscurity and suffering, but in glory and power to "male h s name known to his adversaries, that the naLIs mfy ireTbt at his presence" (Isa. Ixiv. 2), and that not gradud^ a ^t ■\ 16 m U « n A SIMPLE INTEBPKETATION one part of the earth onlv hnt „ jj , world at once.. To warn 1,'''"'^ ""<' "^'^ *>>» whole gladly now at this his secoTd ZJ° '"'"''T '" """''"^ h™ ^^essage to the best of h "thol?"' ""'^^'"'^ '='""""<'«« ■>'« seventh period with these rll-aul ™ ;''^^''^"■ d""-"^ this at the door, ar.d knock : f any 1„ , "^'' = ^^''°'<'' I «tand door, I will come in to h 1 Tnd „"■ "^ ""'''• «■"' "P™ the -e." This symboUf sup™-;"' :" ""> '''""'™. a»J he with degree of familiar conv "^^ "J h „ f'' -" ' "^^'''''' *''« and those who will be prenal^ * '• '"''""' ^'''"''> the Lord he comes to defeni ^d'Ke Xt'™ ""^ f^'""^' "^ """ secuto the wicked.^ « to ga her M.° "•' ""'^ '° ™^ ^-d !«'■ -™«pthecha.'withnSrh:M:t::"K:.ir^^ one end of the earth fo the other " T 'J'"^' f""" about to bring the " other sheen" L,I • i! , """^ ""'* -^^^^ « the Jewish fold, and they shalll ''"'''' "' «« »<" "f be one fold and'one shX !' (John ^^ ZT' ^ ""'' '^^ »'■■'" best among mankind are called .pon '^M li' " '""' *""" '''^ fig-tree, when bis branch is yet ZL J" " ^^^''^^ "fbe ye how that summer is n gh J , 1' T"'"" '"'* '^''™»' certain signs of the approach ^f the ? "''™ ^' "^" ^«»ally know assnredly that if aTso is nelr -f' '""'°'"' "^ "'^ '^«^'d. x.iy. 31-33); Is not th arof':r\"'^''°''™"(Matt: - 2^ 'Steamboats, railroads, and As the fire burneth a wood And oo *t, n fi;e ; .. ^e.eo«.. tke^ Z^^ ^^J^^J «-« -tteth the fountains on «tom. J^« their faces with .heme SZ " f"'''' ^^"«^'^ "^"^^ % il^Q whole ?ceive him "dudes his during this Id, I stand ^i open the 'J he with 3i'esses the ' the Lord now that ^ and per- 'er, and to 12 ; Isa. to " send nds from Jesus is 18 not of 3re shall that the e of the leaves, equally- world, (Matt. Is, and ^ west, ore the ins on 'th thy ■Lord. OF THE REVELATION. 17 pointed agencies to pr pa e ttll^I ZV '^''''*''!'. '""^ "P" 80 Often foretold in th. ff„i t" ''" «nivereal dominion and domini „ i„d thf : ™L'"r r' f"" " "'^ '''"^<"- heaven, shall be give, »'™'"'''' "^ f^J.ngdom under the whole High (ban vii IT H f ??'' "^ "■' '"'"'' of «'« "oet featares "of the JL of tt' "V^'f "^^ "''«'■'''" Caraeteristic shall beTnfr ald'^oTn 'J ^^ '" ''°'' ""' »" ''»->^0g« PART II. thrones (606 J and nnt *! t? ^'""^ "'" '""-""''■twenty ewe. siL, cL^^firh'^^^ir; irrh/Xd-rr ^a zn^^f::!- -..tt j.fv^ ->'- °--™- - eyes before and behind" (ill ^ ^ /"f)""'''""^ ^^^"^ '»» «' /o«nrfai.W. and in them tbe nanie^ of itfJ^ ""*" '^*^' "''^^ ^^'^ '«'^^<' Rev. xxi. 12. 14. '' °^ *^® ^^'''^ «i«'«*^ of the Lamb.-- B I ll in 18 A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION pp. 8-10.) ^ ^* ^^^^ interpretation, Each eye represents an individual soul or spirit 3 and ih. eyes were embndlpfl in <« ^ t • »>pini;, and these fcouth, from " all nations, and kindreds »r,A ».. i ! ton]tvnes."4 ^maieas, and peoples, and their handi-Rev! v[l 9 ' "^ ""''^ ""^^ ''^''' ^"^ P^^^^^ i» »■*■■»■ the twelve the preach- ■ clothed in s,^ and by ^8 of gold ign on the i behind," not attain darkness I set up in ut the be- 'pretation, md these rnify that he earth ; from the iles, and nen, white xix. 8. II reign on h havefol- ! throne of i tribes of mr living tad been 'ts of God mn conid >d before palms in OF THE REVELATION. j q The « four living creatures" are said to be " in the midst nf ih^ tney represent shall be priests of God and of Christ and sh-dl re;gn with him a thousand years," after that they sh I'hTve b n ra,.cW ^^^^^ .t the period of the first resurrlcu' The first hving creature" is said to be " like a lion," to si^ wi sVIIn '°^ ^'^^" ^° ^-- *« ^^-- elect ol" which shall be raised up at - the first resurrection." 1 he second living creature" is likened to " a P«1f " n. bullock to signify t„ei. .M,it, " .„ thrfh "the ^o ' tIsT"/ he na,,o„s] a„d beat them small," preparatory to ,ep" . , i^ 'the w,cked from among the just," as perfectly as the cltlc of Ihe third liv,ng creatnre" is represented as having " a face a a man," to signify their superior intelligence [man's e bcmg more expressive of intelligence than the face of a,"v oth ! ammal, rt ,s chosen as a fit symbol of intelligence [usta «.»„. chosen to represent power on accoun of i ^e Jesus, „„d for theworfof oj 1 tT? ^''"'*'' «>' *» witness of neither Ms image leiher had te!" 7.-' '"u "'" ""^W^'' ""> >"""'. their hands, a^ C W iZ" )"' -T}. ""^ '^''" f«*=»-J». »■• i" This is the first resurrection SIT j\ , "T"* '■"™ ''™ 'ini*<«l- first resurrection rStUSZ I rfAV' '''*''' '''''' ?"' '- "" priests of God and of ChrirandTha^^^^^^^^ lath „„ power, but they shall be tb:u^t*;i^;^r::t:,r7ndr.'Th""^™ hills ,s chair. -Is. lxi.Ts. ^ ""''"' «»«' sl^Jl make the Arise and thresh, daushler of 71™ . c t ■„ and T will consecrate thdr Zuntole T.1 ^'"l'? P^'<^^^ ^nany people : Lord of the whole earth. -CahT 13 ' '°*^ *^"'" ^"^^*""^« ""^'^ ^l''^ ^ 20 A 8rMPl.E INTERPKETATION I" \i 'i'i if H I " The fourth livino- crontnn,." • i-. creatures" having c„oh of them sifw " ' ''^. ""' '<""• ""in? ■" full of eyes (.vM»e. .afLfll ' ^'' ™""'' '''"""""' "i'h" nified that some of tho s» throne, «tood a Lamb as it hfd b ™ jn "i,! '" ""' ""''^' "' «■« elders eyes, which are the seven Spit "or "/''''" ''"™' ''"<' »^™'' earth. And he came ami took the , , . '""' '^^'* '""> »» *» him who sat upon the th o^e Itt;"'' 7' f "'^ "^h' hand of the four living creatures and ,h f '"' """^ '*''«" the book, before the Lamb, Cn^g el J tr^t'" ^r^ ''"^^^'■^'" <'°- vials full of odours, whfch Ire^l, " " '""'?'' ="«' ^"Wen «>ng a new song, spying Thlt/"^? "^ '"""'■ ^"^ they to o,«„ the seak'th r f: for hotwIT '•'" """ "=" "<'"'' """I "« to God by thy blood ou7o eve;t-,te7"''i'"' "^"""^ ' people, and nation ; and hast ZZ ' ""'' 'o"8:ne, and I'H^t. and we shal'l rei^ltVet b' "r": ll ^^ »" h.^; orw:r^o:tair/™'*' ---^ - all of which was then future and ^^' '" ""^ ^'"' "f time, alone; therefore it was saM; Ll 7^'""^ ''"<"'" *° G"' perfectly sealed up, or 1 fd fil !u '^'J'^'' ^J"" ^'^''on seals," U, said, " that no one in heave? „ "'T °' """ = «» also it is the earth, was able to openTj Z i" . """■' "^'"'" ""^er and when it is understood ftttb^' T^'' '" '"^'^ '"""^oon ;" i« easy to understand a o bow 1^*°"^ "^"^^ ""o future, i, 'ionofJesus,wasahlt:t t'oToofnU^r""'" ''' ^^"^P" ''i:^^^;^ ymg eagle," 5 four living It and with- ■wi^), is sig. resented by ings in im- tll spiritual 'at on the Jaled with he throne, ;he elders, and seven •to all the It hand of the book, i "m that m one another,. anS t^l^ZJ^^^^ """ '"^^ ^-''' '-v-'-l i»''"e.liately aft,', the , 7 ""'' Woodshcl which fol- »d which prevaiLl t ,o e' h T"; "' "" ^°''"'' "^ P-« •mature of the tia,e,,,ntiltrat, It, r T ,"'" "°^' """*«o four three measures .if hariy'Vo^a L ,'" "' "'"*' '"' » P^-y. ""d "■I and the wine." TW ..\i„ TV ""''/'■'' "'"" '"•" not the -Illness „r ignorance; the" yoke "'rr ' "T"""' "''""""l dago in wl,ich men^eretoCl ''P''^*""' ">e spiritual bon- The xor< which is tran'la d ^me™""" ■"' """'^ ■•='"»-"«• eontained about a pint a d . h^r 7' "'r'™'"e S' -heat was a «,.,;,,„,, it i e™ We ? *''^ P™" "^ " X«J./of ■•> hired labourer's wages fort ;±rwr'?"''"-^-^''y» 'hat purchaseapi,,ta„dahalfoflheaftr^^^ f^ '"'^^"^ him ,„ that there was a very grevousfl','^ "''"'<'' '""" i-^Plv which was heard "in ttmX If .;,?;"''?" ^° ">' "™«e" >"g. A measure of wheat for a pennv "7 '""."»".-«"««^. «ay- should be a very great famine ZT'L, ', "'^■"'^'^ *«' '^'"> '^^'^nC]^:'^Xt:~^'::t^^^^^^^^ \ J power, al- y overcome went out 'iim that tioy sliould iit sword." which fol- of peace, t marked bohzed at 8, "I be- ^^l a yoke f the four iny, and t not the spiritual «al bon- norance. to have v'hich is a day's om^ of ys that him to 1 imply voice " s, say. '' there d, nor Amos a day. OF TIIK RKVELATION. 23 viii. 11); and yet, great as was tl,e scarcity of -.Intual food, wkile he spm „al darkness prevailed which the blacK horse symbolized nevertheless there was to be sufficient to sustain the s^iritu 1 f of those who laboured constantly for it, inasmuch as -three measures of barley" a day would be sufficient to sustain the natural life of a hired man. ° "And when he had opened the fourth seal, . . . behold, a careen mi7u r'.rT '" """^ ''''' '^'' ^" ^-" -« i>-tir, a,d over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and 2l Lunger and with death, and with the beasts of the ea th '' ^ so when his fourth horse is represented as being of a ^reen colour, U . signified that a period of great outwafd pr sS Bhall immediately succeed the dark times, symbolized brthe uldmattl '" "'ff '''' ''" veryoutward^.■osperity s In ultimately cause faith to cease to exist in the earth so that 2 " The earth," as it is somewhat elevated above the sea most fitly symbohzes the nominally Christian world who a e raTed above the heathen, in that they are civilized and exhib t ir t H he sea m the prophecies, as they have not yet shown them'- elves to be as susceptible of improvement as the nom nX Christian nations and they bear about the same relative Top "r! tion the civilized nations, as the sea does to the drv land and " the beasts of the earth " represent the varioii powe " li' It IS said that power was given unto him [Death on the m-een horse] over the fourth part of the earth, to kill wi^ swoTd and wit nnger and with death, and with the beast T^jf earth, it is signified that " the fourth part " of the nomina|f i .rh ij H M 24 A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION Christian world shall be thus subjected to a spiritual death, either by "the sword " which is wielded by Death on the green norse ^.e., by the specious arguments of those in prosperity in these days; or by " hunger," i.e., by the absolute want of spiritual food or heavenly knowledge which shall prevail in those days ot outward prosperity and terrestrial knowledge ; or by " death " |.«., by the general want of foith which will also prevail: or by the beasts of the earth," i.e., by being so taken up with the affairs of the kingdoms of this world that they will be careless abou ciitering the kingdom of heaven. When it is said that Hell followed with him" [Death on the green horsel it is signified that hell is the inevitable consequence of being spiritu- ally dead by reason of the universal want of faith which will be the result of the flourishing condition of the fourth part of the nominally Christian or civilized world. Hell^or^'S^s [hades] is the abode of imperfect or " unclean spirits, who wander in spiritual darkness or ignorance, as they do not enjoy the spiritual light of heaven. The word ^Srjs was in use among the Greeks long before the apostle's time, and with them as they knew nothing about the kingdom of heaven), it signified the place where all the souls of men went after death, whether they were good or bad. Jesus proclaimed to the world that it was possible for the souls of men to enter « the kingdom of heaven," and become " as the angels " of God ;i and the apostles contrast this immeasurably superior state of existence with that ot those who wander in ^8rjs or hell. The population of the nominally Christian world is about two hundred millions; the Eoman Catholics being about one hundred millions, the Greek and Armenian Christians about fifty nillions and the Protestants about fifty millions ; consequentlv, the Pro^ testants form about a fourth part of the population of' the whole > For_ when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are dven in marriage ; but are as the angeh which are in heaven.-uLk xii. 25 \ f:S' T i \u OF THE REVELATION. 25 al death, the green jperity in "spiritual lose days ' death," il; or by with the ! careless said that se], it is ■ spiritu- ich will rt of the unclean they do IS in use th them signified ivhether [ that it dom of ipostles th that )ut two undred illions, le Pro- whole 'e given 25. T nominally Christian world, and they are peculiarly distinguished for their outward prosperity and flourishing condition, therefore it is the Protestants who are represented by the symbols, at the opening of " the fourth seal," as having ceased to have any liv- ing faith amongst them, and consequently as having become spiritually dead, owing to their great worldly prosperity : and they are assured also that hell will be their abode when they shall cease to inhabit their mortal bodies, unless they resolve to follow the counsels of Jesus,i and so enter " the kingdom of heaven " and eventually become " as the angels " of God. Thus, four seals having been opened, it has been signified that although^^»«pffZ truth in its purity had at the first gone " forth conquering," yet universal discord and bloodshed, spiritual dark- ness, and at last spiritual death had followed in succession. At the opening of " the fifth seal," the souls of those " hidden ones " of the Lord who were persecuted and " slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held," are represented as being " under the altar " of God, and crying aloud for judg- ment and vengeance " upon those who dwell upon the earth ;" and it is said that " white robes," i.e., the robes of righteousness, are immediately given to them, and they are told that they must rest yet a time [inxp^vov) "until their fellow-servants, and their brethren who should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled." " And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon (ij (TiXi]vy] oXrj) became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind; and the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together ; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places; and thekings ' I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayeat be rich ; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear ; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see. — Rev. Hi- 18. (See InierpreiatloH, pp. 13-15.) 4 •s«-aT/,*^_ w^,-;^— •• ■ifJH . W.mtUjjija ij.jwn^,ni r, I I n^ *M !i 26 A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION of he earth, and the great men, and the chief eaptaios, and the freeman, h,d homselvos in tl,e dens and in the roeks o the mouZ us from the face of him who sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath the Lan.b ; for the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand ?" ' The "great earthqnake " signifies a great commotion and trouble among the nominally Christian nations.! " The snT" represents the light of the gospel, and " the moon " the liXt of the law and now sueh a great degree of heavenly li.ht to be vouchsafed to the best of those who now dwell on th eat , a shall cause the present spiritual light of the nominally cSrn world to appear as " bluek a« sackcloth of hair," and the S wUh Ihat' t; '" "''"'^' "' "^""^ " "^ '''-V' in com^a fon w.th that which ,s now to be revealed from heaven ;2 and he consequence w,l be that the present Christian teac erT fwho are symbohzed by stars shall fall from their position as such suddenly "as untimely figs" fall from the " fig-tre " " when U sha en by a niighty wind," and the whole system of tlcpre sent ecclesiastical power and influence shall "depart as a ser^l w en it is rolled together, and every mountain ani iand " [ all nominally Christian nations and all heathen nations] sha llbe moved out their p aces," and all men, even the molt p'wer U, and the boldest, shall fear and seek concealment, or sedu- ««..r wa, ,ince tl^re «:„ a nation e»„ to ,;„, mllunf-Z^lZl ti^i^^zt '-' " "= -^'»' «""™*' "*".;?■ .^ri^r I J OF THE KEVELATION. 27 3, and the and every ;be moun- and hide from the onae, and tion and 'he sun" light of t is to be earth, as Christian he light nparison and the rs [who as such, when it the pre- a scroll . " [i.e., shall be power- f seclu- standeth sv^h as bat time 1 in the and the lay that of their J sion, even as weak nations in old times feared, and hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, when they were assailed by a people who were much more numerous and powerful than themselves. (See 1 Sam. xiii. 6 ; Hos. x. 7, 8.) Thus shall it be when the gospel truth in its purity shall at last go forth " to conquer," then it shall so prevail in the earth that every opposing power shall fall before it, and the kingdom of God shall be set up in the earth, so that his " will " shall " be done on earth as it is in heaven." Eev. vii. — "And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree : and I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God ; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying. Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed che servants of our God in their foreheads: and I heard the number of those who were sealed; and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel." "The sea " represents the whole heathen world; "the earth," the Koman Empire, or the most civilized portion of the world, whit-ih was afterwards to become nominally Christian ; " the trees," as they are the natural productions of the earth, represent the natural results of civilisation, such as the knowledge of the arts and sciences, &c. By understanding these symbols thus, we learn that neither the heathen nations, nor the civilized portion of the world, at the commencement of the Christian era, were to be materially affected by those events which should follow the preaching of the gospel, " until the servants of our God " were "sealed in their foreheads;" e.g., until all those who are repre- sented by the 144,000, and who are called " the first-fruits unto God, and to the Lamb " (Rev. xiv. 1-4), shall have received un- derstanding sufficient to prepare them to become ano-pk of -Tpspfi 28 A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION their foreheads," it is u„do"ubwVTg„i;e" 7Jt ""'^^ " " « " sealed " „,- mavlSl 7 , '" ""■'""'« others, by slw' '!,"'» .^--"^ •''^tin- of God are to be guished from otherTby simen" ? " '" b" easily distin: being given to, hem. The f 2 non "'' ""derstanding "ere prepared to enter the k ngdomTh'"'"'?' "" "'°^'' "''° spiritual light which wi, nl 7/ '""" ''^ '■«»™' "f the I-ael, by ""the law iu ^t 1 f "? '"'™ '""" °f of their having been " ea d ■' ?L th ' 7 I "I """' "^'^""^^ "f Pentecost (Acts ii ) X„ ,h„ ""= ! '>>'-e''ean the day ;istence as the won- they had had been were en- their in- he Com- mised to hem and ilso who fitten in ultitude go away; I depart, into you, truth, is himself; bow you md sha'I 'd heard >vved me thjfeU '<:eep the OF THE REVELATION. 29 which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands ; and cried with a loud voice, saying. Salvation to our God, who sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." The " white robes " of this "great multitude " signify their righteousness, the " palms " (being the emblem of victory among the ancients) signify that they had gained the victory over death. And it should be ob- served also, that even in this their great triumph, they take no glory to themselves, but ascribe " salvation " {i.e., all power to save) unto God and unto Jesus, and they rejoice that it is so, and that it ever shall be so. Of this " great multitude " it is also said that they " came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb " {i.e., they have attained a righteousness similar to that of Jesus, by their having endured similar sufferings " for right- eousness' sake").i " Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple ; and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them : they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more ; neither shall the sun strike them {Tria-y lir' avToh), nor any heat ; for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." A large proportion of this " great multitude " (viz., all the elect from about the beginning of the seventh century unto the present time) were before repre- sented by " the four living creatures." See Interpretation, Eev. iv. 6-9 ; pp. 18-20. So also were the " hundred and forty and four thousand " by twelve out of " the twenty-four elders" [as they include all those who entered the kingdom of heaven during, and * The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God : and if children, then heirs ; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ ; if to be that we avffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. —Rom. vm. 16, 17. . 80 A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION previous to the davs nf +T,„ "■oae who entered I ktl'^!; f" '"''^^ ""--'' 'hile ween the days of the apostlesand rt ?•'" *" '"'""•' ■>«■ "•rone," about the begin'LTn ' onL '!'"=' "? "' "Satan's rented by the twelve Tpost "f • amf ''^^'"^^"""7' »« >-ep.-e. elders " were twenty-fonr „ ' °T ' "', ™' ''*<' »'«'«<), "the *o- who entered the ZXZn:':! !'"' '"'^''^ "P--: M hght which was shed abrldVhr ? f ""'"" "^ *'«' «P«- '«lve apostles, as well sl^o f tZt''"' ?-->>"=" of 'he pntual light vonehsafed to the tit •/" ''^ "^""^ "^ 'h^ lafge proportion of the " great 1 h'? '"''? "'^ ^^™'- That presented by " the four hvT ""'""•"''^' "hich was before re- of God has'been itti g'tZ^r T'" '« t™e same mauner as the " Comfort r" or "^S ""."^f ''' """''' '" the associated with and influenced 7h„ , ., '""' "^ '™"' " fofmeriy and they will prompt themfo a, riH™ "■" '""'^ ^"-"Panions • though they should actuaTlvl "^t '""'"""' "« effectually as hind "them, "sayFn,; Ths s tl '° "'^"' "^ ™- he- 'hey "turn to the rigit hand" '.i T^' "''''= ^' '" '*, when" Th- it is that "theTabiTf J:;^ [I: ^^^^ --21). and he will dwell with them" (Ee, tfi ,f f ^ " ''* "on, of just men made perfect " shall derive h- ', ""^''' " ^P*"'^ tba tT^f-;.- "f y '"'" «^ -S »« CW «*" "■" "■= "i^" tte rest of the dead hved not a^ain until ,7 /u "'*'""''»'' ^m™. Bot Th.a „ fte flra. re»rrectio„._^™ .! 4^ f "°°™°J ?»" wer"! fllhed! I OF THE REVELATION. 6 principallj Israel, while interval be- of " Satan's r? are repre- tated, "the It represent of the spiri- ^Jng" of the Jans of the ael. That s before re- ' the Spirit ndred, and last 1260 ^e niillen- ' thousand this time ch in the ' formerly ipanions ; itually as ^oice be- t, when" :xx. 21). ith men, " spirifs ght and aforter" as given » witness trs. But finished. 31 or Spirit of truth ;" those again from Jesus (John xvi. 14), and Jesus from God the Father ■^ so shall be fulfilled that which was signified by Jacob's dream, when "he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it '' (Gen. xxviii. 12). " The souls " of the raartys of Jesus, who are now about to be raised up (Kev. xx. 4), will constitute the connecting link be- tween those spirits who are comprehended in " the Comforter " and the best of mankind, who shall live on the earth durin- the millennium, as " the Comforter " formerly did, between Jesus and the first Christians.^ Then the "gap" shall be filled (Ezek xxii. 30), and heavenly light or knowledge shall be increased among men to that unlimited extent which is symbolized in the prophecy, that " the light of the moon shall be as the li-ht of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold as the^light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound" (Is. xxx. ^6) PART III. Rev. viii.— " And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence m heaven, as it were ((5s) half an hour." When the Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, hit what he seeth the Father do ■ f<^ what thinrjB soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth hina all things that himself doeth : and he wjU show him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. . . lean o/tmne own self do nothing.— J ohn v. 19, 20, 30. J I have yet many things to say unto you,' but yo cannot bear them now. ffowbeit ^henhe, the Spint of truth, is come, he wiU guide you into all truth : for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall ae speak : a7id he will show you things to come—John xvi. 12, 13. 32 I A SIMPLE /NTERPRETATION apostle says that " th "» houV he „ea„, t M Z^'T'" ''^."'^"' - " -re half Penod of lime which eeemed l„T- . "■' "»'"' ''» '"^"^n *»• » 'silence " was intend d to , 17.?''°"' " '""'^ "" '"'"•" TWa •■^ut .0 be revealed afteft f ^t'! Tn '"T ^''"^ -« '"ere not to follow, i„ regular !,2^ , ""' '^^^""i seal " »d distinct revelations in ZZwT' "'''' '"' "^'^ ^P^'^ ^^^^Zai-l:^^^^^-^^^ «o, and to »d there followed hail and fie min., ' f ""«"' ^"'""lod, were cast upon the earth ; and thrp f "'"' "'"'<'• ""d ">«; burnt up (,„j ,j ,^„^ r^/l.t!?'''' P'^' "' *» ^'"«' -^a^ tbe trees was burnt up, an'd lu^ZZtZ^ 1" """' P^' »' The light of truth is tr> nrf v? ,, "» uie. ^isalmxvm 12 m ^MWP s„p^-^t;-W., aw,,at„m^ N.y, lut rather rf.Vi.ic«._];,„t,^._e™«^j_«'™!«ace on earth? Ite|,^„^'^ «8 it were half 1 heaven for u hour." This ?8 which were 'eventh seal" rs which were were separate ^od, and to gel sounded, ^d, and they e earth was Jiirfl part of It up." showers are >wards per- " hail "to leir jower. 'i upon the d " blood" 't they are ' tempest of •wing, shall 3 saith the 3d stone, a not make the plum- aters shall tiil stones 5 Highest 5 alreadj tell you, OF THE REVELATIOX. 33 made as unfit to drink as were the waters of Bg^'pt when thev were turned into bloou (i x. vii. 19-20 ; Rev. xviff, 6 ThtZ fore when - hail and Cre mingled with blood "are represented as being cast upou_ the earth, it is signified ^' .t gospel truth, although accompanied by '* division " and mingled with error shall yet have the efiect of lessening in some degree the powe; of the wicked in the mo.:t civilized portion of the world (il the Roman Empire whi.h in the prophecies is represented b; the earth- So when it is said "the third part of the earth was burnt tip, and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all -reen e-riss wasburnt up^^' it is signified th.t the third' part of ^HZ empire was affected by the divisions and doctrines of a cc.rupt Christianity and "the third part" of the natural effects o civilisation such as the arts and sciences, &c.) were consumed ^ogether with all the flourishing appearance of the civi'l^ed world (Rev. vii. 3 ; see Interpretation, p. 27) All this took place about the first three centuries of the Chris- tuin era. And the second angel sounded, and, as it were, a great mountain burning with fire, was east into the sea; and the third part of the sea became blood ; and the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died : and the third part of the ships were destroyed." " The sea" represents the whole heathen world, and the " ^ reat mountain burning with fire," which "was cast into the fea'' rXrlftrl"' Christianity, which became the established religion of he Roman empire (which was about " the third part" of the whole heathen world), and so converted " the third part" of the heathen into nominal Christians, but not true Christians • the third part of the sea became blood," not fresh water. This took place about the fourth, fifth, and sixth centuries. " And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star rom heaven burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers and fountains of waters; and the name ot the star is called Wormwnnr^ • nn^ fi,o ^ui^A . -i- .i , — „ „„^ i/iiit« j^ttit ui me waters c 84 /• k. f" ii " SJMPI-E iXTEWUKTATiON C-retC?. --'--•- on.e ..., ^,^^^^ f"«l tl.at "the third pl'^ j ;'-" '» dnnk; tierofore, when itt -'^nified that " tho'« d d ^ ^ oTIr "— orLvood ' ""«' for n„y ono to drink. ^ "^ "'^ "'"«'■» " "f Ufa became Jie "great star" "bi.rnJn™ • " 'lie rivers and fountains of™ , "' ^""'""^ "horn were '^I'^l »d " the mll^,,. ;'"^ " """"^s " whieh weret 7^« took. about the seventh '? ^"'^'^ MaI>on,eda„s P"" as mnch as the nominal rh" T ' «'""■' a " third «^«' together do; for the l^,""™ '^"f. ""-^ Maho.edans miliilr--"'--- the Colrs^nrorinntd' ~tt:t: « :f^— -;;/ '^^ t„rd ,art Of the snn of the stars ; so as the third part „fth """"' "'"' ""^ "'''d Part day .^hone not f„r , third part of i f^ .^^'f '=^''^''' -" *e il^e " sun '■ represents the Jn i t ' "'^'" '"«'"'■«''•" 'b; " stars " those who profes^ tTe 'l u ""'^ " "'<' '«". and ■•efleot.ngtheIightoftJ°;^;^/° "'-^-iten »'«» guide meL by of " the sun." ^"'P''' ^ some of " the stars " do that It was before shown in n • third chapters tha^h l !^H'"of T ""'» "' '"^ -ond and eighteen centuries, therefor^? ^""P"' "^ay " is abonf P;;t " of that " da^/'r.^ :„7'«;^- are about'" th^ tZ i t«rs, because derived from 2, vvhen it is rmwood," it Jife became Mahomed; resented hy ' Arabians, ivhom were «h were in lomedans. centuries, a "third bomedans >er about hundred f the sun Jird part and the ise." aw, and men by do that nd and about 3 third h cen- "the efind t the OP THE RKVELATION. 36 1 raiddlo of the eighth century to about the middle of the four- teenth century. "And I beheld, and heard an eagle [d.rov] flying i„ [.V] the midst of heaven B.y.ng with a lo„d voiee, Woe, woe, Le, to ho mhabuers of the earth by re„»on of the other voic^H of h! The " fly,ng eagle" signifle. progress (^e Interpretation, Rev. "■ '• , ':,^°' ', " "■"=" ""J""? •'»?'" i« represented L prono, ncine "woe" three fmos upon " the inhabitors of the earth," it i "s" ' ^ hed that the power of the kingdom,, of this world s la to » shaken by he great progress and advancement in knowI^K wh,ch shall folow in three, snecessive periods, that at th t J the ktngdoms of th.s world-shall "become the kingdoms of on tod, and of h,s Christ," which is said to be the else when I seventh angel " has sonnded " (Kov. xi. 15) "And the fifth angel sonnded, and I saw a star fall fron, heaven nnto the earth : and to him was given the key of h pU the abyss [ro. ^,l„.o, r,", d^Wo.]. And he opened th p of the abyss ; and there arc-e a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke ofa great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkencTby eason of the smoke of the pit. And th. re eame out of th smoke locus s upon the earth : and unto them was given power T the soorprons o the earth have power. And it wa^s command diet that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither anv green th,ng, neither any tree,- but only those men which ha"; uot the seal of God m their foreheads; and to them it was given fit IZtw- ""' '"' "'"' ""* ''"' "■"^ ^"""'o "^ *-— b JAt "« 'T I "■'f''""'" ^^'="'^'' "'«> '^ "clnowledged to have been the first Roman Catholic priest who earnestly attempted I wtetctd ;' '1T' ""' "■■»■ '"' P°™'«"S ■» ■■-»«-•« was ec edtrom (what men then considered) an exalted station Wyohffe s ejecto^n was confirmed by the Pope about the middle of the fourteenth century Fa.i.. 13701 n„d the n--— ••- -°'- 3(j I i li I i A SlAfPLE INTEHr„KTATIoX ^vaK afforded liim l.v M.« t • '■"ve f„ll„„ ..i„„ l,c.„ve„ ,r, to I, '""P'"''^^' '"> ""y he .said to ;•■»«"»" the Catholic priolwu,,""' '" ''" ""« -J^M C ''«;.. and was protecte t; ;t i: Ih?' '" r'"'' "^ ''--"" 1 lio sun " represents the hVht „"™""y "'"• ''mit. "'natural "ndersta„di„/or „fs« of '' 'T'' ""'' " ">« »- " "f tto air a bird is enabkd to Te ,o„ ? '' "' '" " " '^ ""=»■>» 'y means of the natural unde atam ,„l T'' 'T"'"' «> "'» ''' - "S and reflecting faenltios] that ' '"';",' f"- ''>• '""eason- .'■'■"' to truth, and rise hilrld. T"^"^ *" "''™"» ''■"■" ■'Seuee. Therefore, whe^ t , Tad tl^'^f/? "'° '^"'^ "f 'ntel- 7« .Wkened, by reason otirsil "''''' ^'■" »<' "'» «ir """ 'he light of the gospel „d;,t "V''" P"'" '' " «i?nified ""•" were yet obseuredraM „glf s !, T '™' '""'"^"'"ding of "o- attainable, for the ,,e d oj ev^ ^^T '" '"'""''"'ff" "'as ^-V, and the seed of ho efor Jat^T'" "'"*""' '""' P-^^-'J *niHnres were now translate™ , T"' ''"' ""' i>o)y Stv:::dt;---^---:s^i™si %ht of this perio.1] is likened untl/rT''' " ^'"^ ''''»™'*'' 'end greatly ,„ the destrnctiou „f 0,1° '; '''''™^" '' "»« t" /aus, orR„„„n Catholics 7 ,l,i ? • T "^ "'^ ""'"■"■•'' Chris- ■kened unto scorpions, inasm , oh L i Ta " ^''^ """^ P°-' - ef the earth [as l„e„s,s mig t nt,T ""' *° ''"''''" ff"«« n . her any gre„„ n; ^^jf * ""'"'ally be supposed to do], ^h.ch have not the seal of Go^ i„ i I ' """ ""'y 'hose men "°t to hinder .he nationstf*^ ear Itfl"'^^:' "- ■' '- " irom flourishing and pro- ire or THE l;i;VIL.VTI()N. '"rely saved in Ill's bold ' ^e said to iected from Jjouvcnlv knowledge ' the air " by means also it is is reason - iJce from of intel- tlie air signified iding of %e was passed 30 holy age by vJedge, 2,15). scnred was to Chris- wer is grass do], men t was ppo- 37 M Sroumgm the knowlcljo of tho «rt« and rekncos, Ac. |.oe In- .erpretat,o„ to llev. vi. 8 ; vii. 3 , viii. 7, pp. 23, 27, 331 1 m only to or,nont .^,o»o n,e„ who h„,l „„, jJL a „1 ..nZ,™ ' ng sufl,e,c„t to (it them to heco™,, ".hc servants of o, f( od " Land .,0 were ,n sp.ritunl darknea,], by eon.tantly gi,i„,, lit,],. .lm,p»„„ of ap,ntual light to aon,c of them dnrin/.L p^iod „ "five n,on hs," or ,50 days, ,vhieh, in prophetic languar re present 50 years a day for a year, a, in D„n. ix. 24.i.6.f ' An,I ,„ those days shall „,„ ,,,^ ,,,„„, „„j „,,„„ U and shall desn^e to die, and death shall flee from then, " Th,s me.ans hat "in those days" there shall be some who hall des,re to be "dead i,uM unto sin, lut alk-e „n,o C„d ' , !m v.. 11), and shall be nnable to beeon.e so; for "tho seorn ons"' had not powc. to " kill then,," bnt only to' " torment Z " . enable them to pcrce.ve some of tho gross errors of the e«eed- ngly eorrnpt Christianity which thon prevailed, bnt not enonl s hou- them gospel trnth in its pnrity, whieh ,1 greo of sp t„„ ■ght was ealcnlated to torment or render very nneasyTr ,™ »Pl.y, hose W.0 earnestly sought after tm.h, and yot',.!d , that ,mderstand,„g or wisdom, which is symbolized by " the . of God in their foreheads." " And the appeai'ance [<;,.o.<5^„Ta] of the '. ..,,st, was like nnto Lorses prepared unto battle ; and „,. „ei,. beads were as were [&], golden crowns [.x^^..„, ,,..„j], „„d ,„,;, ^.^^^ "JJ as he faces ot men, and they bad h,ur as the hair C' women and .he,r teeth were as the teeth of lions , and they had brras": plates, as .t were breastplate, of i,™ ; and the sound of th r ZfJlT.t' T7'f '''"'"' "' """y horses i™„i„X stilt 'in ,1 r ';■"' *"''! '*^ ""'" ^"''T'™'. »"^ there w^.re " The appearance of the locii.«ts" bein'>' " like „n,„ i,„™. pared nnto battle," signifi., .b,, .^ey Z';. tlt<^^. '^:riZl 38 A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION battle," signified that they weL t„ T h "''"f,'""-^''^ """'^S to A crown signifies doJnln ^1 !'" iT'''''^''"''^^'''''''''"^- represented as being „po„ the hea I. f''^" "'"'"«" «« never willingly subservient to Vjd asfn V '"^ '"" ""'^« "''o «'" therefore, the "golden crowns'" o ?^ r';"' *' ^^ ' =^'^- '^ ; signify that the/were to h"ve dol •' ^'"^' ''^''''"' " '""""^ " their dominion was to be sub7ertr„Trtr ""' f'"' "'^ 'h"' neeessaril. to that of triuh and ri'w "'""' "'^<^'"^' ''"<'=° "Their faces" beinr' Z th ^f ";"'• superior intelligence flev Tv 7 T "' "'™" *'S"'«^« t^eir "their hair" beLg "is th^-h«^;!'f 1^ ^"'f.r^'^'ion, p. 19), and spiritual beauty or comeliness as-"" T '"'' ''"''' ^"P^™' set hair" is preferable to " b!l nes "as':' ,'.'? ' '"' " »' "^" ?ree of spiritual light or knowledge ih h th 1 '' "! '' """ <"" snperior to that ntter spiritual darkL« • °'"'' "''P'''^*^'' stition, which they were to eo™ W I ,' '^'"""'"'^' ""^ «"?«■- " Their teeth" beinT" afn ^. "'"' ^^''^''^ °™'-<"'™e- ability to %htagainst1hose„f ' "" f "°"^" «g"«i^« their plates of ire";" siS hat tW "PP''^^ '"?' ""O t^eir " breast- attacks of their opponents ^ "'" ''''■'"•'''^ "Sai-st the 4Cf:,Lta!H:r:if;Cr'-<''^ «^.bat . abyss^"ifZ,^^1;,V,::« -->;-. which is the ange, of the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon 'but „ tW fT """""" *>'» name Apollyon." '""^ ^''^''^ t""?"* hath his doe?;rHi::t:drt''d;'^"'«^^. r ^-"»^-' - »- rented as having a kW ovt h ' Z?'^ ""^ '''°"^" "^^ '^P^- -— ilf Ifi^rf^hemofftatname, ,„ signify that ■I ne ancient and honourablp ha iT^i 7"^ ~ — — iies, he is the tail,-IsaZl5 ' '^''^ ' '""^ ^^^Proj^^^i^^^;;^^^ r 1 was to be nd of their running to effectually, are never e who are ; xiv. 14 ; " locusts " 1 also that od, and so fies their 19), and [• superior " as well that de- epresent, id super- ercome. ies their * breast- inst the ied that , ■ of the s in the ath his IS also repre- 7 that eacheth OF THE REVELATION. 39 f they are to aid in destroying tlio power of spiritual darkness, ig. ^ibyss, the unfathomable and boundless abyss of knowledge and in proportion as knowledge is diffused, ignorance and sup rsti' tion IS destroyed and vanishes as darkness does before light. Thus one " of the three angels" having " sounded," and an obscured spjratual light having had its influence upon „en for one hundred and fifty years, and so prepared sorne'of tlm t , . . . . u ^°^' °' ""^■' ^P'"'""' d^'i-e^s or ignorance W1.C had hitherto prevailed (see Interpretation to Eev'vH 6 p. 22) ,t ,s announced that "one woe is past, and, behold, there come two more woes hereafter," the resuH of which "two woes" IS described in Eev. xi. 15. "And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four h„„,3„f the golden altar which isbefore God, saying" he sizth angel which had the trumpet. Loose the four angelf wh oh are bound m the great river Euphrates. And the f™ antt were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day TnTa month, and a year, to slay the third part of men." ^' „f«, ™"='" '"^P^s^ted as coming "from the four horns answer to the prayers of all saints," that these " four angels" an, loosed for it is upon this altar that these praye s are rfpt sented as being offered up.i "jcis, are repre- By this we may be sure that the power which is represented by these '_' four angels" is to tend greatly to the overthrow of the dominion of the wicked, and to the hastening of God's 11.^ dom on the earth; for this is the chief prayer "VaU sain^T 40 A SIMPLE INTEEPKETATION that thore would bo amon»«t ,1 T . ' '"' " ""^ *"■«»««» Babylon, during these lardfvl '■."'"'""" "^ """ ■"''^"'' and Babylon are preciselv thr!! "^'''TT "' ^"^^ (^''^^ «nd as U was from " fh^ ? " ""^ «"'"<''«' Scriptures); habitants oT bo ancienfiS", '■'™'' '^"f'"^'''^^" '"at' the in- water, so also th"", fr S/'r-^'^'''"'' "'"" ■"""»' great river E„phraTes"7vi;T ''""*'""'' '» Vmboli.ed by " the tian world), that e inh bitol of J."" "' t """"^"^ «''-- been suppled with snSl7 Z^!.' """""•" ^"''y'''" '"'-'' trne, baSlt been prrilnMes?;: b'"'"^' ''*'<'^' " '^ relieved the spiritual tbil-st ofTanJ ' ' '" """" '^''""' tes," are represented as " f„„r"T„ „lf T"' '''^'' ^"P'''"" power and influence t not to !,.«.'' '" '*""■' """ ">eir world, but is to extend to ^Lf "''' *" """ P^" »f «he east and to the west ,o the „!,! '"T™ ■?'"" "'■" = *" ""» 6 • vii 1 "'« sonth" (Rev iv ' "'• 1- See Interpretation, pp. 18, 27) ^ Ihe population of the world is estiLJri f„ k ,. (fe M«A ?-Bev. vi ;, •',„'»""" """/"^ <«"• Uoo,l on them tlua dueU m .o'atttilroZtlSS/:;?^^^ "' '"^^""^ P™.™. but *».d »/fe deep waler,:h.,t ye mil Zf 7 ^"J" P""'"™? ""^to have " for my flocl, il,ey eat that wW h {» ."'.'f"* """' «"^'- ■^«'-' »"■' Babylon ; fitly sym- s foreseen is modern thoughts j1 (Babel iptures) ; t the in- natural by "the ly Chris- on have 3r, it is measure d liter- 5uphra- at their of the to the lev. iv. eight sly not rd, holy well on art in one, as re, but have f and ; and 19. OF THE KEA'ELATION. 41 much less than three hundred millions; all these "the four angels " or messengers are destined (in prophetic language) " to slay." o o / ^^ " The four angels" will be well able to perform their task, for the number of the army of the horsemen is two hundred thou- sand thousand" (two hundred millions), the precise number of the inhabitants of the modern Babylon, or the whole nominally Christian world of the present day. The inhabitants of the nominally Christian or civilized world are likened to an " army of horsemen," because their facilities of spiritual progress and advancement are as much greater than those of the heathen, as the facilities of a horseman to travel and advance to his destination, are greater than those of a footman " And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses we-o as the heads of lions ; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone." "Fire" signifies " division" or the power to divide :i " brim- stone" in conjunction -th « fire," as it is exceedingly com- bustible signifies the f , fire, but in a much greater degree -^ jacinth" is one of ine "precious stones." Therefore when the horses" .are said to be defended by breastplates of "ja- emth," It IS signified that those whom they represent shall be esteemed beyond the heathen, as much as "jacinth" is valued beyond ordinary stones ; so the " breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone," signify that those whom the horses represent shall not only be able to divide up into exceedingly small parties those who oppose them, but will also be able to command their esteem. I am como to sendee on the earth ; &c. Suppose je that I am come to g.ve peace on earth ? I tell you, Nay ; but rather divuion.-~l,y,k^ xii. 49, 51. For iophet is ordained of old ; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large; the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath oj t/ie Lord, as a stream of brimstone, shall kindle it.—lm. xxx. 33. 1^1 43 A SIMPLE rNTERPRETATION p. 19.) *^^'- <^'"' Inteipretation to Rev. iv. 7, " Smoke" signifies obscured spiritual I!,.l,t m • Interpretation, p. 36); so when ' h„ /i?, ^^'"'- '^' ^' ''^ said to be " killed by the ^IT.J, .'"^ P"" "^ ■"'"" a™ brin,sto„e which issued out of 1 ^ J''" ™"''^' »'«' b? «!"= " the third part" of the " " , * T"""'" " '^ ^'S-ified that divided up i'nto c.ldfnZm,°L" •'■''' "^"'^ ""'" ""' "^ being combined in lar-e and"' T""' ™'' '" "'" '^^^^ »<"» and that they wiU at rht 2L^7 "^ """""^ "^ communities, -ured spiritual light :rV„::idr '" """''' --'"-f»ob: .K.irti'w^^'^L'u^ltitf rr?-;-.'' ■- '^-'*'^"- ^o^ tbey do hurt." ^'""' ""<• ''*-* heads, and wjjh'them boZtilc'^fTn^ctrnti'^.tr ^"^ "''-^«" «>e -t "' cunning. the^.f„re,X:iU :'j:f:;27"'''''™ r."''*""^. serpents, and had heads";* ;. ■ •» 'beir tails were like unto teachers among those IlI ^"'*"' "^'" '^''•' «"•" fa"se they were excefd ng; subtle or"''"""''" "^ ""' '«''-«' "'»' able "or great men of the Z^Z'' ""' *■"" *''° ''«"■>"■ xviii. 23). ''"'' "^'^ among them (Hev. ayit";°^ri:n's:^:it;7errf^ir^^^^ «S-, and th, wall, even ia iromZt^::!^-)'^^^'^' "'»" be built [\ ' ». of lions," ev. iv. 7, OF THE REVELATION. 48 :. 2 see aen" are i by the ified that I will be ase from ounities, f an ob- lils: for l^h them le most iibtlety, ke unto 'e false s, that onour- (Rev. ' day," years : horses 'ocheth ch the 5 CODQ- Prince I built 18 said to have been " prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men," it is signi- fied that that power will be exerted in a remarkable manner during these four distinct periods of a month, and a year, and thnty years, and 360 years. It was in the longest period of time, the 360 years, that the tirst, and least, or most moderate effort of that power was to be exerted These 360 years commence with the Reformation about the year 1520 ; for it was in that year that Luther was ex ' communicated by the Pope, and it was in that year also that many, in different parts of Germany, openly resisted and opposed Popery and the Roman Catholic religion. It^shoujd be observed also, that from the year that Wycliffe's eject^was confirmed by the Pope [a.d. 1370] to the year that Luther was excommunicated by the Pope [a.d. 1520] is exactlv 150 years. These are the 150 years [or, in the prophetic language, Vlr.T'^ ^ ^"'^"^ ^'^^^^ '^^' power which is repL sented by the ocuSts " was to prepare men to accomplish this reformation, and thus free themselves, in some measure, from bondaT" ""' ignorance, and consequently spiritual From the year 1520 to the present year [1859] is 339 years • so the prophetic "year" of 360 years must be n'ow nearly con-' eluded, and the time almost if not quite arrived, for the power which IS represented by " the horses " to be exerted in a much gi^ater degree during the remaining period, of time, viz., the thirty years the year and the month. At the conclusion of wo Id IT % " ?"^ P''' " '^ '^'' P^P"^^^^«^ «f the whole world will no longer be combined in large and powerful nations or communities, but will be divided up into exceedingly small parties, and they will also, at the same time, see spiritml Vht Ihus shall the world be prepared for that time when "the kingdoms of this world shall becom^ the kingdoms of our Lord r^« standing.i ' ""' " P^'*-'" knowledge and under- The " fire," or the " diviBJon " nf .r,. ■ x parties, prepares then, for th "ecei"r 7^, "T^'^S^^ ™''» "division" is effected bylivinir '5" ""'•''•" This spiritual light, for when me 'afe TZT 'T? f '"'^""^'' •poranee, they a,^ ruled by br Ue for™ f""' ''"'''"''^ " 'he larger a nation or cou,'u, " ; f"! f.h" "'"^'""• likely to become, for, bein" stronir t i, ',. ''"'^*" '' ■« the smaller nations ov com^^ife ' '""""^ ""'' '"'^<"'' -'::a:d^r:„rdi:s:f s:r ^^^^^^^^^^ "-^-^ - ">- -urely, each individual is o g 7 „ tVf '7"'"',? ""• form his own opinions- and nnn/ i '''' ^""'^^^^f' and to enable himl .ee^tdrtaVr^wtl'tir '"'"''' the obscurity which Drpr«,'lB « i . "^"' ^'^^n^ff to from his nei^hboirin'S altth?." ;'".'«„'"'^'y to .Hffer "ntil there shall be as mariffireft „n.V '"™ T"^'""'"™«« to hold or express them '^ ""'' "' ""•="= »■■« n>en ehan ttas'lfe^Sari'lLIb^ T""r "^ ""' ''='"« --'-J "P into e.ceediXtX"r*Klfb" ;■':;'' '^ ''^''^ to receive "the word of God "7^ ,1 , f ' ^'^^^ f'^f^^^i feet knowledge and undemtdin; tftlf """"^ " P^ " word," or perfect " light " camTf' , .? ^ ""'^ "''«" 'his of Jesus Christ, about Shteen"e'r "t"' " ''" P^'^"" shone "in darkness and tr, ^°"'"'° " "'e light" ______^j™es8^nd^ darkness comprehended it not " »e next or Ji* by fire, Isa. Ixvi, ^eals the 'd under- OF THE REVELATION. 45 riy smaJl " This obscured kness or lerefore, rer it is absorb )r igno- re ob- iK and enough 'iug to > differ t cease 'e men world ivided pared r per- I this ei'son ght" not" ich (H (John i. 5), but now a twilight shall precede that perfect iight.i * " And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass and stone, and of wood : which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk ; neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sor- ceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." The word " yet," which is placed before the word " repented " in the English translation, is not in the original Greek, and serves only to obscure the simple meaning of the passa-e ; for when this word "yet" is blotted out, the meaning is clear enough ; " and the rest of the men" [i.e., the other two-thirds of the inhabitants of the whole world) " who were not killed by these plagues" (i.e., who were not caused to cease to exist as large nations or communities, by tlie influence or power of those who are represented by " the horses") " repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, &c., t.e., " repented not " of their evil deeds, but still con- tinued heathens, until those things took place which are repre- sented by signs in the following chapter. Rev. x.—" And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud : and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire • and he had in his hand a little book open : and he set his ri therefore the " rainbow" upon the " head" of the " an».l ' «»gn.fies that God is now about to make the "new covenant" this revelation," that there should be a " time of trouble Teh as never was since there was a nation, even to that samltil and a, ,, ; ,, ^^^^^ ^^^.^^,^ p op le vir heTs aehtes] shall be delivered." So when this " tiiieTf rmible" 18 again foretold here (beinff icDrespnip,! i,„ ,1, 1 viz., by the "feet"of the^'lT'rl f P'a'nest signs, fl> >y I- • '*"gel, which are " as nillars nf the house of isral .„ ^J, thetir^^^VZ/r^n!; "elriySr"'"" '' "'"^^^'''" '"^'^ ^^^^^ ;.:5r^[^i^ir^!^h:is::r ore the house of Judah," i.e., the two tribes of Jud!h and ^„ ^4, XXV. l-U). A portion of the house of Judah, fe ihe Jew« '^^.n to their own land after seventy j;!:! tp^ •aUh the Lord lJ}lT, , ■ '*"*<»'« "/^^ael; After those day, «-er!, ~» Ai, irother, eaying. Knou, the Lor^7}o7Zv'hZ^ST''- '"' 48 A SIMPLE INTEKPttKTATlON J-.B. But the " house ^fw:,"''''t/'f """^ "" ^'^ never yet returned to their own h '^■' ' *™ "^K" hare «way by the Assyrians „,„r„ Z: TAT," ."""^ ""^^ '""»ey «hall new spirit within " the!,, '^TboZl n C ?'' " '"" P"* « off «n,o„g ,he heathen, aid a S f u^^ """ ""■» ^^ «mo„g the countries" (Ezel:. TllfJ'" '"^^ """'""O •I'e'n sand years. ^ '• ^"'"^<*) f"" more than two thou- Men know who the Jews are fnr fi, i. ---es,hathu.edhllra::r,-;5«^^^^^^^^ natl":: inhe'tirt 'tt-tsrv- -'^ -"^ '^^ »"'- qualities which would fitTbem to ac^^^^ """"'" ''"I'"" ^^<^ of the Lord to effect not Zvl^°l 'n^'mments in the hand 'heir brethren the JewsaCo ' Fo^Zl th'T T' """ '^•" <"' .on has arrived, and " Jerusalem" ^/Vb/r?:/''"'^'"™- Jrunk at the hand of the Lord the cnn'j K 7'' "'""'' ''««' •iregsofthecupof trembling, ad wnl« '"^'" ^^ " ">« ■pou to "awake, awake," afi "s Jd ,5- ^ ""'' '« ■=""«'' •here would be " none to JL u ^' " """ ""^^een that she hatb brought forth, teifhr" t ??f "" ""^ ^"^ '"'"m of all the sons when, she h th bron/htLl'; a" 'V '' '"^ "^^ As the Jews were destined ev nS,vTo i ''' ?'' ''*)• ventuaily to become (he most ex- f * "d write „p„„ i,, ^.^ JoJ^TJ\TT:,°'" ' ""'° "t" ""^'C ihe eartb, tJie Lord ^es," have fe carried before the they shall 'ViJl put a tbem far red tjiein wo thou- erved as I "scat- im [i.e., (Hngea e other 9 those le hand that of estora- h hast "the called 1 that fv^hom hand ). t ex- other Utile OF THE REVELATION. 49 a^ted t n in the e th i It was the desi.^ of the Almightv to affl ct them exceedingly, to nako them "a reproach to ftheirl neighbours, a scorn and derision to those who [should bel ound about 'them (Ps. xliv. 13), that they might bo ena led Ibea their future groat exaltation with becoming humility. So in speaing o the restoration, the Almighty dfclares t a it sh a take place 'when I have bent {i.e., hnmbled) Judah for me filled the bow with Ephraim (/..., prepared the other ten tr bes to e' comphsh my purposes in the earth),^ and raised up thy ons Zion ..., Ju ah and Israel together), against thy sons, G 'ec^ mighty man" [i.e., irresistible).3 exalted above the 7^% • ITJ ! ^^^^'^ rno^cntaim, and shall he shall go and ay cL 7 afd Z "' "^T ""''' ''• ^"'^ -^-r,y people the house ofthtaTofJ^cTl 1 Tl '" V^ t "'""'''^'" '^ ^^^ ^^^^' '" r^alh in hil paths for 0^^^^ 7^ 1%] *T^ "' ^^'""^ "■^•'^«' ""'^ ^' «'''« and moon stood still I'n +»,„;, i, uv x- *^ V "^""^ °" "ig'»- J he sun t..^^, and Tth h "in! f h n/ ?''*'' ^^^^' ^^ ^Ame arro«,, .A^ through tho land ;, • T-^ . T ^''"'"°^ 'P^^''" ^hou didst march Hab t 9 12. ^"^'S"^'^«°. thou didst thresh the heathen in a,,ger.!- /oSrsll'^Tl *^'"f '™ '''^'''"^^ *'''^' P««P'«' '^^-'•' -fJ-coh and Joseph, belah. The waters saw thee, Go.?, the waters saw *hL ■ ihZ afraid : the depths also were troubled TI,« i 7 . ' ^^ "^^'^ ekies sent out a .ound • /ri , ^'^^^^^ P°"''^ *'"* ''''^*<"- ■ the » ^«^ V,!-/ ? V ^^ '"■^'^^ *^«° ^^"t abroad, &c.~Pb, Ixxx i 15.1 7 ^ne? Iw^a strengtUn the house of Judah, and i roiU sa... L tlt'L 1> M i A SIMPLE /NTRRPUUTATIOM whatever may be arai!° I?/''", °' "" ""''■'"'' "»? "n" tho«, whom God hriL„.i"r^'^"" '""''""'• ""^ "'""f establishing hfa kin^I.t^hl .'". '"'"""^ ""' ''»'''• «»'' -I^r.l'.'ltlfr"'' ^'"""T '"' """^'' '" ™e community bo eonsirreJaTof :.,:? "'7' P"^P<«-Iot all other pursuits For thus there ban" f ::::;'::"""'--. r" "" ■'"'™''-" God " shall assemble I e ouTcaZ o 1^1"" 1 ""?. """""' """" I«rd thoir Go(, „„d will h™? ,Z , , ",' °""'""» "•#■• f"! »"' tho Jron «l,„il .e. it, „„d k^^gW t j T '? ™"?' "i"" ^ ^'"'' ""■'' "M- hi.. for .1.™, and gs.i,JtZLZ~Z,:\T° "" "'° ^°'''- ' ■"'" >orch of fire in a. hlfan/lltf-'^'' "'"'"'<>''''' ""■>''■ <""' »ea • • • For if the casting .wa^VAIe^t.''"^""''" ^« ye inhabitants of the world a-n,l /7,«..7; , ' ^^- ^ Wm up an ensign L tle^lZtfTllC t Z!T T' '''''' Jear ye. . . . At thnt time shaU the presZ^hTZ ^]^^Z\^ t^"°>Pet. h^sts of a people scattered and ZlT LiU? T? '^' ^''^ '^^ Lordof hosts, the mount Zion^tu^ 37 ^'"'" "^ '^'' ''""'' '^ '^' And they shall bring aU your brethren fn'r nr. .yr • 4 I"!!!- ss- scattered" ftny one 'nd one of Jews, und oubt, it is 11" should Ives to the )ramunity ' pursuits is done." ns, and" :etl)er the 8.xi.l2). icrry upon ' I am the II be like a their chil- d. I will U people: 'he people i I make nd like a about, on again in and tho fulness ? IJ, what ,15. '/e, when rumpet, Lord of e of the ord out mules, OF THE REVELATION. ,j time no lon-er- but in fi, ", ''^'^'^' • • • that there should be a...c>, whe„i:;h!u^ ';::/,: " -r -V'" '"'-"■ I» fi..i6hed, as I,e hath dolV. . , '• "^""■^ "^ '^"'l "hould iiy ■■ ti^e" b i ! ;. „ "„„1 ° '■" "T'' "" P^P'""''-' do>..s of this world " which ,rf', '?'""'"'"' "'"' '• "'« kins- e-t; for "the l^ingd:! „' ^ " ^h^r"?' T "" '™^" "P, and ii™l, established „ tl ear* w h' ?"'' "'l"" '"' '^' to take place immediatelv " *h„ !• * " ^'"^ '«' »«" is (Bev. x' 16). ' ""' ^^»"- "'-S'l 1!"»] sounded" the^:;r^;t;i- f i"-^'?; '"""'■"^•■' --^ ■'^-'s^'' that of the Lord as the wat ^ eov" »:':»" ;i "1."" '"'"''^''so or "spirits of just „e„ madeporftt ' wi l"""- "^' ™? '"^ '™'« i^rf—lBa. Jxvi. 20 -^ '^ '^ '^''" ^^*^^ ^«'<' ^Ae home of the A« i.«rf._Zech. ix. 16. ' "/o ««>», /,/,«; ,j, „, „„.^,^„ ^^ «»t„Ood by thy blood „„, of eTr^' H^c' Z f'"'' "°'' '''''' ''''°"«'' i-tv^i =/> 7"wf oiu men shalj 52 A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION ^ PART IV. Rev. xi.-" And there was given me a reed like nnto a rod, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not ; for it is given unto the Gentiles : and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty- two months. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy twelve hundred and sixty days clothed in sackcloth." " The temple of God" represents all those who entered the kingdom of heaven, before " Satan's throne" had been set up m the earth (see Interpretation to Rev. ii. 13; iv. 4 • pp 8 9 17, 18). ^ And "the altar" represents all those "elect" from all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues," who were "slam for the word of God and for the testimony which they held, during the interval between the setting up of Satan's throne m the earth, and the second coming of Christ, Rev. vi 9 (See Interpretation, pp. 18, 19, 25.) When the apostle is told to " measure the temple of God and the altar, and them that worship therein," it is signified dream dreams your youag men shall see visions : and also upon the servants ami. upon the handmaids m those days will I pour out my Spirit. And I will .how wonders m the heavens and in the earth, blood, and iire, and pillars of smoke The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pa8«, that tvhosoever shall caU on the vame of the Lord shaU be delivered fortn mount Zton and xn Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said and *» the remnant whom the Lord shall call.~Joe\ ii. 28-32 And what agreement hath the templo of God with ij 's ? for ve are the tem^ cfthel.nng Jod; as God hath said, I will dwell in them.'^nd tLk m thea ; an i J ^v.ll be their God, and they shall be my peopIe.-2 Cor vi X I e imto a the altar, 3 without s^en unto 30t forty- sses, and othed in ered the n set up pp. 8, 9, t" from s," who y which ■ Satan's )v. vi. 9. of God, signified ! servants nd I will pillars of ito blood, come to elivered : ord hath 3 are the >nd walk r. vi. 16. OP THE REVELATION. 53 I that the exact number of those who are symbolized by the temple and the altar, has been before determined by God for all- these were to enter the kingdom of heaven, onW through "great tribulation." ^ Therefore the AImi<.htv in his exceeding goodness, had so ordained that none should be re- quired to suffer this "great tribulation " in order to enter the kmgdom of heaven, but that definite number only, which he in his wisdom foreknew that it was absolutely necessary that such a number shou d have that experience of evil, which would not only preserve themselves from the possibility of hereaftej falling trom a state of angelic glory and happiness,^ as many angels have done before them,3 but also would enable them to hind/ the requisite number of the others, who will not have had the advantage of their experience of evil, from thus falling from angelic glory, and thus acquiring this experience, at a very great price indeed, viz, that of their happiness for some thousand of " The court which is without the temple " represents all those Tears" L'r^'r' "^^.T-"' ^^^^^" '"^^"^ *^« "thousand years in which Jesus and his saints will " reign on the earth" ^ These are they which came out ^rg^^ribxdation, andrh^"^^ he. robes, and .nude them white in the blood of the L^mb. SeZ are they before he throne of God. and serve hi.n day and night in hltZT. ar^U th^^t eUteth on the throne Ml d.ell among than, JZu^^ll'. jj.f'v *^'* °^''''^"°^«t^ ^'" I '""ke a pillar in tJie temple of my God and I^ sJ^Uffono more out: and I will write upon him the nameof my God a^ he name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which c'Ltl down out of heaven from my God : and I will write upon him my new name -Z! hell^Lf^?r^ "T.i ""* '^' ""^^'^ '^'"* ''^""^^' ^"t «««t them down to tiof hetatHf "'''f • ^''':'' ?'*''■' ^''^ '''''''' ^"^ J^ft *heir own habita- ! ii 54 A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION h k^ k i (Rev. XX. 2, 4) These shall not necessarily have to pass through hose trials which would secure them from the possibility of hereafter fallmg, when they shall have become "as the angels of •r'» J ^'^^ """^ constitute, as it were, "the wall of the city Rev. xxi. 12, 14), which must be firmly built upon sure foundations, but only the inhabitants of the city who may stay m or go out as they please. During this " thousand years " men will not be called upon to suffer here m this life, in order to be happy hereafter, as hitherto, but only to be happy here in this world, that they may be happier hereafter. " Come," says the Lord during this period, buy [spiritual] wine and milk without money, and without price (Isa. Iv. 1-3). Men no longer being required to endure sufferings, trials, or " tribulation," in order to enter the kingdom ot heaven, the number who will now enter is not limited ; there- tore, the apostle is commanded " not " to " measure " or number tliem, for all may now freely enter. ^ The words " and the angel stood " before the word « saying" in the English translation, are not in the original Greek, and tend to obscure the meaning of the passage; for it is not the angel who ,s now speaking to the apostle, but God, the same who twuie before spoke to the apostle by a "voice" (see the fourth and eighth verses of the foregoing chapter): this is proved by the third verse of this eleventh chapter, where it is said, " I will give power unto my two witnesses." The " two witnesses " are the witnesses of God, not of the angel. The " two witnesses" of God are the Jews and the Christians Jehovah says to the children of Israel, "Ye are even my wit- nesses (Isa. xliv. 8) ; and Jesus says to his disciples, " Ye shall be witnesses unto me, unto the uttermost part of the earthy (Acts i. 8). Moreover, those who " had gotten the vie- tory over Antichrist, are represented as singing " the song of Moses, the servant of God " as well as " , ue song of the Lamb " ixCev. XV. 2, 3), which, without doubt, signifies that this com- OF THE REVELATION. 3s through isibility of angels of all of the upon sure may stay lied upon 3after, as they may is period, without ;o endure kingdom 1 ; there- ' number saying" and tend • be angel ime who e fourth oved by " I will ies " are ristians. my wit- iTc shall of the -he vie. song of [iamb " is com- 55 pany would be composed of Jews, as well as of Christians (Solo- mon's Song, vi. 10, 13). The ancients were " clothed in sackcloth "when they mourned and were in great affliction (Gen. xxxvii. 34) ; therefore, when the " two witnesses " are represented as being clothed in sack- cloth for " 1260 days," it is signified that the faithful among the Jews and Christians shall be in " great tribulation " for 1260 years. " The holy city " signifies the elect of God, and there are " 1260 days " in " forty-two months ;" therefore, when it is said that " the holy city " shall be trodden " under foot forty-two months " by " the Gentiles," it is signified that the dominion shall be in the hands of the Gentiles, or nations of the earth for forty-two prophetic months, or 1260 years, and that they 'will despise and persecute the elect of God during all that time. " These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the Lord [Kvpiov] of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies; and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it ram not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will." The faithful among the Jews and Christians are likened to "candlesticks," to signify that it was from them that men were to derive their spiritual light during this period of 1260 years (Rev. i. 20) ; and they are likened to "olive trees," to signify that they will as constantly produce men who will cause the light of truth to shine in the earth, as " olive trees " produce the oil which causes the light to continue to shine forth from a candlestick (or lamp-stand, for it was not candles that the an- cients used to burn for light, but olive oil.) » 1 I ^f «"^^^ ""*« ™«. What seeBt thou ? And I said. I have looked, and behold a nntuJI^et.A- a]\ ^e i.i -..vi, . i. i. .. . ' -. ... ' "" ■■' B'-^'^t """ a ww>vi upon tne top oi it, and hts seven iSSJ? 56 A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION When It 18 said that " if any man will hurt them, fire pro- ceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemiee," it is signified that they shall cause divisions among those who per- secute them (for /re signifies division, as was before shown- IZ'T' ll '''' ^^' PP- ^^' ^'^^ ^^' ^^)- A"^ ^^«" it is said that they have power to shut heaven that it rain not in the days of their prophecy ;" it is signified that it is through them alone that the waters of life {i.e., the truths revealed iu the Scriptures) are to come from heaven to men upon the earth dur- mg this period of 1260 years. By those "two witnesses " having " power over waters to turn them to blood IS signified their ability so to pervert the truths which are revealed in the Scriptures, as to render them unfit to quench spiritual thirst, even as the waters of Egypt were unfit to quench natural thirst after that they had been turned into blood (see Interpretation, Eev. viii. 8, pp. 32, 33) j and by their having power to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will, IS signified their ability also to plague or weaken the power of the kingdoms of the earth, by boldly testifying to the truth which IS powerful to the ^baking and overthrowing these kingdoms, so that they shall eventually "become the kin^rdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ." "And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the abyss [^^Wov] shall make war against them, and shall overcome them and kill them. And their dead bodies shalllie in the street of the great city, which spiritually 18 called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified '' The beast that ascendeth out of the abyss" is the same as that thereof: and tivo ohve trees by it, one upon the right side of th bowl, and hm, What are these two ohve trees on the right eido of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof ?_Zech. iv. 2, 3, 1 1. "^««"ck, ana I i fire pro- lies," it is who per- 3 shown; it is said lot in the igh them d in the arth dur- rs to turn he truths 1 unfit to ere unfit ned into by their often as aken the ig to the ng these ingdoms he beast against >ir dead ritually icified." I as that 1 tho top owJ, and aid unto ick, and OF THE REVELATION. 57 ! * beast" having " two horns " which is represented as ascending from "the earth " (Rev. xiii. 11). This " beast " is represented as having " two horns," to signify that it is divided into two powers, viz., Great Britain and the United States of America. These two powers are represented as " coming out of the earth," to signify that they were to arise from among the civilized or nominally Christian world, and not from the heathen world (which is represented by the sea) as did " the first beast," which had "seven heads, and ten horns" (Rev. xiii. 1)'. This two-horned beust is said also to ascend " out of the abyss," to signify that its superior power will be derived from its superior knowledge (for the abyss signifies knowledge, as was before shown, see Interpretation, Rev. ix. 2, p. 36). Great Britain and the United States are said to have "over- come " and " killed " the faithful that were among the Jews and Christians, to signify that they have caused them to cease to have that living and active faith which God requires (without which faith, men may be said to be spiritually dead ; see In- terpretation, Rev. vi. 8, p. 23). These "two witnesses" of God were thus " killed " by earthly knowledge being diflTused in a much greater degree than heavenly knowledge. Those who are represented by the ten-horned beast which arose from the heathen world could " overcome " (Rev. xiii. 7) could " tread under foot," could persecute, and literally kill by thousands the faithful among the Jews and Christians ; but thev could not spiritually " kill them" [i.e.y cause them to cease t'o have faith). This power was reserved for those who are represented by the two.hor»Gd beast, who were to arise from the nominally Chris- tian or civilized world, and were also to be distinguished from the other civilized nations by their superior knowledge. The exceedingly feeble spiritual light, which shone upon the faithful during all those ages in which earthly ignorance pre- vailed (as It contrasted with tho surroundinff darkness^ wa^ 4 V t j i if hi S8 A SIMPLE IN', rlEPRETATlON Clear an,l bright enough to enable some amon- men to maintain heir a,th ; but when earthly ig„„,a„co gave 'lace t an npt oedented dc.g,eo of earthly knowledge, this feeble spiritual light paled before It, as the ligb. ■ ;• a lamp does before the dawn of day ; and faith, whioh was uitherto maintained in defianeelf all opposition from the world, or fron Satan, now dwindled n" corresponding degree, and at last disappeared altogether The great city, which spiritnally is cnlled Sodom and Egvnt " .s the nominal y Christian, or civilized vvorid, of the presenTday iri. aT-'fi"""' ft' ^'""'" '''"'^ '» '^ *« ^edesi: y d";^ ^inmua" fire and brimstone.- And it is "spiritually cal'.-d l-gypt because it ,s principally from the nomiiuiliy Chri^ti-n world that the second exodus of Israel and Judah shll taC place, when "tlie Levi shall set his hand o.-ain the sTond fme to re^cwer the remoan, of his p.opV (fe, 1, n, 16; .Tx Is! The place where our Lord was ornoiS..,! is J,,„,salem • there- fore, when it is said thauhe "dead !.*,," „f the " two t^ .■.c-s " "shall lie in the street, of tV, g.a city, which "1." uly™ called Sodom and Egypt, where also our'iord wasC- ttf- '^l''T "^ •"" «» lifeless forms of Judaism and Chris- t anuy shai! be openly exposed in the most public places through- Jcrusaier'" ' "" "' """"' ^"'''' ""^ "'^ "^ '- When it is sai.l that "they of the people and kindreds and tongues an nations hall see their dead bodies three days »d an half, and shall not suiTer their dead bodies to be put in graveV' ' By there three -fas the third part of men killed, by the fire and W .1. •mote, and ty the 6n»i«(on«.— Bev. ix 18 ^ «pnke°'l'teMd '''°Tnf,,'''f '*" °'""' S^'"' "»•* "!■-'' «■» horn spake I leheld even till the beast was .lain, and Us bod,, dalroytd nZ mven,., he burning Mme. . . . Bnt the judgment .hall .hf^dThT/ahaH ] OP THE REVELATION. maintain an unpre- itual light e dawn of ince of all idled in a er. d Egypt," esent day. itroyed by lly ca]Ied Chris dun hall take !ond time xix. 16, I ; there- two wit- i spiritu- as cruoi- d Chris- ;hrough- even in eds and ays and graves," d by the the horn yed and ley shall f.-Dan. fi9 / ^ IS signified that men shall plainly see that both Judaism and bhnstianity (as now professed) are merely lifeless forms yet nevertheless, they will not suffer them to be dispensed with alto' gether and so be, as it were, buried, or "put in graves" (as dead bodies generally are), but will still persist in exposing to tna p.e of the world the lifeless forms both of Judaism and of «.hn«tu>nity until three years and a half after that these forms Jha i i.ave become absolutely devoid of that living and active taith \^hich IS the proof of spiritual life. " And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them and make merry, and shall send gifts one to a^iother; because tlicMe two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth " It was customary among the ancients to send " portions one toanother, and gifts to the poor " on occasions of great public rejoicing (Esther ix. 22) ; so when men are represented as send- ing gifts one to another upon the death of the two witnesses, it 18 signified that they will be exceedingly glad when they see that only the lifeless forms of Judaism and Christianity remain • for when these " two witnesses " and " prophets " of God had lite, they tormented them that dwelt on the earth" by their prophecies and denunciations of the wrath of God upon all un- godly and wicked men, as is well known. " And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet ; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a teat voice from heaven saying ur.to them, Come up hither. And thev ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the ten h part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain seven housand names (oVs called Sodom and Egypt"), ,h„Il fall, or ceri iTr; a nmted people, and thoasands will be "slain " hv < T ? of the Spirit, which is the word of God "Z K '""'■'' the kingdom of heaven When TL . t' "" """"■ '"'" assuredfy that the "-:; J ^e » ' ^7 ri' .r^ T,""" oometh,,™kly,..whe„"theseve„,h:n5el'»li;,^^:^^^^^^^^^ "the kingdoms of this world " sli-.n u f ^^"fe sounaed, our Lord%nd of his Christ'" '"'""'"' *' '""Sdoms of This "great earthquake" corresponds with the "time of 'CntC-Trtf '" ""r- 1'- ' ■• '"' »'- -'" '^ .'Set month or thirty years see Interpretation, Eev. ix 15 u 4^^ "And there appeared a great sign (i 1/ throne " in the earth, about the begin. , . . f f,"'"" ' turv ; for the " crownH " ]„ ;« ^ ' " se-enth cen- of f hi 1 ^"^^'"^ reprect.„teu as upon the « heads " ei.nd''t°sotrsVwt7or.r •"^^ ""' -^---'"^ power would b ZZZ'.- ulZt "7 "'""^ ^'"""■' .he king*™ of he„.e„',:f: .Its """ '''•■^""°'' '» -"o' u vvas 10 rule all nations with a rod of iron " anrl fl of uu Shan have been " caught up Zl V^^ ,, ^ ^Z"^ about he begmning of .he seventh contury Tor'esen;' j i ¥f ^aessts % - -:4 or THE REVELATION. 63 m he world, among whom there will exist , disunion; thoy w, 1 huvo ns ,t were - one heart ;" lor the lead. ,g object of each ind.vidiml m the whole company will bo to do the will of God and understanding will bo given them to know perfectly well what thur will is.i ^ ^ ^^ ^ Thus tho "two witnesses " (who have been as it were "clothed m sackcloth " for 12G0 yearn, and "dead " tor three and a half years will arise an''.'," 'V ""'".■'■■''■ ""'■''' ''S^-'ifying literally " who is as Uod, and therefo.o ,t ,« a most significant name for those who are symlohzcd by the "man-child," i.e., those who entered tho kingdom o' heaven in the interval between the days of the .posies and -ic setting up of "Satan's throne "in the earth about the beg,, .ung <„ tl.o seventh centnry ; and that it is these tT,t",r,l'^'"^ \ " *""''"'■' ""'' ^' ""S^'''" i^l'^--l f'om be!r^ r ■•"'"" """■"' ^^''' *" "P™"" ""y^ 'hai. ho and power (Sv.a^«), am, th, .,gd„m of our God, and the autho- nty (,f„vr},.[a which is now incorporated into the English language, signifies literally to injure the fame or reputation ; therefore, when " the names of blasphemy " are said to be upon the " heads " of this " beast," it is signified that now the seven diflFerent forms of government, which those "heads " represent, shall be evil spoken of. The " leopard " is remarkable for diversity of colour; therefore when this " beast " is likened unto " a leopard," it is signified that the powers which are represented by the " ten horns " shall diflfer one from another, as do the " spots " on the " leopard " (Jer. xiii. 23) ; and by " his feet " being "as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion," is signified the great strength of these powers ; for what mouth is stronger than that ot a hon ? or what foot or paw, than that of a bear? Satan's power, ' Satan's " throne," and " great authority," was given to these diflferent earthly powers who are represented by the "ten horns." The " ten horns " do not necessarily denote precisely ten dif- ll^rent^^ kingdoms or nations, because in prophetic language, ten IS the indefinite number, signifying many (see Interpre- tation^ Rev. u. 10, p. 7), just as "seven" is the perfect number, Bigmlying the whole or perfection. (See Interpretation, Rev. V. b, p, 21. j " And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded unto death ; J. h e6 A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION and his deadly wound was healed." This head represents the 1 apal form of government, which, at the time of the Reformation " was wounded unto death," but « its deadly wound was healed '' for that form of government still exists in some measure unto this day. " And all the earth [yrj] wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast : and they worshipped th» beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast '^ And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great thingn and blasphemies : and authority [l^ovo-t'a,/] was given unto him to continue forty-two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his taber- nacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them : and power was given unto him over every kindred, and people [Kal Aao4 and tongue, and nation. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written from the foundation of the world, in the book of life of the Lamb whirh was slain." A prophetic " month " is thirty years; therefore, "forty-two months " is the 1260 years so often spoken of in the prophecies as the period during which Satan's "throne" should be in the earth, and his power and influence should extend over "all nations," while the true church of Christ should be in obscurity and poverty, and as it were " trodden under foot." " The earth " {i.e., the diflferent kingdoms, or nations of the nominally Christian or civilized world) is said to have worshipped the dragon {i.e., Satan) during about these last 1260 years, inas- much as they have served Satan, and not God, all this time. And they are said to have worshipped the ten-horned " beast," or the combined power of the nominally Christian or civilized world, inasmuch as they say within themselves in their pride of heart, " Who is like unto" this great earthly power? " Who is able to make war with " it? Not believing, nor for one moment OF THE REVELATION, 69 /cat thinking, that God has purposed to utterly destroy this power m soon as that time arrives, in which "the kingdom, and domi- n.on and the greatness of the kingdom, under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most Hi-h " For as soon as the 1260 years are fulfilled, "the judgment s'hall sit, and they shall take away his (the ten-horned beast's) domi- nion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end " (Dan vii 7 11,26,27). VA/Hu. vu. ^, These different kingdoms, or nations of the nominally Chris- tian world have made " war with the saints," and have "over- come tliem." They have persecuted and slain them. Thev have, as it were, trodden them under foot I They "have shed mnocent bloo !" And in doing all this, they ha/e professed to be acting m the service of God and of Christ ! While thev were perpetrating the most wicked and cruel deeds, thev have not hesitated to call themselves Christians ! ' - « »«•; . J^? o !f f'T. °^*^^'' ^P'"'^ ^^''' ^''"ths " in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and ho e w^io dwell in heaven." They have spoken evil of the name of God; they have spoken evil of "his tabernacle" evn'nf " r "^TJ"" 7^""^. ^' ^^'"^^'' ^"^ '^'y h«^« spoken evil ol those who dwell in henven." he nommally Chr»Ua„ world) shall worship him (,.e, shaM te subservent to the ten-horaed beast, or combined pow r of the nominally Ohnstian world), whose names are not written frul he !■:: ll"" "r f '""f ;: ''" """"^ "' "f" "' ">» I^™^ which was Slain (i.e., except those concerning whom it was foreseen, ■For thus «„H1, ,h, hif-h and l„ft^ o„„ that h.haWleth eloroiir^ an'd'3FT'""'n",'' ""';'. °""' '"'■"■ "■»"■"" '"™ ■»». !•« ""1 ><«? "-y word.- 70 A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION from the foundation of tho world," that they would not be earned away by the errors, or the perversions of the truth, or the wickedness which should prevail during these 1260 years. "If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity, shall go into captivity : he thatkilleth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints." This signLles that, as surely as tho power which is represented by tii« ten-horned beast was predestined to "overcome" "the *.amt8," m surely also are " the saints " predestined eventually to overcome this anti- Christian power. And having this firm conviction, "the saints" both labour, and suffer with patience, and have faith and confidence in God, that what he has promised lie will also perform. "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth • and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon! And he exerciseth all the authority [i^ovcriav] of tho first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed." This two-horned beast (which ariseth some time after the ten- homed beast, and which also ariseth out of the " earth," or nominally Christian world, and not out of the "sea " or helthen world, as did the ten-horned beast) represents the two powers of Great Britain and the United States of America, as was before shown (see Interpretation, Rev. xi. 7, pp. 56, 57). By " the first beast whose deadly wound was healed," is sig- nified the seventh head of this " first beast," or the Papal do- minion. And the means by which the two horned-beast (Great Britain and the United States) " causeth the earth and them that dwell therein {i.e., the inhabitants of the civilized world) to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed," is de- scribed in the following vei.e : " He doeth great signs [o^fida], so that he maketh fire come down from heaven to tho earth in the sight of men." " Fire" signifies " division" (see Interpreta- <- OP THE REVELATION. 71 tion, Rev. ix. 17, 18, pp. 41, 42). Therefore, this fire represents the division of opinion or creed, which prevails in Great Britain and the United States. It is this division among the Protestants which has preserved the Papal dominion to this day. For had all Protestants and Reformers continued united in opinion, in creed and in faith, it is beyond a doubt that the Roman CathJlics would have been entirely vanquished, and their religion or creed would long since have existed but in the records of the past ; but as was foreseen, " the rod of him that smote thee (whole Pales- tina, i.e., Catholicism) is broken" (Isa. xiv. 29). The Protes- tants and Reformers could not possibly continue united in opinion, or in creed, for they did not themselves perceive gospel truths clearly, but only obscurely, as through a dense " smoke " (see In orpretation. Rev. ix. 17, 18, p. 42).^ And of this two-horned beast it is also said that " he deceivetb them that dwell on the earth by means of those signs [(r»y/*€?a] which he had power to do in the sight of the beast ; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast which had the wound by the svvord, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that tl.^e image of the beast should both speak, and cause that asmmiy as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." " The image" of the Papal dominion is Protestantism. This is most fitly symbolized by an image, inasmuch as it lacks the power, while it, at the same time, preserves in a remarkable de- gree the likeness of Catholicism. Among Protestants there is precisely the same absorbing re- gard for earthly possessions as there is among Roman Catholics (in general). Howl, O gate ; cry, city ; thou, whole Palestina, art dissolvad : frr thero Hhall come from tho north a smoke, and none nhall be alone in \m H])pointea timcH. What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation ? That the Lord hath founded Zion, and the pc r-r .-: hin people shall trurit in it.-Isa. XIV. ol, 32. f2 A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION Those who were to enter the kingdom of heaven in the inter- val between the apostles' days and the second coming of Jesus were to do so only through "great tribulation" (Rev. vii. 9 U) Trials and " great tribulation " were necessary to prepare 'these to become, as it^ere " the wall of the [holy] city" (Rev. xxi. 14} After the second coming of Jesus, multitudes will enter he kingdom of heaven with little or no experience of evil, for Satan" shall then be " bound," so that he shall " deceive thl nations no more" for « a thousand years" (Rev. xx. 2, 3). Then those who have previously entered the kingdom of heaven through tnals, and " great tribulation^ will act as a " wall " to defend these inexperienced ones, who shall now enter, from evil, i or when even " angels," who lacked this necessary ex- penence of evil, fell from their " first estate" (Jude 6), how much more liable are men to do so I ^' ihI!'l^T'^^''^'n''r "" "^^'^ '''^^''^'^ ^"^ "g^^^t tribulation" than the Roman Catholics, or than any other people are • so having no more trials than other people, they are no better fitted tob^ecome, as it were, " the wall of the [holy] city," than other fi..^.'? T"" r '"''^ *' ^' " ^^^'^'' ^y Antichrist, it is signi- fied that they become spiritually dead, i.e., they cease to have that hving and active faith which God requires (see Interpreta- tion, Rev. V,. 8, p. 23.) Thus this last form of antichrist, this two- horned beast, and this " image" of the first beast, whose deadly wound was heaied," accomplishes more than the first beast himself, who had " seven heads and ten horns ;" by this first bea^t. It Is true, " the saints" were " overcome," 'ancl as it weit trodden " under toot," but they were not " killed" (i.e., they were not all caused to cease to have faith), as many who " would not worship he image of the beast" {i.e., would not be subservient to Protestantism) eventually were. " And he causeth all, both smal and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark m their right hand, and in their forehead, and that no I P OF THE REVELATION. 73 luan might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast : for It 18 the number of a man ; and his number is xi?'-" The " forehead " represents the understanding, and the " ri^ht hand" the actions or deeds ; therefore, when men are said^to receive " a mark" from the image of the beast " in their right hand, or in their forehead," it is signified that their under- standing or deeds will betray the influence of this " image of the beast," i.e., of Protestantism. Those who « sell" are those who profess to preach the gospel, and those who '* buy" are those who imagine that they hoar the gospel preached. So when it is said that " no man might buy or sell, save he tliat had the mark, or the name of the beast or thd number of his name," it is signified that the understanding or actions of all are to be affected by Protestantism, so that none may either profess to preach the gospel, or imagine that they hear the gospel preached, but those only whose understanding or actions are thus aff^ected, or those wLo have the " name of the beast [the two-horned beast, e.g., Great Britain and the Unite« ">-"'. »d before the four living creatures and the elders." This " new Bong ,s sung by the angels ..f our heavenly Father, who are very numerons; therefore it is "as the voice of many waters" see Interpretation, Rev. i. 15, p. 3). They are very powerful, therefore it » " as the voice of a great thunder "^ (for thunder announces the action of lightning or electricity, which is the most powerful unconscious agent we know of) ; and they are united together in the most perfect concord, harmony, and unani- mity ; therefore is it as " the voice of harpers harping with their harps"(seeInterpretation, Rev. V. 8,p.21). Thus shall those who are represented by the "hundred and nl oT '^T""^" ^ "'^de "equal unto the angels" Luke XX. 36 , John riv. 12). Their purity is symbolized by theirbeing represented as " not defiled with women ; " so also it J Mr,.'"'' r" "",""' "" """ "f ^'^' "»'• >■» doth Dot yel appear *li "»r we snail see him as he is.— 1 John iii 2. bui ^^aZr^T-" "^^'' T' '■ ^"* ^"^ ""'« ' P^'^'"" '« ''^•-••d of him? i>ut the thunder of his power who can nnflp.««an,i o_t„v, .• , . 76 I i ■ I 31 A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION is said th«6 "in tbeir mouth was found „„ p,i,, ,„, ,,„„.. . tl.ey arc w.thout fanit before tho throne of God.' '' the .2 J, f """''''"" ""ff'^' "y '" "■» ""■'l'=* of heaven, havin, the eternal (a..«o.) gospel to prench nnto them that well „„" tie earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and ton, 'nT ami P opie saymgwith a loud voiee. Fear God, and g v glorv ,! ..m ; for the hour of his judgment i„ come : and worfhip ll fb " made eaven and earth, and the sea, and the fonn.ainTo watl™ And there „.l„wed another angel, saying, The great slhy on [BaMa,v , ^ya,] is fallen, bocauee she made all nations drink u!^f r VT"' """^ """'''° ^'" ""^ "P»" hi» foreheaSor upon h,s hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrati Z God, wh.eh ,s poured out without .nixture into the cnp of his indi " uafon ; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone nth presenoe of the holy angels, and in the pr. e of Vhe Lamb and he smoke of their torment aseendeth „p for ever and ever •' and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beasrani vies, those who are re- four thousand " (i.e., Thus, after the lapse of eighteen r presented by the "hundred and forf- all those wlio entered the kingdom of iK.ven during and ^r^ u trthV. 'r'.l ''^ ^P"^^^«^' ^^-^-^^ ^- ma'de "eq , unto the angels," the time arrives when those who are renre sented by the " man-child " or " Michael " (i. .1 T ^T entered the kingdom of heaven i„ the" ttvil't.w 1 ^ dl ^ ear h abl th?b • ""r"f "" "' " '""'"•' "=-"« " '" *'- eartn, about the beginning of the seventh century), shall " stand '^^^^^^^:^::^z:2Ta^!7:^i^ ^. W!* '1 " .., -■ t OF THB REVELATION. 77 I These are the angels which J susLs about to send to "guiher together his elect from the fou winds, ^ .m tlie uttermost part ot the earth to the uttermost p-rt of heavua.''i This they will begi.i to accomplish by proclaiming « the eternal gospel " . " them that dw.ll on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and ton^, ,o, and people ;" thus shnll heavenly light or knowledge be increased to that dr-ree, wiiich it is predicted it shall be " in the day that the Lord binddh up the IwHch of his people, and heaioth the stroke of their wound " (Isa. XXX. 26). This "eternal gospel " from God is not to be pro< lai. n thiR manner until " the hour of his judgment is come ;" we immediate consequence shall be the fall of " the great Bal ,an » r •., the nominal Christianity of the present day (see Int. rpretl- tion, Rev. x. U, p. 40). Therefore another angel is repre- sented as xollowing the first ,gel, and saying, " The great Baby- Jon IS fallen, is fallen, becaubo she made all nations drink of the wmo of the wrath of her fornication," i.e., she caused all nations to persist in their departure from the service of God, and so to continue in the service of Satan (see Interpretation, Rev. ii. 14, The great degree of heavenly light which shall shine forth in the hearts and understandings of the best among men, now in these our own days, shall enable them to perceive clearly the exceeding depravity which prevails among those nations which most blasphemously call themselves Christians. And at the same time they shall hear a voice from heaven as distinctly as though thoy heard it with their mortal ears, calling upon them to ^flee^out of the midst of Babylon [i.e., the nomin aiy Christian never was "''"ce there was a nation even to that same time : and at that time book^llL xf "''"^' '''°'y °°' ^^''^ ''^«" t« ^0""^ "Written in the f^.nttf^'' '^f ^ '"".1 *,^ °"^'^' ""^ '^«" S«^^'' *<>9ethcr hU elect //x»n " ftW angel " is renre entod as following the other two, and saying with a lo d ™i e" If any man worship the beast and his image, and reeeivThi nark „(,„„ ^ f t„_^j_ ^^ ^^^^ ^.^ ^. ameshal drink of the wme of the wrath of God " &c "Tl,» \ ... li^os Catholicism, and " his image'" Protestantism and "'"' the nfluence of r T^ ' "' 'V^" ''"'^'" <""'««^ *»wing tne inUucnce of Catholicism or of Protestantism either bv the nlZllZ^V'''^ ""°"'"' lo'erpretation, Rev '1 The heavenly light which shall now shine in the hearts and ,nde.tandings of the best among men, shall be both cTe blight The pure gospel truth unmi^d with any error shall now shme forth as the "sun" (see Interpretation, Eev ^ 1 " p. 4S). Angels shall now enlighten, guide, and direct the befj among men Mark =ciii. 27) , therefore it is said at this time tha ' t e wine of the wrath of God is poured out without mi. tu^ ' nar i!. >l.^°'^" "'f" '' '^^'^ "'"' '"<"' "^ M-^-^e is only partial e ther upon the well-disposed, or upon the evil men fs e Interpretation, Rev. viii. 7, pp. 32, 33) ; but when menZll ceive thepure gospel truth, unmixed withany error, it will imme^ . a tely elevate the righteous, and overthrow thepower of the wicked IS said they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name » which includes all those who shall still continue to show eUhl by their darkened understandings or by their unrighteous d ds 4 I I i OF THK REVELATION. 79 ofl' in her :e ; be will iwer, " We )rsake her, Come, and "(Jer. li. is repre- oud voice, 'eceive his iall drink " symbo- receivinsr > showing er by the Key. xiii. earts and clear and ■ror shall . X. 1, 2, the best time that aixture." e is only men (see shall re- immedi- wicked. spiritual i time it lie beast name," V either s deeds, that they are influenced by the false doctrines of Catholicism, or else by those of Protestantism. Those who shall still continue to be bus influenced, shall from henceforth " have no rest day nor night; for they "shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb " t.e., they shall be broken up-into exceedingly small parties, and so rendered utterly powerless (see Interpretation, Rev. ix 17 18 pp. 41-44) ; and that also at a time when it shall be quite evident that Jesus influences the best among men by means of his " holv angels." " Here is the patience of the saints : they who keep the com- mandments of God and the faith of Jesus." When it is said in this p ace, " Here is the patience of the saints," it is signified that the patience of the saints is owing to that perfect assurance which they have ; that, however the wicked may triumph and oppress for a time, they shall eventually be rendered utterly powerless, which was the subject of the four preceding verses. ' ■ IT ?7' " '' ''"^ '"P"^*'^ ^° ^^' ^"gi'ial Greek as it IS m the English translation ; so the words, " they who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus," are only descrip tive of the character of " the saints " spoken of in the first pa!rt ot the verse, and are intended to remind us that none are "saints" bu those only "who keep the commandments of God and the laitli of Jesus. ih ''^''^^ ^ ^'t'l^ ^''''' ^'^'^ ^''^'''"' ^^y^"^' ^^^^te. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth : Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours ; and their works do follow with them [/xct' aiJrwv]." The meaning of this verse is, that the righteous who shall die alter that takes place which is foretold by signs, in the preceding verses are "blessed," inasmuch as they shall cease from any painful ^^ labours" which they may have been called upon to perform ; yet, " their works do follow with them," i.e., they will be occupied with the same work in which they were engaged — II Ttr w» 11^ , % I 80 A SIMPLE INTERrRETATIOIT while they lived in fleshly bodies on the earth ; for while they inhabited their mortal bodies, they were occupied in " works " which tended to the improvement of mankind, and after that they shall have ceased to inhabit their mortal bodies, their spiritual bodies being perfected and glorified, will be engaged in the same " work," for they will still continue to enlighten, guide, and direct the best of those who shall yet remain among men on the earth. " And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Send [tt^/x^^oi/] thy sickle, and reap: for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that .sat on the cloud cast [^/3a\ev] his sickle upon the earth, and the earth was reaped." Jesus being represented as upon " a white cloud," signifies, that he will not be plainly seen, but only obscurely, as through "a white cloud," when he casts his sickle upon the earth (see Interpretation, Et>v. x. 1, p. 46). His " sickle " represents the heavenly " reapers," viz., the angels of Jesus.i By reaping the earth, is signified the selectinf^ and gathering together the best from among men, as wheat" is reaped and gathered into a barn. Previous to thus gathering together those who are symbolized by " the wheat," Jesus tells us that he will " gather togetbc first [those who are symbolized by] the tares, and bind them m bundles to burn them " (Matt. xiii. 30). This he has already done in a measure ; for all the different sects among the Protestants are but so many separate bundles of " tares" gathered together to be burned with spiritual " fire," i e " division " (Luke xii. 49, 51 ) ; for they are destined to be divided ( a » The enemy that soweth thera is the devil ; the harvest is the end of the world ; and the reapers are the angels.— Matt xiii. 39. OF THE KEVELATKJN. 81 ^ up into exceedingly small parties, so that they shall no Ion<^er be po'verful and influential communities, but shall be utterly destroyed and consumed by division as wooden buildin-s -irs destroyed and consumed by fire (see Interpretation, Rev. ix 17 lo, pp. 41-44). ' So now those who are symbolized by "the tares" bein- already gathered and bound in bundles in the most civilized and enhghtene^ portions of the earth (viz., in Great Britain and America), the hour to reap [the wheat] is come." And when the wheat is reaped, when all the best among men are separated tiom amoi.g the wicked, and are gathered together and placed ZnZ \T\ r^' r ^' '^'^" '^'' "^^^"'"« «^^- f-tl^ a« the sun n the kingdom of their Father. Who hath oars to hear let him hear " (Matt. xiii. 43). ' "And another angel came out of the temple which is ii heaven he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the altar, having authority [Ix^v iiovaUy] over fire; and cried with a loud voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Sen-k. ing the harps of God ]nd ThT' "?" "'^ ^^" "'s'''^^ f'»v- vant of God! and the sont of^r//'"V ' ™° "^ ""^''^ '■«' «"- vellous are thy w ks Lord r . .7 ' f^'"'"' ^^^'" *'"1 '"'"- thy ways, thou Wng of sat.s Wh .'^ '" ' ^"'' ■""' "^ -« -d glorify thy nam^;: riu!it\rr:i; '^ ^^^^^^^ Those who had gotten " the victory over the W=f j •us image, and over his m»rV .„j ^ , °*''^'' ^'^ <>™f are tho^ who " had Itn /l "^ I"" '"""'''"• "' ^s name," of Catholicism, and of p!? * " T"' <'^""«' f"'^" doetrin s and actions o^deedslow^^h^/r' T" ""'"^ understanding tory" over that Jo ^e a d unrf b^' '''" """""' '"' "- tl.e «nderstanding%„ncTiom both frTT''' "'*'' "'"^^''" and also that they relrd d L» "' Catnolics and Protestants, things, which are'evaf ce't ' astt' '^ T" ""•" ^"'""y terpretation. Rev. xii" 4- 8 1 "^T^ "' ""^ ''^''' " («» I"" Those who had thus " gotteTtlL vf t^" - " "Pon a sea of glass minf^d w IT^l T TT'"' "^ ""w will be enabled to L IZ. 1,' ^"''^ *''** '■""r " "^ """V heavenly truths clearly as I*, 84 A SIMPLE INTERl'HETATION \ through '« glass;" yet there shall still for a while be sorre division of opinion among them, inasmuch as the " glass " IS represented as " mingled with fire " compare Rev. iv. 6) but nevertheless perfect harmony and concord shall prevail amonn- them inasmuch as they are represented as " having the harp's ol bod (see Interpretation, Kev. xiv. 2, p. 75). They are said to " sing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb," to signify that there shall be Jews and Israelites, as well as Christians in this company of men who will gam the victory over Antichrist. And the subject of their " song" denotes that those who will compose this company shall see enough of the perfections and ways of the Almighty to enable them to say from their hearts, Orreat and marvellous are thy wwks. Lord God Almighty • just and true are thy ways, thou king of saints ;" and also to con- vince them that eventually " all nations should come and wor- ship before God," when his "judgments are made manifest." It IS said that the " wrath of God is finished " in " the .seven last plagues," to signify that these " plagues" will have the effect of causing " the kingdoms of this world" to « become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ ;" thus " the wrath of God" shall be " finished." "And after this I looked, and behold, the temple of the taber- nacle of the testimony in heaven was opened : and the seven angels, having the seven plagues, came out of the temple, clothed m pure shining linen [\ivov KaOaphv XafiTplv), and hav- ing their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of th.' four living creatures gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power ; and no man was able to enter into the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled." ' " The temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven," symbolizes all those who are represented by "the twenty-four OF THE ULVLLATION. lie be sorre he " glass " '. iv. 6), but Jvail among 2f the harps ^ant of Go(], lall be Jews of men who se who will 'ections and :heir hearts, Almighty ; also to con - e and wor- lanifest." ' the seven I have the become the le wrath of ' the taber- the seven be temple, I, and hav- one of th(! 'en golden 3ver. And God, and he temple, 3." heaven," venty-four 8^ elders " namely those who entered the kingdom of heaven pre vious to the settmg up of '' Satan's thn.ne'' in the ea 7 W ^iT^^^i:! ': rr ^^"•^"••^ ^^- interpret;;;!!:;, t XI. 1, p. o2), and who by thus entering- tiie kinc Inm .f i the tcmplo" symbolize all these " snirits of i„.t „>„ . left'" tlmir „>,. M . 1 "P""" 01 just men made per- ect they are said to have " the seven last plagne, " to sio- n y that power is given to thom so to weaken Ld^ ml^ly ov f throw and destroy " the kingdoms of this world " hat !v T n eventually "heeome the ki„;doms of our llrt'nd^n i "chri r^ £riXs " n •' , "^ "' fepresented as " girded with golden air.h?;,rm:n?:o;Gotw,"",' "' '"^ ''™"' ^ "<• ^y^^-u- kingdoms TZ worid -In t:"!'")'' 'T'" """' " "- " hceoms tl,„ !,;„ j ^. I ' "'^>'^' '" <=»"« b" «" gospel tr„tl,s ohscurohras tZ L '"fV^"" '" ««» 'he until the whole %ove^ ^ „ ;;"fh„ ' ™ '' ?"' .""' "'^"'^• Kev. xvi -_" An,! r i, f ''*'"' '''•■™ fulfilled." ing to l"seven an" Go " T"' ™'™ ""' "^ "•" '™P'^- -y of God ,,p„„rhe earth ' ^IT T ™' ""= ^'"'» "^ ""^ "'"''• of the beasr'are h ; who i;r 1 't'''°''*™ ""'""'"'' standings, or hy ,1 eir Ih^l' !" ^ l^'" '^"'^""'^ """J"- under the influenooTcattl^-'"^' f°" "'^"■'"'^^ "> ^e image" are thorihl S^^^s ""V"'' *,'"'''' """• " ''"^"p his 73) ; BO when it is said that "Tbad ™d 1', ""• '*■"• ?" men which had the mar> of .,h.\„ , , "'"''' ""' "''<'» «•=« shipped his imaee " itt "f.""' ''^;*'' ™'' "Po" them which wor- IF uJ"8 image, it is signified, that both Eoman r„,u^r to fono^ ;„„ ttVo:iT utf\ ;'^rf"" ti r :""\'"» that was only to be a V„L „. .m , , ^ ^'^' »"g«' = " enough to e/ab,e^:„y't„ t see el f ^' '"' " ""^ '" ^ **"/ men to see clearly some of the gross i OF Tlir: RKVKLATION. icomprelien- idcrstandin^ J'ils (none of the very im- inhabit the > the least during the en to be so enlighten to see the lot clearly, fulfilled." Jmple, say- ' the wrath red out his leer (eAicos irk of the vorld (see ' the mark sd under- ^es to be orship his er the in- 14-16, p. upon the iiich wor- Catholics troubled hich was angel : " 7as to be lie gross 87 uZrlnV 'T: '^" ^''^'>"''^« ^"'^ Protestants; HO this httle earthly knowledge would trouble bigoted Catholics and Protestants much in the same manner as " a bad and v Ic'"^ wouH or . would he a continual source of vexation to U.lm" And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea • and t ^-;- ,r ^^- ^^-^ of a dead man : and every living .oui died " The sea" symbolizes the heathen world, and " the blood of aVtre'brd:;'T'r ^ ^° '-'r '' ^^ '-'' ^^-^ ^^^ '^^^ as the blood of a dead man, and every living soul in the sea died " t IS signified that th. v.hole heathen world became, as it were stagnant, so as no longer to be capable of conveyi^. spiritual nutriment to the soul (as the blood of a living man c:nvey I was, that spiritual life or faith ceased to exist among the heathen • every hving soul in the soa died." * fnnnf ""^ *^/ '^'"'^ '"^'' P"'""''' ^"* ^"^ ^>'^^ «P"n the rivers and fountains of waters, and they became blood. And I heard he angel of the waters say, Thou art just (S^.a..), H I Q / which art, and wast (6 ^., .al 6 -,>, 6 oW), beci^se thou has^ judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophet and thou hast given them blood to drink, for they are'w .. y' Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments." heavenlv trl"' T'\ ^"""*"'"' '^ "^^^^«" «^«^l^«"^« those led 'e 1"^' ". ; "' '' *'' ""^ "^"^^ ^^^'-^^ «^^- know, wear; and T T'' '"^ ^"'"'"""^ '^ ^'^^^^s are to the weary and thirsty wanderer; .<.. ,vhen it is said that these 'waters became blood," it is s.guified that the gospeT truth w re so perverted as to be rendered as unfit to queLh spiH uj Ir IhTt LT?;^ ^'''' T' "^«* '^ ^--' natural thirs As men persecuted and slew the " saints and prophets" who * ■»^ -v ■\l * lit ■) 88 A SIMPLK INTKUPUKTATrON I! IT ' ' ?'"' '""'"^ '" «'"" """" "'« l"'f« »•■""» ..r truth «"<1 'ife, It wa, l,„t " j,,,t" that tl,e.,„ " livi ,.. watcTs" / , they. ,,„,M ,„vo bloo.l (,-..., p„„„,t,,, j,„„„, . ,, J ' "^ \.' ^■^' «"S0l of ,1,0 [«pirit„Hl] w.^™- (who roprco,.., ,U, th o i„ vho^ tliere was as it wcro » n. woll /xf «, / • . "^ "« vvuom nnl life" [John ivl 11 vl ! I , """""''""«".» "P i.,to eter- nf ..»„, """."'• "I. vi/., all t,,oso who ontorod tho kin«lotn o Jeavon previous to tho sottin. „p of " Satan'H thro„o "I .0 earth about the hegiuoi,,. of the seventh eentnry) « " in » ' Thon art ,„st, H.,ly One, whieh art, a„,l wa.* .^^,1 Zj hast ju ge,l thn, " And " another out of the altar" X i "■ snnts all those who are signified by " the altar " vl, if * cot of Christ who were ""slain for Ihe trd Ir^od ' i'.dt I t . nony wh.eh they held," in the interval between the set it Jesus— see Interpretat on, Eev. xi 1 n 'i-)! ;. ,.» , , united with "thLnge. oV the [e IhL ^ ; t s ""n::^' in": perfect nghteousness to tho " Holy 0„,l," .ayin., " Ev ^ I" I-oM God Almighty, true and ri,hteo„,^ aP^ t,?/™;;: " And the fourth angel ponrcd out his vial upon the sun • and power was given unto him to scoreh men with fire. And men were seorched with groat heat, and blasphemed the name of Z " The sun" symboli.es the light of the gospel, for the gos'^l wa intended to enlighten the spiritual eyes of men as thr«';T„ enhghtens their natural eyes ; so when it is said Lt " p„:er was given to the sun to seoreh men with fire," it is signified tla ^he gospe shal eause <• division" among men (see Inte^ret t Kev IX 17 18, pp. 41.44) ; and when it is said "that men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of G d 7nd repented not to give him glory," it is signified that al h'oth there shall be great "division" among met, yet they shall uFte :.il III i*f rs of truth th" {i.e., tho m, nnd that 1 So " the [)80 in whom ij) into eter- li" kingdom throne " in f) exclaims, t'causo thou 'who rppre- iz., all tho and for the the setting (;oming of esonted as 1 aseribinir ' Even so, thy judg- ■ sun ; and And men ie of God, ented not he gospel 8 the sun " power lified that oretation, nen were Grod, and although all unite OF TlIK IIKVKLATION. 89 n nnsroprcscntmg or speaking evil of God, and in not ropentin-^ to g,ve .m ^ory (see Intorprotation, Kov. xiii. 1, «, ., ^7 ' '^ And the fifth angel poured out his vial ui,on the throne (Op6- vo.) of tho beast: and his kingdom was full of darkness- tl hey gnawed then- tongues for pain, and blasphen.ed the G

n their agony an.l despau, " gnaw their tongncs." ' ' ihus thcr own ignorance was to be a source of " pain" to all tlse who should endeavour to uphold " the kingdom of th beast or the power and influence of Catholicism in these days And the earthly knowledge which many among men won d now osscss (,n such a degree as would enable them to see ckarlv he gross errors and absurdities of tho exceedingly corrupt Chris- tan, y wh,ch It was foreseen would still prevaU in thes days, tberewith. fherefore, it is said, " They blasphemed lie snoke evil of or niisrepresented] the God of heaven becls ^fthei pains and their ulcers, and repented not of their dee!" And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the ereat rver E„phrates, and the wa.er thereof was dried 1 that the wav of the r T"''™ ''"'" '*^ f'°»^ "'■"» ™' »f the ^outt of the d agon, and out of tho mouth of the beast, an,i out of rtc mouth of the false prophet, for they are the spirits o demon, [Sa.^o«.4 doing signs [.o.oS„a. <„;;.«■»] which go fort? to 90 A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION III Israelites, who are " from the east " l! T ^.'^'™ *"'' is eastward of this „«,::B:b;t„' "' " «'^'' --'^y Therefore when it is said that " the water of the great river Euphrates was dned up," it is signified that the doclnConhl whole „.„,nally Christian world of the present Z"mJ^ flonnsh, and so shall he as it were " dried up," for h ' sha no longer retam sueh influence over the mind rf man aT ha hinder h.m from walking in " the way of holiness " of trutl. »nH nghteousness ;. they shall no longer be to mln ^' "a great river" n h,s path threatening to carry him to destruction ifCt mL go over at; these doctrines shall now be clearly seCrtobe fate by many, so they shall be no impediment, even T h^bed of a great r.ver" which ha. been dried upis n^ hindrance_me1 The word which is translated « frogs " is compounded of two Greek words signifying to cry harshly: thus 4rogs ''contrast wiU. "harps " for they symbolize discord, while "hV" "ym harps (Rev. v. 8; xv. 2), and the imperfect or "unclean spirits or " demons " are likened to " fro-s " J^The ^gon " symbolizes " the devil '' (see Interpretation, • ' And an highway shall be there, and a way and it fih.di h. . u a mT ^y ofMine.s.; the unclean shall not pass ovi' it but slaflV r li '^ the wayfaring .en, though fools, shall not e^L^'in !^^^^^^^^^^ lie battle of e as a thief, ents, lest he thered them mageddon." trines of the tvorld of the 40). And e Jews and eir country great river 'ines of the shall cease they shall m as shall uth, and of reat river" le attempt een to be s the bed nee — men ion, Rev. id of two ' contrast )S " sym- LS having: ' unclean retation, illed, The for those : 8. OF THE REVELATION. gj «. 19, pp. 6i; 62, 42) ' I^'^'Pretation, Eev. xii. 4 ; -Id rf^initft '!■::: :?:!'"" -^-^ f » ^--^^ - - -p- of the »„«h of h beast and 7;"" "' ""' ''^"S™' =""' ""' Phet, „„to the kinls „f ,Y >. , "^""^ "'™"' "f""" '»'«'= P™" battle of t g eS dt o/r ; .r"j '° ^""'^ *«>» t-'h^ both Satan and^he Roma^'Cl, ^'^ ^," '' '^ ''^^'^ '^^ among the various .eTs f'^P t ^r'sW^ "^ '^'"^^ '^'"■^'■^ men for "thp ^^^u^. e ^v \ "^'^^^^^^^^ts, shall aid in preparinir scribed in t^Mn '"""' ''' "' ^"^ ^'-S^'^'" ^' ing^Xlt^"(f^d.?i:::;f '-«^'; -" <•» ">'•« b,can,. fore .hey are said ,o fe " t eTo I " f T ""T "™ ' "■"- this spiritual "C'l "divTsio?" be:"°°"''''"^^''^^'''f°' men, is the "great sisn " of T "^^f m.ng general among God Aimighty." <" « said to be gathered to ihe ,^u ?ll "^ ""* "'"''« ""'W " "'e saints are now .0 lead their '' "l^'^"^'"' '» -g-fy that the with but 10,000 men^th.ir'r^"''''™'" ""^ *" J*"-^ (•^-f s V. 12. 18 ; :e iii4 Brrio^^r ° " It is now " the sixth antrol rv, • t ' P* '^)' J-s forewa^s «s7f his "i^h"''^ IT^t T' "^ ^■■'"•" "''" [«., suddenly and unexpeotedri ni , 'J '"""' "' " "''''f «nd keepeth his garmeX wV t"^^ " ^^ »''" ™tcheth, «iame,"/.e., blesL™ t It bv /''f" "■"" '"^^ -<""•« u IS lie who by continual watchfulness shall 92 A SIMPLE INTKUPitLTATION the righteons and the wicked belwLn I u '"" ^'''""' and I,im that .erve.h him no " m7m m ^' fT'' ""-^ Iheo, that sec «hall not be dL •'!" ftat • t ' ^^ *' '^^^ "' no more be called liberal no^.I , , " '"'° P«''«°" shall (Isa. ..xi. 3, 5) th r f:;''rtti, ;•' ™' '" t^bo-ntiful- found a blcs ing to be cW^j 'h'^timo especially, it will be f-ment," .„ tba't one .ha ' have" o'inSr,"? T"" "" (see Interpretation, Eey i 13 p %) ' " ''''""^^^ "^ ^^'^^ZT^Z^rrr r ''' ^""•"^ ™' "f of the great riv"r E™hraW' '°''^ ""'"'" P'^"" ■ " ""^ -"'^r -., the'false d^ trfn f Ttte Idi:: Z f '^'«'^"^-<• "P ^" Christian world are no LI • ^''°° "'' *« »ominally in heavenlytowledge Z^ ^ ""'"^"'''' '"'"'^^ '" f'^S'^^ enlightene^d tr^^lfd^^Ser ' "^" ^'^ "'"' ^'"^'''""^ the dragon and o«r ftrmiTh^Te I'V' f' """"" "^ mouth of the false prophet^W, r f o , "''' ""^ <"" »'' *''« and from P«tes.a„S) * M t'^S: ''' f V"" ?'''°''-"' nominally ChrillL l^ Cd 3d ts' "'"'' '"^^ '"^ "^"'^ fome " divided against Zlf " Ti ™ """ ■''^'"'y to be- ^. cliscord P iTdXlrs fc -^^^^^^^^ ^;^-.s .^:?^rm'Srni,riar^:%--^^^^^^^^^^^ 'owed „p the great] IrXiPolr ^' ""'' "^"'"■ have been called Christinn i!? i- , "^ *«'«« •Jo'^'nnes which tian (see Interpret^rZ: ^^^ T ,X'"Jtl ^»««'''^- So these two even j which were to f 1 ' l* outofthevialofthesi.han;:r,l?r^.::^f;;5 s of many men iscern between ■t serveth God ind the eyes of lo person shall be bountiful " Hy, it will be ^s as with " a >e ashamed of )ouring out of > ; " the water "dried up;" the nominally 5r to progress •w sufficiently 36 "demons" ibe mouth of i out of the Catholicism, ale world, to ^mighty." it the whole ready to be- fragments t the great J or general ere "swal- rines which Antichris- be pouring 'Jten place, OK THE REVELATION. 93 we m»y be sure that ti things which are represented by si.^n. as followmg upon the vnring out of the vial of the sove'nt h ange shal .mmcLately begin to take place in ,l,e eartl. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air, and here came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saymg, It ,s done. And there were lightnings, and v"ces and thunders; and there was a great earthquake^ ueh as w « not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthn„ake and so great. And the great city was divided'^nto ht ^rt ' and thee.fes ol the nations fell; and great Babvlon came in remembrance before God, to give unto h!r the cupof th wi of the fierceness of h,s wrath. And every island fled away, and and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail ; for the plague thereof was exceeding great" " The air" symbolizes the natural reason or understandin=. of ITST .^'""■''T!'"'™' K^^- '^- 2. pp. 35, 3G) ; therefore, when the ^venth angel .s represented as pouring " out his vial into the a r, It .s sign.fied that now the natural reason or understanding of man shall be so cultivated or exercised and strengthened, Z to enable many to reason clearly about heavenly truths, and Ilso to unde.«.and them ; therefore, now, at this time; " a grlTvoice^ .s represented as coming "out of the temple of heaven, from the hrone, sayng. It is done," i.e., the great work is accomplished for many men have now attained to that degree of perfection wh eh ,s necessary to enable them to unde^tand the gospel truths, which have so long been misunderstood and perverfed by .gnorant and wicked men ; and the gospel truth being now mderstood,,t shall go forth " to conquer," as foretold bys.Z m Rev V, 2, 12-17 (see Interpretation, pp. 21, 26, 27). ^ And there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders " ie he hght of truth shall now flash upon the minds of me giving them a momentary glimpse of spiritual things, much in the samf f 94 I s ii I A SIMPLE INTERrRETATlON • manner as the flasj, «f i- i . . f « -.-„, e,es of «,:„,'f LTf,r-': ^^"""in. olJ..e. .„ « ngl,teou,„es» as though by "tit ,- f ''r'^-^ '" "■« ?"«>" 51 ; I K,„ga xix. 12, 13). i„7T u";? '""'"" ('««• '''^'c. ■ons fro. heaven, as' tho gh "th J ' "" *" ''"""'' '-^I- ;ulate words plainly, ,evea]L , ''': f ""« caused to arti- . (Bev. X. 3). ^' ''"^'"''"S "=« »■" and purposes of God The "great earfhquafee" uv^i i- the nations of the nominally cS'T ^-^T "'"""»«'™ """""ff Pretation, Eev. xi. 13 . „; 19 ^ "'"''^'^^ "OfW (see Inter :x^™ r- a.4 - :^r-f-:::—:-^^^^ -<• "'^'Zttio^'f:':1!^ '^ -"^0 Sodon, and Egypt" «."stian world, whi^'^as Tas tfor ^"''"! "' ""' "-^^ I'^.oanse it is destined to bldestrt/ ."""^ '' """"'' Sodon,; ^nmstone ," and it i, called EgyTZ!'^ "" T"''''^ "«'« »d ■'"I>oli.ed by] Shan : "'t'" •'"■"» ">"' ''ouC r„7 r. T^'^'*'"'" ^^-'•" "hall 7" be greatly di„,i„i«i,,{''„;;'<'f«''-.d their „„„,,„s men ed ""*"'™^"^«» ""J truth si "dlb! "'''"' "'"'« ■•"'vo. rented ; for „ow heavenly liM.t .1 i Propo'tionately a.,-. '% [shall] dawn" and "tJ,'''''<'^'''end upon men "nl ' -='« of the earth, that the wick^fr it""^ '""' """ "^ "e Men shall then see " trea™! <• r"^^ ^ '^'wken out of it ' - ^-ved against the ti„,e ~ ''':/"''' -''ich [Go, ha, t »" war" (Job x..viii. ,, ^^ »^;-;-t the d£„f ^^ , PART VI. ■Kev. xvii.— « And ih had the seven vials, andrikeZr"' "^ """ ™=-'^ ""-'■ We ooZiLdZilar'a:^^;':? "» ■'in^X'Te: tl' ^aen „ade drunk with tl e 'wTnt of h": f "^■"^"f ""^ -^*ha e 2^ roe away in the spiriMuto ..!' "T'''""- ^o be car! "Oman su upon a scarlelcolo , ' d > ^ ' "^ ""' ^ ■'"«' » ' "Tud'Tb"^ seven headstnTtl tt; '"" °^ "-- "^ '"'as- --)-,erfornication-7:-:^--^^^^^ "ken as standing >ut the weight of ^•e to fall upon it "y " blaspljemed ' symbolized by] seeding- great." their numbers rsoftheadvo. ■tionatelj aiig-. n men. " The ^e hold of the ^en out of it." 'GrodJ has re- ' day of battle , J I^an. xii. ]]. OF THE RliVELATION. 97 "g-els which »me hither; whore that ^ the earth earth have So he car- ' I saw a 's of blas- ai'Iet, and r a golden nness (to. s a name written, Mvstfrv, the «heat Ba„v,.on, the M„ti.f„ op Har LOTS, and „ ,he aginations of the earth. And 1 saw he woman drunken with the Wood of the saints, and wUh the Wood of the tnartyrs of Jeans: and when I saw her, I wondered wi^h great amazement (ea^.a). And the angel said nnto ™e Whl f fore didst thou marvel ? ^" uie, vynere- ,. "^ "'l' i'",'*"' "" "^""y "f"'^ ''»">"". ""d of the beast that carne h her, whieh halh the seven heads and ten ho u andthevZ/f T"^',""^ «" '° ^^^''"«"™ («» ^^^e.a.) : .•n the look of il f °" r T""; "'"'^^ """^^ »^^ »»' -"«» m tne book of life from the foundation of the world shall won ^er when they behold the beast that was, and isnot, a d s pe." seven heads are seven mountains, where (oVo.) the woman"! r fi:iC T '''^' "'T^- ^"'^ ""- - -™» ki"g- five he moth i It "' '"" .r f "' '^ -' y^t — ; »d when fieeomah, ,t is necessary that he should remain a little (o'A.'w. iMhe eighth, and is of the seven, and goet'h to desta'et Z.; -a«ai.). And the ten horns whieh thou sawest, are ten k"n. ltd i r n '"^' "r ■""" *'"' '^' ^'^'- These have o e tnind and shall give their power and authority lifovManZ Lamb b •„ ^'^' ^'"" ■"^'"' '"^ "'* the LambTand the Lamb shall overcome tliem : for he is Lord of lords and Kin^ d fibfur' I'T f ^' "? "■"■ """ "- -"^'■' -" '"S ana taithful. And he saith unto me. The waters wl„Vh +1, :s Inn '"^ "■'"Tr • -^ p-p-i »t::uu^^^^^^^^^^^^ and? -W^ ,°"""''-, ^"'' *^ ''" ''"■•ns which thou sa;est w h flte ? r TM' ""'' '■'"" ^"^ her flesh, and burn her with fire ; for God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will and «- ogree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until tirLrds o 1>8 ^ SIMPU.: INTE.PKnT.vnoN i. I . of God shall be fiiJ/]JIe(J a , , . , >■ '"at great city whic4 ,■,.;„?, '""S« "' "'« eartl, " i^he woman" who " ^in /i ^'^"stianity. t'le great whon. " * /'"t*i'» upon many watpr«" • "nd corrupt Ci.ris.mnity Jifch ' ! '"''"^"»^'' b/ tl,e pervert d ' bclizes Ezek. Svi 28 9« ■• " S:re..t wliore" or lnrl„t ! -H ;n„ „X, :, "^^^d . <; arrayed ^ p.„p, „„„ , '»»i«...fy the groat weal h of ,T„ ''T"'" '"""" «"<1 Pearb " ;- .n ti.o earth the corr,,, CbTJ:r''°"'.'V'P''*' -" 1 «}mb„l,zed by "the woman" shS '* "^ "'"^^ "bo are »"'' a» it were drink fro " hf T'" ""^ "•"''"'' 'o receive ««eeding,y ;„,„,,„„/'- J . a^/rom «a g„,den o„ "" ^n' •■on^.i. 14, 20-23, pp. ^111}''^''''^ (^ee Interpreta" for her p.,iM 'ir ' r''*"'^ '""'•' ""d *»tro™ hL' r'r ""^ """■''"» ii 'cJi thou sawest is '^t'le earth." "gs of the earth" y- ^^t^rs" is called nal Christianity an^I corrupted. »'ive committed the earth" are of her fornica- ^ tho inhabit- ' the perverted ' 01' iuirlot sym- " purple and ' ^"cl pearls," ''«^fl and sus. 8 symbolized ^g" a golden inness of her 3se who are « to receive, '•^ f^np," an Interpreta- ^'"I'^e nil the ' the nations ' )■ take baJm etl Babylon, 'fo liia own "P even to ne and let OF THE RKVELATION. 99 "The woman" is represented as "drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of J 1 ! -f that as those whom she symbolizes hT:^^ sTin "^^li ^'-f:'^ "the martyrs" who would have given them tb. ' "^ troths (ee Interprefation, Eev. xvi. 4-6, pp. 87, 88). ' phemy," by which it is signiBed that ..ll hi t , lized by the "ten hor„V' t/wdl ^^ fe ' *:„';|t;%r ^ izzzt Tt°""" 'y''^"-^-^" Head:," I'm r^i spoken of (see Interpretation, Eev. xiii. ], p. 67) the "te*" is" ""'■•"" ''"";°'"" -"""-therefore, when tne beast is now represented as being of a " searlet " colour t ,s s,gn,aed that, at the time to which°this sign r s wealth ^hall be the peat characteristic of those nations who 1 ™ bohzcd by the beast, viz., those nations who, taken ZJZ' compose the nominally Christian or civilized world ^ ' The beast who symbolizes these nations was before said to be frl '""P""'- ,'° "sMy that these nations would differ one nl \' ^' V- ^'"^' P''"™'" to tbe breaking-up of the «^;;;^;^^»P-^oJhes^^ ,h, se°ve:^headcd ^(' \m' \0(S ^ «^WPLR INTKRP.KTATION ^.'"o^'^'.o.l ,. eve':' j- 7:r:^;"f o_har„e,„HaUe;:L., T^r .^"' day, viz., that of wcl it 't' ""'"^^'l ""^W of the '^ "eCJS, and those who f J / (vns rc])i'e8ented fninion was ac- Jnterpretation, " colour was < that of the 'f>«lical of the '^ «f the pre- colour of the characteristic ^n8:npofthe ersity. 't. an(? shall ■ is r^nified, syuibolized n the earth, nt from the ^■^edgej and "the beast he eighth, ned beast the earth" 30 to have >ply to no e United ' the rest And the iJar from d by the 'ad, it is air trial giving >usness, se who OF THE REVELATION. jyj Will submit theuiselv'is entirely to his will when "the kingdom h^v rin br ' '"' 'TT '' ''' ^"'^^- undeMh:; This " eighth " head is also the same as the eleventh " horn " phot writes, "Iconside^d^^hVn^ andThl^f ' ''' ''"" a.ong them another little horn, beLthom\ i^^^r::^^ thingsT ''' '^ "^^"' ^"^ ^ "^^"^^ «I--king great of f?Jfi '?l"^' ^r." «y«^^^J>"^«« Great Britain. The "throe of the first horns " which " were plucked up by the roots " vm bohze England, Scotland, and Ireland; for these b'e have' cased to be separate and distinct kingdoms or pow[, until the word«i ne n j ^ , fe'^« inejrkmop, „„''';,{:;''P''-«y '-as already been ^uM?''/.'"'" ''<' f'^Bm.'-^ "" '^^ "'fforcit nations or ki„S u '' '" '<"»« degree /„. e " ten h„™s " „, the " ten tt?,! ,^'"''' "- "^mboH: ■ ^ "1 Ihoruy unto the beast " t;, . '""''' "S'^^d It IS sig. ^'^ by "the a'-ffel w:i8 hey would ^'•e., at the >oIized by 'ower and J Lamb," lall make vour her ^ among iath put 'ir kin* IJed.' ■reo. ior '-' '7 " their d have 5 sym- ^S' bolued by » ti groat whoro " rviz., tho.o who uphold m.d sus- tain a perverted and corrupt Christianity in the .Hrth), y.t tho8e 8amo nations or kingdoms " u.ake war .vlth the Lamb" i^e Jesus), although they oppose, in some measure, a perverted \tn. I corrupt Christianity, tlu-y do not receiv. gospel truth in its purify but as It were shut their eyes to the truths revealed in the Holy Sci-iptures ; nevertheless, - the Lamb shall overcome them, for he isLon of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with lum are call.d, and chosen, and faithful " (see Rev. xix. 11-20) - Mountains " syn.bolize the kingdoms or nations of the clvi- lized world (see Interpretation, Kov. vi. 14 ; xvi. 20, pp. 2G, 9o) And the number "seven " is the whole or perfect nun.' ber (see Literpretation, Rev. i. 20 ; v. G, pp. C, 20, 21) ; there- fore, when it is said " the seven heads are seven mountains where the woman sitteth npon them," it is signiiied that " the soven heads of the beast symbolize not only seven different forms of government, but also all the kingdoms and nations of the civilised world, "where the woman [i.e., 'the great whore,' who symboli^.8 a perverted and corrupted Christianity] sitteth upon them." Ihe interpretation " the seven heads arc seven mountains," in prefaced by the words,-" Here is the mind which hath wis- dom, to signify that the words. " seven mountains" are not to be understood literally, but figuratively, according to the scrip- tura or prophetical signification of "seven mountains:" for it would require no wisdom whatever to understand that " seven mountains" meant "seven mountains;" b,.t it would reouire some httle knowledge of the Scriptures, which are calculated to convey to ns " the wisdom which is from above," to discover tba^ seven mountains" symbolized all the nations of the nomin- any ChnsLian or civilized world. The reason this interpretation is now given of " the seven lieads IS obvious, for according to the other interpretation, " the whTd, "'fi " "^"'f T"" ''"^'^'^"^ '°^"^« ^^ governuKMit, of ^^hieh "five" were already "fallen" or passed auav ; therefore ^ i I 1 I 104 A SmPlE INTEKPRETATION ;* it the wotti'in" /.p.) "»' properly be saM .T«S \r"'''^'' '^''^'-^'-'y) could -n existence. "?»» them," („, ^hey were nVlo™ feo also the many " w»f , * «'fan and h.eefti bird P„r I„T," ^^"^""'^J "^ ^^"/«n- '■-e eo.n.,-.ted fornica io^W '"h"; "'."^ ""'"S^ "^ *« a h earth are enriched by the pol J h' '"'" ""^ ■"''^»''»'« "f the "r?" "5. S.M^J„, P;"?; °f hfr .,„„ erained licentiolt heard another voice from hIT "'"''" '"^"^rycravl Anrr people, that ye be not p!rtaC"V 7 '■"'" ^""^ ""' of hef ' »o' of her plagues. For her Lt " ''"'' """ ">"' ve rIce.Ve God hath remembered herTnfa" V ' T^'"' """> he^ven.Tnd %. death, and mournint tndV "'"^'^ """^ '" one ^"-ed with fire, f„r stro^l^l^t '" VJ^" ^"-^ ^'"'" ^-e "'4 And the ki„^„3 of the eartl^ who h„v ° ^'^ "''" J"<'»"^"' her! V .n unrestrained lice^io ne " r:™"""'' '""'■"»«™ ""^ jo" weep, and lament over her a„" '"°'°'"'''^ "'"' ''", """jj when they shall see tl,„ l^'^'""''"'". «; «oVon-a, .V -^-'VK that .i,hty City, 4T:;t:::^X;:^.^ 'istfanity) could 'f were no longer itteth" are said > and tongues." her angel come "H; and the with a strong and is become of every un- of every un- Irunk of the of the earth chants of the ^ Jicentious- «»']• And I t ^^ her, my t ye receive 'leaven, and ■fj unto her her double ijled, fij] to 'ived with- ' grive her, 'idotv, and "e in one be utterly geth her. ation and vith her, ovrai €7r standing at great idgment OF THE REVELATION. 105 come And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her ; for no man buyetb their merchandise any more : the merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls and fine Imen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all vessels of ivory, and all vessels of most precious wood, and ol brass, and iron, and marble, and cinnamon, and amomum [a;.a./.ov], and incense [dvi^cdi^ara] and ointment, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and cattle (KTvyv.;), and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were fat, and all things which were bright (,raVra rb. kc^ap^ ^al r^ kaixTrpa) are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The merchants of these things which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weep- ing and wai mg, and saying, Alas, alas! that great city, that was clothed m fine linen, and purple, and scarfet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls ! for in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and every one upon the place of ships [-ra, 6 eVi rc^o. ,rAe'o,.) and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying. What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their head.s, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas! that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness ! for in one hour is she made desolatJ. Kejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye saints, and Ual ot ciytot Kal) apostles and prophets ; for God hath avenged you on her. And a mighty angel took up a stone, like a great millstone, and cast It into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee ; and no crafts- man of whatsoever he be, shall be found «nv mo.. ;. * w , 106 ^ «'MM^E mTi,«PaKTATiON U Tvill m,w ^'^"" ^« ^^"^n, is fallen "i "^^ ''"^^^' «^}'inff ,"' n >w cause such a ffreat rl/ '. *''•' '^ ^^S^iRed tUtr a at^road throughout tJ)/ ,• ^'"^ "^^^^^venlyLi.^ 7* ^'^^ g^^eat Babylon " Cf ,f '^' '^"'^7, whicli is svlnl 7 ' ^'^•■ «« that they 1]] ^" '^^ ^^^^'^^tion LT'"'^ ^^ " '^^ Come out of J 1 ' '' '' ^^'^'•^' ^^«^r " a voice f . '""'"^ ^^'^^' «l'e^ient to the iZ ^''' ^^'''^^"^s-" And 1.1 ''"'' from thencef V ''^ '"^"^«n«, " the ,rt,^\ ''^ ^^" ^« " M-^" • , '"^'""ce or nroffress ;„ j • ""''<' acquire,) bird js u^ fo arivn„„ ^ '" '""lorstandmo-- . " Givl'to ,' !r- ''■ W- 36, 93). " "" (^^^ '"tap-eta. double aecdin, to^^w^t '&" T"' ■""■ "<«'"'' -"to her ^trced and corrupted Oh^; *• • ^"stain m the earfli +1. ^leat R..]. 7 ,, ^nristianity whi^h ,'o , *"^ per- "WSSM^S ^'itallinthee; " in thee ; and ^'^ l>e heard no ^eat men of the ^e^- And in and of a]] ihat g-Iitening the 'o^ce, saj'ing, fi(^d that God 't to be shed Jse the per- 2^^^ by " the among- men, ^en, saj'ing, of Jier sins, % vviJI be '^on " shall "t only the ^ of deviJs, OF THE REVELATION, 107 1 of every men who ' acquired even as a ^ synibo- terpreta- tinto her tsiire or lall stiJJ he per- y " the trouble shall fall upon " the great Babylon " is described in the follow- mg verses : " Because she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow ; therefore shall her plao-ues come m one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and°she shall be utterly burned with [spiritual] fire " {i.e., " division •" see Interpretation, Rev. xvi. 19 ; ix. IMS, pp. 94, 95, 40-44) " Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me ; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children: but these two things shall come to thee m a moment, in one day, the loss of children, and widow- hood : they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments. For thou hast trusted in thy wicked- ness : thou hast said. None seeth me. Thy [earthly] wisdom and thy [earthly] knowledge, it hath perverted thee ; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me. There- fore shall evil come upon thee ; thou shalt not know from whence It riseth ; and mischief shall fall upon thee ; thou shalt not be able to put It ofif : and desolation shall come upon thee sud- denly, which thou Shalt not know " (Isa. xlvii. 8-11, concernino' the spiritual " Babylon," or nominally Christian world of the present day). " O thou that dwellest upon many waters [compare Rev, xvii. 1. 15], abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness. The Lord of hosts hath sworn by himself saying, Surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillars • and they'^hall lift up a shout against thee " (Jer. li. 13, 14 also concerning " the great [spiritual] Babylon "). When it is said that " the kings of the earth, who have com- mitted fornication, and lived in unrestrained licentiousness with her, shall weep and lament over her when they shall see the smoke of her burning, standing afar off for the fear of her torment saying, Alas, alas 1 that great city Babylon, that mightv city for 108 A SIMPLE INTEKPRETATIOX in one hour is thv ' a -;..>«,. .H.;i"t '~:~ « »S2;r S» «ko, when it • -. ^ """' "lr™''-,""'^P''°^ ""d wailt ' r ."'" °f f- the C f of^inn «nd sailor. Tnfr"^'^"-' "'«' everyone i„ t^, „, • • • made desolate." '"'^ ^'"'" «^e " tbo groat BalX ■I no various articles nf i. , and precious stones, and pearl"' 21"" ^" "«<"<'. ^^l «iver signify that tile words .. ,. ' ^'^O are here enun,.... j ' shipmaster," &c an^',, "" "^'-'bants of the earth "T^?,'*' '" Stood feraW °: y '^"^ ^ho " trade by sea "1^. f". ""''^ OF THE REVELATION. [Qg then be sorry or distressed ; even as the ancients were, when thev " put dust upon their heads."' • When it is said, " And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were fat, and all th n^ which were bngh^ are departed from thee, and ihou shalt fi,fd them no more at all," it is signified that the ahun.!ance or wealth and the worldly show or splendour, which the inhabitants of the modern Babylon have coveted, or " lusted after," shall depart from them, and they shall " find them no more al all." ^ It IS now ti^ete is to be " a time of trouble snch as never was since there was a nation even to that same time" (Dan. =.ii 1) for ,t .snow that the Jews and Israelites and the chosen people of God are to be " delivered ;" for at this time it is said, "Come pare Jer. li. 6, 4o) ; therefore " the kings of the earth and t.l„. great men, and the rich men," shall have oau^ no .h f lamenafon, for their greatness and their riches shall now pa fmm them ; " for the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon ev^ Z I J'.fr'' ""^ '"f^- »"<' "PO" "^^--yone that is lifted m. and he shall be brought low" (Isa. ii. la) ' ' And the suddenness with which "the great Babylon" shall fal , .3 again symbolized by " a mighty angel tailing up a stone like a great mil stone, and casting it into the sea, sayi„., Th"s I'd sh'In b"°f "f ""' «"*' ""^ ^""^'^ ^ thrLn°'down and shall be found no more at all." " The voice of harpers, 'ind musiciane, and of pipers and nimpeters," symbolizes festivity. A "c;af,sman" symb ifzes skiltulness or ingenuity. A "millstone" symbolizes plenro abundance The "light of a candle" symbolizes spiri'ial l^l b ide " tvmbV '•'■' '"'""' "' "«' ''"dW -.l of fhe bnde^jymbolizes rejoicing. Therefore, when it is said that dust upon their head..^JoH\im vii. Q. ^'' """'^ P"* no r ¥.\ w \ ?;i I !; A S1MH,K INTKHPRETATmN peters, sh„„ be hird'nrlr " I t "' f'"""' -"' '"'■'- of whatever craft ho be, shaH h„ f , ''"" ""'' »» craftsmen "'I the light of a candle sha 1 'line '! "° """■" "' "" i" ">=« ; the voice of the bridegroom an If th" T? "', "" '" "'^« ' »"' ""^e at all in thee," ft i, ,^^^ ^^•'"'^« ^.'-'' be heard „„ • '"genu.ty, plenty or abundance .nLttl vT'^' ^'''"'"'"« or ^™ts"and„art,rsofJ^ira:r;j'"' !""" ^'^ " ''- perfected and alew the Prophet of 2 T?' '" """'■^"' '™e». have not escaped the righteous L? . °/'''' ""<' ''« ""= J™s afflicted for abont eighteen "2 °',"^ ^<"'' •"" ''"^c been t«ns shall notescape^ ^3 an Z'h" "'^^ '"^ "°"'">''' Chrt '!'ey shall turn to't e lo.I w h?;''"t",'' '"^^''^'^^ ™til honour hin. "withtheir lip " o„l ";,"^.?''' ''^''^«' »<> "<" from" Him, as they now do ^' ^''' "'^''^ '>^'»-' is far °';Jrpe5:^' tett :4':- I'is ', "^r" " ^'^»' ^-^ <>f ""d honour, and power, 'un^ol^^r God f;:'™"™' "" ^'»y. »reh,s judgments: for he hat^ fudged ? ' '"'' "'^'"»»'» d.d corrupt the earth with her Ln 5 f'"' "''"'•<'• ''hich Wood of his servants at her hand An,"' ""^ '"'* ^™"?^'l «>» lu.a I and her smoke rose up for ever and '^"'" f'^ '^'''' '''^^^■ fonr eders and the four ILZ'tLj'fn ^"'' "« "'""ty sh.pped God that sat on the throve '" '^'""' ™'J ^f And a voice came out of th thr e ^Z"'; ^"^" ' ^"^'"-•' yo his servants, and ye that feJi ^ ?' ^''""'^ "'" God, all And I heard as'it were thrtot of'a' "') '"""' "" ^roat. vo.ce of a great multitude, and as s 'ers, and trum- d no craftsmen in thee; and t all in thee; ■ '"n thee ; and be heard no skilfiilness or lowledge, and * among- those Christianitv the blood of n the earth." slain " the icient times, as the Jews t Jiave been linal Chris- flicted until 't> and not eart is far at voice of ind glory, righteous >i'e, which enged the »d, Alle- e twenty- ^nd wor- Alleluia! God, all fl great. S and as OP THE RKVELATION. Ill the voiceof many waters, and as tha voice of mighty thnnd.r- ings, saying. Alleluia! for the Lord our God, the Almighty [.', eeo. rjj..y o .avro./,ar./>] reigneth. Let us be glad and rej4e, and g.ve glory [So'^ to him : for the marriage of the Lamb i come and h.s wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted hat she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean, and shimng [Aa^.,0.] : for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me. Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marnage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me Ihese are the true sayings of God. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not : I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony olS'cyT ' '' '" ''' *"""^"^ ^^ '^^^"^ ^'^ ^^« '^P"'' sil^ •''"'^P ^"t'\" '' ^^'^'P°""^^d of two Hebrew words, signifying " Praise the Lord." .. "^ TaiJ T-'? '! ""''' P'^P^^ ^" '^^'^^^^ " ^« i-epresented as saying "Alleluia! salvation, and glory, and power, unto our God ■ f)r true and righteous are his judgments ; for he hath judged he groat whore, which did corrupt the earth with her firnica- t.on, and hath avenged the blood o^ his servants at her han.l • " and the twenty-four elders and tl ,e four living creatures " a're represented as responding « Amen, Alleluia I" to signify that when the righteous judgment of God shall have been inflicted upon the perverted and corrupt Christianity which had hitherto deceived the civibzed world, all those who shall tl.n ent.r th enttT 1l r""' '"^ '" '^''' ^^^ «h^" have ;,r../ou./^ entered, will have every reason to " rejoice " too-ether and to pr..'-^e the Lord," for the time shall have eome for h't ^ ich IS symbolized by the " marriage of the Lamb " "oulTfrtf '^'' ''"' "^^--«"i« represented as coming voice, as the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice f 112 ilffi I i ! ^ «'MPL« INTEKPRETATiON "*-«eTATJON *^* many wator* i ^"ferpreuiion, C xt 2, 'f^^f •""'^"'^ ""■"<•-•".« " fs.e Allelmal for the lord m,/r ^' ,^' '* '^P'^^nted as ° „ •' ™^. I..-S saints i^heavS wUh th^"?''"' *» '•"■™ of Jes„s even aej; „,': i J "^ " ". tht T^i: t -/t f '''' '^ declare t -Thj /», 7' '^''^''"'^ "«„ them tlv ' "■"" ^"'^ «Peaks with IT ?' ^' ^'•^ informed thaf fl f witft the apostle is his « ^ „ ^"^*^ *«e ane-el who brethren that have the Lf- ^^"'^^'Semnt," and nf Y Prophets (Rev. xx^B) ' f 'r'"'^ ^^ J^«"V' /. ont l .^ r 11. if' i ted as " saying, 'igneth. Let us fib is conie, and OF THE REVELATION. 113 "nion of Jesns, 'J^ be in fleshly saints shall be and concord, 'fore his cruci- '"g'» ':N-either M also which [ may be one ; '50 way ie one fit me. .\nd 'Di ; t/ial they ' ^» tne, that J may Icno^ J bast loved t given me Jory, which "indation of lown thee : tbou hast "» and v^'WX fie may bo and shin- "gel who ■i of his e of the be spirit And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse ; and lie that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as u flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written that .^o man knew, but he himself; and he was clothed with a vestu. dipped in blood : and his name is called Thr^ Word of God. And che armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations : and he shall rule them with a rod of iron • and he treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written. King of kings, and Lord of lords." The « white horse " symbolizes gospel truth in its purity (see Interpretation, Rev. vi. 2, p. 21). And he who is "called Faithful and True " is Jesus. " His eyes " are likened to "a flame of fire," to signify his discernment, or perfect ability to distinguish between the righteous and the wicked ; even as fire distinguishes between "gold, silver, precious stones," and "wood hay, stubble," &c. (see Interpretation, Eov. i. 14, p. 3.) And " many erbwns " are represented upon the " head " of .Jesus, to signify that he is " King of kings, and Lord of lords." And he IS represented as having " a name written which no man knew but he himself," to signify that he is exalted above all other men i And his name is called the Word of God," to signify that it is through him alone that we receive that heavenly light, or know- ledge, and understanding, which is symbolized b- " the word of God " (see Interpretation, p. 44). So also it is said, " out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it be should smite the J- ^''f'^ ^^"^ ^'«« ^«tb highly exalie7hh^~gi^^~7'r^e M IS above every mvie : that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow ot things m heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth ; and I I il I I liil'! w J nil' lit A SIMPLK rXTKRPnRTATrON nationR," to sfirnifv tfinf » m -. of oo„,"\,;f„,:f 1,, tir; :: "r. '"'"•• ""'»'■ ■•« 'he "ations," so that " ho shall Ze.,t ,!'"'' ""'' " ™'»» •'« with an i,.,.e.i,tiM„ go.oZen! "" """ " "" "^ "•""." '-, It 18 said that •* he trpifJpfl, *u "d wrath „f Almighty God " fl !' "T'T' "^ *" "e'™"""" r"wor of the natioa, L e„ 1 , ^^ ^ ""■" ""' ""' ""»'' '■- w.ne.pre. („eo Interprotati™ tv T T""/.'"," "^'""' '" « <"» " vesture" is represented a. " d I^ il ' ','■ '^^ ' '"' *^'" »'«". »ne "feadeth the wine-prosT- "^ " "'<""'• H ^s when '"•* ffrape juice, so „,so 1,™^ J If""'" '"'™'"'' ''-^'■<"' -shed, and as it were trodden ^ J 27"*"' "' '■"'"" nations, as men i„ ancient times ™ ill . ' ''™'"' "^ 'he feet, he is described as havi 7 ,i ts , ^T "'"■ «'^- So also his name, " Kino. „f i? T. "™ '''Pi""' '" Wood "> "Pon "his vestnr'e a d^fhi^'.';™'. "''"•''-"'■« ""''en 'ho "thigh" that .rape^:e:ofn'in ::•■''''''''' ""-'''''•' upon the "vesture" or "trarm™!" 1 '"""■P''"'' ""d ^t is »d when one " treadeth trtnejr '.'° ''''' ^^^ " And when it is said th-.t^ u.u ^ followed hi. [JesusTu \^h : T: tf ^ "' ^^^^ white and clean," it L sic^nified fh.f , A ''^ '" ^'"« ^'^^^^ W trodden t^e .uZZZL :ro'T'''''\^ '" ^''^ --/'^' tJieir hhod shall he 8nrwl-J..1 ^ ' '' ^'•'""P^'^ ^^^m in my furv ««!/ raiment. For the If T '^'^ "^V r/^m^cr.^,, and I M-iJl 7^^ ^Z, "^ "• ror Hie day of venwanoe is in m,-,, i. 7 ^ ^^'^'" «'! niv deemed ,s come. And I looked, an ' er ""' '"^ ^'^^ ^^'^^ «f '"J re^ dered that there was none to uphold H 7 ' "°"' ^'^ ^"''P; and I won l^on unto me ; and m, fur/^^p'S mr^'CdT^nT T ' ^-^'^^ -Z: in mme anger, and make them drunk Tmv^ "'^ ^*'''"'' '^"^'^ ^^e people ^liich is the ' "smito the "f iron," i.e., ^10 fioicenoss n crush the crushed in n f'r this also, <^h "S when me covered as h a vino- wer of tlie with their in blood "^ ' is written e acCon of > and it is e juice is fi heaven 'ne linen, esus, who n Bozrali ? strength ? 'ou red in ie-fat ? I none with ''"'■y ; an^/ n all nij of niy re- d I won- :ht salva- ge people wn their OF Tin: REVELATION. 11/ i} have the advantage of seeing gospd tn.th in its purity „„d „,,„ -3 as ,t were cIotl,e,l with righieonsne™ as wi.h '^vS Id clean garment, will now nni.e with Jesns in the w.Mf X 7Zii : """^ "' '1'" "'"'""' '" "'^' """'. "■' - w . .i tn«t ot iigliteousness ami of trutli.' """"ing a lt^i ' ™" "" ""°'-'' »"""""«>■» the sun ; an,l he erio-l with a loud v„,co, saying to all the fowls that flv in the „„ J f h-ven, Con,e, a„d gather yourselves toge llr nn : \f the flesh of eaplains, and Ihe flesh of mij-hly men and fit I 1 both free and bond both small and great. And I saw the b^s" and the k.ngs of the earth, and their armies, gathered Lefc to make war against him that sat on the horsf anTaJZ, t her.;7h .r?" ^t::^ '-'t "■"• """ '"'"^'' i--' - mem that liad received the mark of the bea-t and tJwm. .1 . worsh,pped his i.age. These both were east Id ve i L"! 1' of fire b„rn„,g wuh brimstone. And the remnant were sll flesh!" = ""'' "" "'^ ''''^^'"'■•« '^"^■'1 "i'h their fow'ls^!- '""'• T''"'-r' "■' "«'" "f "'^ S»«P°'i »d "the towls ,.y ,n the midst of heaven " symbolize al tho»e wL .'rerru'?""'^ 'r™--^ -^ '^-.rerin^'LSrrnd! n«, even as ' birds are able to ascend in " the air " ^see Tn &t ' Eov ix. 2 ; xvi. 17, pp. 36, 93). And " thiflesh oJ cast them into a furnL of rsnS^ fil r 1 • '^" ""^^'"'^' ""^ «'''''" i»g and gnashing of 'eeth tTJj nh- 1''''°"^ •' '^'''' '^'""^^ ^' -'^'J- in the kingdom ^flZZj Z ! ^ "'^^'*''''' '^^"^ f'''^ «* '^'^ ««» % 116 A SIMPLE INTEKPKETATION 'i, Hon, Rev. x,\i. 16, p. 102). Thoioforo when " an anirol - i. ,. &c., It 18 signified that the light of -osnel truth «l.„ll , ' onh ao brightly and clca^ .ha. tXc"; ':"::;'';;;: «b.hty ,„ advance or progress in n„der..a„ding, Bhirbc c„l e, "pon to gather themselves together and f„t„ ",1 1 , and dominion, and the me^tZTlH; ? j ^'«g<\om, heaven " (Da , vii 27f «^ ] '""^'^'"" ""''" ""^ '^'"''" luan, vu 27), and so consume tlio wealth of kinrrs us sha Ue j ,d41\es 'for t : hT""''"'''' ""* '" "^ '^'P^''^'' ;r,"VrX'".or srpS-r-- - '' -. -" So .t IS said, when "the beast, and the tings of the earth fr:rhif:xirt:-:;-"\:rt^^^ ^iSi:^""" 1 r -«"™ o,^rn;min;iirchrtL :^ civilized world—see Interpretation, Rev. xvii 'a\ qq^ ^ taken, and with him the faW pro;>het m/^VIZ -e fold, aad 0^.1.^ 1 JohT tt ^' ™'''' ""^ *- *"" be ngel " is re- lill tho fowls vc» togetlier b of kings," I now shino squired tho II be called ) kingdom, r the whole I of kings, ord of the ed as pro- l of God " !es of men, wealth at nee of the 'iir ability ner as the 3 apostles' expended 3 faithful, U now be re, "one he earth, kinst him 3ast {i.e., •istian or )9), was . teachers ish] fold : shall be OF THE RRV^I.ATION. 117 rT.f/xli7:":."^*?[^**^«*""*«--- interpretation. Rev. iA. 1.; XII. 4 xni. 13-17 mi A*> «i ti t.>\ i .igns befcrc l,i;, with wl.id,' 'lotiv',, in'' '„::', ^'"'"''l ir ",''™'i "■" -»'"'"'ing or actions «l,„wc., 'l.nt , y weri i," fl ucncod c.,ther by ,ho f„ko doctrines of Catholicism r W,, 1 trTTT'^r"": '"'"l-'"«-"- B«v. xiii. .2,15; XV 2 pp. 71 83) These both ,vcrc est alive into a lake of fire bL m? with br„„,tono (i.e., were divide,! up into e.4oe, in X Zn part,es and ao, a, it were, consnmed, for they ,' Ln no longer be great and powerful nations c^oomnun' tie - enter pretation, Eev. ix. 17-19, pn 41 49] An,i *i , tW whoso nndcrstanding'o': :c't;o:P;how:d t ll Z;Z':^ nfluenced e,ther by the false doctrines of Catholicis„7o of Pro testant,sm) were slain with the sword of him f Jesnsl that s! upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of Ms Z h and all the fowls were filled with their flesh."' ' PAET VII. Rev. xx._"And I saw an angel come down from heaven s the' nt 1 ti "''' ™ "'" '''•"SO", that old serpent, which ■» fto^Devd^^nd&ta and bound him a thousand years, and .tain the pri<) for durable clothing. 118 A SIMPLE INTERPKETATION ? i the t,L»d ;etf2:X\traZ.T.'X::rr '"• be loosed a little time (xpoVo.) ' '' """ ^^ ""'^* beheaded for the Ihrei^s nf T f/"'* °^ ""^'" """ "<"•« which had n ;™ ;;^' t j' :f '","\'°^'' °'«°"' ^-^ bad received his Ta f mon I f ' ?'"f ""^ ™''^^' "^i^^' ™d they lived Lt^ZltckZ'lt' " ''■; "=^'' '='""'^' the rest of the dead lived n f aga V t "tr"! '"Z ''"' were finished Thi^ i« th. « . *^® thousand years is ho that hi Sin^:iT:::zT"- ^'"^^"-^ -" ^-"^ death hath no power but thevT ,. - " : ™ ™'''' ^l-o '^"'"^ CbHst, and shal,'r4n 'rhltr^rCs". ^"^ ™^ "^ An angel is represented as coming- dnv^Jf i viousto the .illen^i^., with ''Z^tT ^ ^^^^^^^^ ledge] and a great chain in his h.nrl " / • -f L^ ^"^^■ abyss '' of knowledge should n': h:ined (S ^ l!' ^'^ see Interpretation, Rev. ix 1 n ^a^'TZV « %/' be, that knowledge shI 1 now ^* ^ \ *^' consequence shall not be. ^i::--^^^^^^^^^^^^^ vails, his power is very ^reat hnZ\ , 'ignorance pre- ledge prevails, he iZfTer'^^^^^^^^^ ^-- led.e], and shut up, and a seal sl^p il'f^f flf/ ^T^ light or knowledge will enable m.n • 7^ ' / ' spiritual artifices or deceits and sotn ^^^^^^^t^ly to discern his enthralment ' *' ^''^^'"^ '^'"^^'^'^^ ^ee from his The word " pit " (in the 1st and 3d verses of tl^Ic i, . n • not . the original Oreet .• so it is not 'Hrpifof' the t^'^ :j , and set a more, till at he must judgment that were 'God, and re, neither Jir hands; ars. But and years and holy he second »d and of ■ven, pre- of know- lat "the 'a key," nee shall tan shall housand be, were bility to nee pre- r know- ■ know- piritiial ern his fom his pter) is 'ss " of OF THE REVELATION. 119 knowledge which is now to be opened by the angel ffor that was opened long ago by Wycliffe-see Interpretatbn, Rev. i; tF^' ' ^^' ^""^ " ^^^ ""^y^^ " "^ knowledge itself When " the pit of the abyss" of knowledge was - opened," an obscured spiritual light prevailed, and eventually weakened in a great degree the power of Antichrist (see Interpretation, Rev. IX. 1-12 pp. 30-39) ; but now that " the abyss" of knowledge itself IS opened, not only is the power of Antichrist entirely overthrown tin- 'r ^T ^"T^? ''"^'^'^ ""'"''^y i^^^^^'^^«« ; t^^^efore, at this time, "the souls of those who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God," are represented as sitting upon thrones, and living and reigning with Christ a thousand yc4-8. The word " beheaded " is not here to be understood literally as meaning those only who were actually « beheaded" (for those would constitute but a very small portion of the faithful), but figuratively, as meaning those who had ceased to be guided or governed by their own will or selfish inclinations, inasmuch as they sought before all things to do the will of God, so that thev no onger existed as selfish individuals, but became, as it were, "one body, guided and governed by " one head," even Jesus Christ i theZT^'^.u^Z"^-" '' '' '''^^^' '''^^ '^'^ " '^^^^^ ""^ worshipped the beast neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or upon their hands," /..., they showed, neither by a darkened understanding, nor by unholy actions, that they were influenced either by the false doctrines of Catholicism or by those ot Protestantism (see Int., Rev. xiii. 16 ; xv. 2, pp. 72, 73, 83). J He raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in tlie Te2l£r' • ••-'^'-^\P"*«" things under his feet a J^l^t: « 6e jAe Wover all thmgs to the church, vM is Us body. ... But speak- ing the truth m love, may grow up in hi™ in all things, whicli is the head b;tha?:i ■, "" "■"•" ''' "'^'^ '^'^' ^■''^•'■"'-'^ t"^'^ther and omp2 ntasut ofetr"' f '"V^"??!'^^'^' --^-S to the effectual working in the olT 1 '"^f^'h •""^'*'^ '°^'-«««« «t-the body unto the building up [ds iiaelf in love.— Eph. i. 20-23 ; iv. 1 5. 16. I' 120 A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION These are they of whom Jesus spe.ks, when he says " Th. feon of God, and they that hear shall live " fJohn v Ir Interpretation, Eev. vii 9 17 n 2q q \ I } ^^ ' ''"^ rest nf tI,o ^ \i r • ' ' P* ^9-31 . But concerning " the that Ma,og, Mesheoh, and Tl,,tei Bee r;;-ln^^ we may co„ol„do that it is the '"'« "f (ire. This - ^ook .,f ,iff:^-cit:';h:7ak:^ ^-- -- '« i r^hterl:;":: he'To'-s^^""'"'"^' '''<"""™™ of """'^ -u be rone othe an J , T""?' ^T' ""'^ *''™- "the earth and the heaven Z' '" "^^ '^^"<''" " '« «^W. place for them." '""'y' ""^ "'*"•« "as found n,! " The earth" symbolizes the civilized wnrM I- civilised world is somewhat elpvLf , ("'•■'™iol' as the wWoh is symbolized br' the el-t tT "'^' ''™"'^" "»"•'' 1-3 ; xiii. 11, pp. 27, ^0) A„; " J»'«'Fetation, Bev. vii. kingdom of irfel as it shall be/ " ..""™" '^'""'"''''^^ "'« l^ingdom of Israel shall then I ?° *' "iHenniam (for the world, even as " L 1 e ,e ™ is :;'''™^1 '"'"'' "^ "^"''--d -'1-en it is said that ..rearth and tl" ' *' '""'"^ ' "=''^*« ^S with ])riTn- nod by «< divi- be earth. In fn that of the » the lake of ards. ?at on it, from ■nd there was ill and great, and another ie dead were le books, ac- dead which I which were iiig to their >ffij-e. This 1 written in n of purity this throne it is said, s found no luch as the hen world, !, Eev. vii. bolizes the u (for the > civilized therefore ^'ay [from em," it is ^ael (such ce to the OF THE KEVEJ,ATI0N. ^^ stated that tl,„re »hall then be .^n ' ^^'^ ^ '' ^^""^ ■'''» it i, "fter that judgment shaH Inve T'^'^T''" °'"''^''">™ ^o.K tudes who shall ecme .Z.TjsrZ" iT''^ "P™ "'"- ■»"'«' Jenmum. It ;, *,„„ j,,^™'' 7°<'' »' ^e e^^pimtion of the miU "'- of the u„j„st .ha , 'C:?'™, '""' °^ "- •'■•-' -'I *rst resurrection., ° ''^ ^''"«'.' so ilso was the When it is said that " the boni-. „ were judged o„t of those thn.swtLT"''' '''"'""^' ^"^ '^' ''''"'I according to their works " itl '^ "'=!7"o,"'-"'cn in the books, each shall be as just and'en 1 Us fi t ""' ^^ J-^S"™' " one was recorded in a book ^!. I ! 1 ° ''•' "'""''' "''^ "'^-^■y book was opened, which s'the tk oTrf '^ "'' ""' " ™»"'- now many shall be " written in fteT "'" " '^ ''^niM that Bhall enter into "the hoy oi v" wh.r \''°*''^"f«'" ™" «» lowing chapter. ^ ^ ^'""^ " described in the fol- wWeh reside the imperfect or " S'^ " "i". ^P'"'"''' -o^^, in ttey have been disunited from '' '"\T''' "' '"™- a'er Interpretation, Eev. v 8 T 24 ! 7"" " ^^^I^'^ ''odies (see "the eea gave up the dead ;f I' '"^"''^' *'"'" '* ''« sai'l, M delivered up rderwhTdrl"""'\''' """ '^-* ""^ John V. 28, 29. '"'^^ ^'"^ r.,«„.,c^,-o,, ,^ e/a«„a^,-^;, _ 'f 124 A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION judged with perfect jZeeC;,,,:!:" """ "^ ''"^^'' "P -" ">« l.oIy city (.ee Ecv xx 271 'U ' -™ '^ '° ™'" '"'" and hell wer oasfS hke'I f r'':;'"''^*'^'"'^' "'J^"'' and whosoever was not found wrf,^?." "' ""-' '''""'^ '^'^'H "dfvision." """ •'^, «'"™'"^<1 "y spiritual "fire," which i. ""h'''rpt:^wYt:i:t^:°7f^^^^^^^^^^^^^ wortV to .join the company of those who ^.^:L^TZ an,ong those ""delt" or I^e a"" M''*^"" f'^'^''^' ^ " found written in the Wk of 1 fe- tW 1 "^ ^'""'•'"' says (Rev. xxi.) " i„d iT ° „ ' ™'"-«' '^1>™ the apostle for tie first htvef an Te feTe aX" "' "^ "'^ "'"«' = (Rev. X.. 11), he immedia ty a ds " and tl?""' "'"^ " sea." ^ ' ^"° ^'^ere was no more «od ttf itiv^ Satlr Yrt "' ^""'"^ ^-" ^-» And I heard a grlf Xe 'ou of het °"""" '" '"•«'"'"^- S e^i To.ce out oi heaven, saying, Behold, the world, and of the world of ■aised up and f of life," are to enter into s said " death econd death], f life was cast ;1 world, and Iso all those Iter into the e," which is lat the state nned to that as a state of t this time, onseqnently sed by " the 3ed to " the "no more fe heathens l^^V^l or shall 'be the apostle lew earth : ed away " 5 no more lown from husband. ihold, the OF THE REVELATION. 125 tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes ; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor cry- ing, neither shall there be any more pain : for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Be- iiold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write • for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me. It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things ; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcei^rs, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which IS the second death." " The holy city " (which is represented as "coming down from God out of heaven" after that judgment shall have been inflicted upon those who shall be induced to come up against the camp of the saints " at the conclusion of the millennium), symbolizes the elect saints who shall have become " as the angels of God, and shaU also be adorned with all spiritual adornments : therefore, "the holy city" is said, at this time, to be "pre- pared as a bnde adorned for her husband." These elect saints (which, taken together, constitute, as it were he tabernacle " in which God " will dwell," John xiv. 23) shall now remain with men on the earth, and so elevate and perfec mankind, that at last even "death" itself shall be swallowed up m victory" (see Interpretation, Eev. i. 18, pp. 5, 6) ; so that " there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain; for the former thmgs [shall have] passed away;" therefore, at this time, "a great voice IS represented as coming "out of heaven, saving, Be- hold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dweH with V2(i A .Sr.MPLR INTERPRETATION tlicm, and tliov ^Ii-ill i,,. u- ^ipnii and Onu'o-a " nm tu r even as all tho letters ^ithXJlTl T '"'' "''"'''' «■»- tl.c letters "Alpha and Omc«n " , u ""' """"''«'' «"""" " the Almighty whicl s '^d w °T ""'' "'" '"''■" ^° *»' io i» (Kev. i. 8),° and is able'arwe;'' ! T ''""' ""''' '^ '"-"o " that is athirst „f the fo ntlirTo th. '"°" /v " ^''^ ""'» ''™ " The fountain of t\JZZLt.^''"'\ "i^* f^b'-" (-e Interpretation, Kev .W 4 1 T 8° 8)"^^";"'^ '""'"' •Tesns says, " I will giy^ ,„„„ ,,, ' ^^ "' ^^J. ' therefore, when "f the water of life freely "it i'T « f f " °^ "'" '""»*•■"" -bsoqnent to the mil nninml t !"J ,"=" " ""'^ "•»» C"^- will be acqnircd hy man S It I °"? ' ""^"^''^ '™'l 'l"ence will be tl.at'the wMe ear^rr/'^"' "'" "'" «™- the knowledge of the gCof th T 1 T^' "^ " ^'^"^ "'"' sea " (Hab. ii. 14). ^ ^ ^' ^°"'' "« "=« ""'ers cover the vanced in generll nS-Jnet .hTt'"" "°"" ''"^ ^^ '^^ "<'■ enabled to reason clearly concer in- h 7°"^ "^" ''™'<' ''<' understand them (see Interpret n "'? *"'*'• ""'' «'«> ^ words, « It is done," are a^Tl' ?,'' "' P' »^)- ^hese a time more than 1 tZsand vef T™""" ^'"'' '" ^^f'=^^"ee to kind shall then luve soTr . 1 T'' *" ^'2""^ "=at man- multit„desshalla;i:knolZ°1.*°""t P^''-''-™. '■'at («., without havi'g tl laborSis t"7'f '™*^ " ^'^^'^ " when one may even be saM „ ol »l ?'"'''''«^' "' a* P^^-t, tal exertion a^d labo™ Clk Z'^^^T''''' '^^"^ '"^''■ ^ore, im.ediate.yafter saying, "U^^^^'I^j.^Z self shall be tters of the (1 Hs suying, end," it is w^ithin him, Jf anything- 3 that ho is s to come " "nto him y." enly truths •ore, when e fountain time (viz., eiily truth the conse- illed with cover the reference 50 far ad- w^ould be id also to . These Jrence to lat man- 3n, that freely " present, le men- : there- " I will OF THE REVELATION. 127 f fedy"" Th": ":' '' f"'"' "'"" f"""'-" "f *« water of life whatever ol«e ho i^Iea!: ,f„ te,: '; ^ IfrT'^ ""''' ""^ ;- toVst t;::;: rwiir jr-"^ 7"°^- fiiithful and true." ' "^ ""'*" ""'"Js •"■« perlt: r^nCJ:'"'"' ' "'"'"' "" '""^^ -"■" -'"-"be the niiuQa, bo mat 'the former tliino-Q " cV,oii i, ."en;isr:?,r^':!::.^--»gh.„a^ , i;erce„tiMe p..„ce a™,,,,, the„ (.el,,.::;,. L KeT 7/ nismoiitb (8eeInterp,-etalon, Eev.xix I'i 91 ,„, iq f,^ i, after the n,ille„„i„n, shall h ve " pZ^d al' 'L; 1' ,, ^ guided and enlightened by the liflTt of "m i^' "'" "''•''" ^ which is represented as bei'g " j 1 „ wCn T'"'r"T'' his strength," for at this time Jel si n . '^"'' '" "f his F-,iI>.r „ ■., 1 • . "" ■"""« "1 the glory 128 A SIMPLE INTERPRETATION ■ike «j,.p„r. tote, <^eJ:JZ^^^ZIT 'T'T' """ .reat and high, having [|,„/.„j L^'S^rZ^l^'Z^Jf twdve angels, and names written thereon wllh ,i ^ of the twelve tribe. „f the ciuidren „ 'I " frt" f." ^H" east, three gates, from [&■!] the north three/? ^7°^ "° south, three sates- and fmm .1, , ^"''"'' ^""^ "'" -d furlongs : the length, and the b:l LT he'I: I^^f "; are equal. And he measured the w«ll thJ T , ? ^* ^^ Clous stone (irai/T AWw Ttui',,, 1 TJ,„fi. »!• " .'"■ «™ry pie- n,„ 1 "wy Ti^iy.j I he hrst foundation was iisnov the second, sapphire; the third, a cha'oedonv th„ f Ik*^ ' emerald; the fifth, sardonyx. • the stthTr' "'!/°''"''- » chrysolite; the eighth, ber r;' ^hrX^.'^r: hi rel^a ohrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twemh,' an ameW^t rf-:sf:::d\i-:-K^-^^^^ thereof. And the nations shall walk in the light of it : a^d t Hid showed iiiv *Upov- ? the glory cious, even also a wall t the gates the natti'i [«ToJ the from the And the them the mb. And 3n reed to II thereof. ■go as the Ive thou- ig:litofit dred and , that is, " jasper : he foun- ery pre- i jasper ; Jrth, an seventh, tenth, a aethyst. al gate Id, as it for the And hine in e light nd the OI' THE ItKVLLATION of life." '^ *'™'' "o wnlten in the Lamb's book out of heave/ft"^ ^f^ ^ ^"Fe-nted a, « „,»ecn,li„. « ' t 0,0 „,,« „, symbolic ";":,,■: '2'7;, '» -S"'ty that 'vl.o had previously been sepantod fro ^ " ^ ^"■''•' »» "'""o ni ght dwll ivJd, ri i • , P'"^'"'"' ffom among- men il,.,t .] o luv.u Willi God in heaven) ^^ed. '«y shall come to en ^l fe^ : d J'V /'^ ''"'-^ ""^•" *'- thousand years hence. P"^'"^' """'W"'!, about a The "great and high wall" nf .i l , those who are destined to ris from ' '""'^.'"^ 'y'"^'^'^^ all appointed for " the firs r er.ttln'^7 VT' "' "^ "- have entered the kingdom „f" '■ ^"■■' "" *hose who shall f i"g up of Satan' °t one ntre"":""?"'^"^' "^'-e" t " the seventh cenlury, and the "e torat „ ' f t'"/^ ''^^■""-^ »f these onr own days (see Interpretlt'fi o"" '"'' ^™»' i» Those were before symbolized by "'fr '"• ^-"' PP" ^^-Sl). e.Tea before and behind" (see T,L , "^ creatures, full of -d now they are symbol ted by T ?' ""T "' '' P" '«) i «g».fy that they will con^lj .» S^''<"« ""d high wall," « "all" for the protection ofl^ Z Tu " -^ ^''"^ »" %h k-ngdom of heaven with I ttleT. '" '''"""^'^' »"=>• the -11 therefore be liable t! fell romT ."""""f °'^"'' ^^ *ho ».'«>= formerly did (see I„tSrrr.?rr? -^ 130 A SIMPLE INTEHI'Rin'ATlON T .0 twclvo fonn "=""« "P°f S''""''^ throne m the oa th abou tho beginning „f the seventh eontury ; there! foro are the twelve name» „f the twelve apostles of .1, , Umh w„ ten upon them," for it w.u, by n,eans of 1 preach g of th! twelve apostles that they received heavenly light sniHeic^nt to enable them to enter the kingdom of heaven' These wfr befo e symbolized by twelve out of " the twentv-four elders " „„S i by t.«" man-child" „r"Miehael" (seelX* ^n, k/v t 4 ; .,,5 7, pp. 17, 18, G2, (is). And now they are s™ ill zed by ' the foundations of the w„ll of the city," to signify tT.uthev w,n eonstuute as it were a firm foundati™ whereto to bul Is " :r\ ';™7'"' -7y«.bolized by "the wall of tho city" The " twelve angels" at " the twelve gates" symbolize all those who were enabled to enter the kingdom of heLen during and previous o the days of the apostles, by means of the heavenlf bght vouchsafed to the twelve tribes of Israel, therefore "a sa.d, Ihe names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel [were] wntten upon them -these also were before Tymbo&e by twelveout ofthetwenty.fourelders,a„dbythe "hinredand forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of ilel" (see Interpretation, Eev. vii. 4-8 , xiv. 1, pp. 27, 28, 75 A„d now they an. symbolized by " twelve angekat (L ,;elv gates" kingdom of heaven) they opened, as it were, " the gates" of h^ ho y city, so that multitudes might be enabled to enteT fter hem It IS said as one comes "from the east [there wereVthr™ gates ; from the north, three g.tes ; from theLth, thr e^gl eT and from the west, three gates," to signify that now many "shall eome from the east and from the west, from the north and tm the so^iuh, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God" JlX The holy city is represented as being "twelve thousand fur- y symbolize interval be- tan's throne wry; thero- i' tlio Lamb !liirig of the ufficient to ^^'^^ those who sufticient protection to the nhabi . i: f ^ '''" ^^"«^'^"te a - a wall a hundred and Irty t / ?•! ' .^^ ^^"^^ «^^^^ even I-toct the inhabitants of t^^^^^^^^^^^^^ '''^' -"^^ effectually Ilie " cubit" is the len-th nf J ^' . top of the middle finger and 't /' "™ ^'""^ '^^ ^^^^^^ ^'^ the lish measure; the Cat uW "f 1 ^''^^^^^^ ^"^'-'«' ^ consequently it is abcmt on fo t '' 'V''' " handbreadth/' «). The furlong or sta liu.n Z P" - '"'^''' ^^'"^' ^^- ^ '' ^H- part of an English mi e I/T ^'^i " '"l'^ ^'""^ ^^^ ^^^^^ written, it was used by the lit m ^^^'^ ^^^^^^^^'^'^ ^a« j"st as miles are now, l^ tie Br tth "^;;^ ^^"^"^^ ^'«'-^«e«, ^ " The building of he J;^'' ' ' I'l '" "^"• ^eing of "jasper," to sigl^y tint h ',"' ' "^^^^^^^^^^ «« "the wall" of the holy city M,. 1 "^^^ '^' symbolized by even as "jasper" is e' fed " L'^'T^' ''^'^"^ ^^^^^"^ --' «o also " the holy city" its^f is 2" ""'^T'^ ^""^'"^ «tones like unto clear Ja.s," t^ !n IfT.?*'' '^ ^^"'^ " P'^'^ ^old l^y "the holy citv' sh.n b? f^ . '^^''' ^^^° '''' «vmbolTzed ''p- goid"'is :;t jm leZ'T'r'^' ^" ^^^^^'•^' --« " The foundations of the waU" tteT T'^''' as "garnished with every reciou« . ^^ f ^^^3^ ^^^ ^-Presented ^;««« sons ofZion, <^or;paral^ofiZl^^^^^^ *«? « ^^ ''''^''- ^^^Prt P'tcber, the work of tlfo hands :me^:;itLr h ^ rT^'" ^^^^'^'^ 132 A SIMPLE INTKKPKKT,^^,^^ -^s a general rule nflin,. +i,- -«clo of merohand!;; eltT-n'""'- """"' ''" -'- of an, ™« or wei,.ht of the a«ide ^l T '^"^' I"-°P"^«°» «» ho P» egold is worth just i.iLTLblT'"''''' '"" °"»o- » !-» tins rule does not hold Jd witT ? ounce of pure gold • wi.oh happens to be twiee t Jl "^ 1° '''''*- «>' « Pe l' differ from it i„ „„ other resped J T "'""''"' "'ough it n,a ' bar, one thousand times asCuIh ^ ." ?""■"'«' "^ »orth more oemg "»fone pearl," to siffnifv.i ^"'o" is represented a<, "to are symboLed by thl"^^ f » , mestimable value of th„se g«tes" of the holy city as ^''*'.' "' "'« ioly city . Th the hundred and forty and four Z ^7i" "''' «P'Wented by O-t very narroVire^a' 71 tVT'^' '""-"^ «P-tin, Jho came t„ ,he city might rest ^^K ^1"°' ^^''' »" ^'--angeS So the "street [or rathe the IroaTf *''' °''"^'»' Worses, & « represented as being ''Z'X " ?' "^"""^ "' ">e c ty " toj.gnify that those a\oCh:?^''r,T'.->'«P-entg,asV. beyond othe,., even as pure louL val fi"'^ *'" ""^ ^"'"ed (for none shall be permitted tf./ ? '' ^^'""^ °">er metals -ho shall be found'worthy iTZ''" ''"'^ "'' •"" 'bos"! y Concerning the holy eft; Tt if 'r': ''>• ^^i^^^^^^iJr:?;;;;:;;;;;;:^ — -±!2:j:!£^|^!^ambarethe .empie <'«'• of the sheep ""'° ""•"^s'"". ^^Si;^^^^;;,;^?;--^^ Ih! saved &,. I i' ' • ^ "^ 'lie door: bymeifln -"^ ■'°"'-'^''»"*e "• <''•— Jolin X. 7-9. "^ ■"' " »°y man enter i„, l,, j,,,,,, holy city. The i'gnify the great ' elect, even as mdations of the e value of any portion to the tw^o ounces of J of pure gold; r^s, for a pear] '^ough it may IS worth more wice as much ^presented as alue of those 2^*7- " The " the first- wsented by ^-4) as "the 7 speaking, II strangers horses, &c. ■ the city " 'ent glass," he valued her metals those only 10 temple he temple h lam the '-, Ije shall , OF THE REVELATION. jg„ tl>ercfo>.e it is said als L . t „f /f " """^ '» J-"' ["., of the light of the lln It f. "" "''"^ of «"' ^x 'awa„di.„ph«,, se InferStfon p" ""'" """^ C"'' "' *^- in it, for the gl„™ of God did l', J ""'■ '' P' "'1' *« ^'"'"^ light thereof," .-.I tho i' ^ ''" ,"',!'"'* "'" ^"'■"l' i« the shall derive their ™irit,T»l 71 '''\^y"'^o\hed by the holy citv the Father and r r^r^'tdl "" h'^'^? Oi«otly fro^God law and gospel, as hitherto ' '"'''""^ ''^ "^'■'"^ «' 'l"- be erased from the Lg il ra"n falioTT h*"'"'; "" '■"^•" "> simple meaning of the iJ.TvT'J *^^^ ""'^ "bscure the shall be full of'theTn': d! ' "h >" '":' "' "'"'^ " <'""' waters cover the sea "rhette at hf^ V^' "'""' ^' '""^ cular nations which shall walk in t' "■''.*"'^" '« "ot any parti- are symbolized by the hi :tv u ^"T''''''«'''''f '''°»'' who earth, and tJZZi7l^'^! Z:^^':'^' "-"^ earth [will] bring their glory and hon'ouH to t-''^ f "' 'r ^i'°^r ~- -^^^^^^ w:s^:tttVft:ththt »-'''-" o^tt^rit; and yielded her ftniu tyt nth "ndl" r""""" "^ ^""'^> were for the healing of the n7«! ' it , ''"^^ "^ ""« "•«« curse = and [.a!] hf thr«e of God . /"T ^'"" "' "" »<"- it; and his Lints eht s ^^^m a„d tf ^T" """' '^' '"" nrnStr/'L'thi; n '--" "-"- ^^ -.•iMhex;rrij^rtrmr.i!?ririr ' '^''•-j oiifui reign X > i \l:l It 134 for ever ^n, -'' "^^^^^'TATm ^vci anci ever a i "»»'» the thi„rwW. "■ '™' l"' angel to r^ ^™"'' '^-"'- tie street," or rather of'VrT™'^'' "» W " in rt • on either side nf »t • ^ '"'<««* place C^A - , *" '""'s' of «"y ; so also « iJ,"""^ '^H at this til it ""»" *« "e'r ■"""nor of fruit! T .""'■'■»> --^present!:, "[' """' 'h" ioly "•at those wh"tr''.{'"''''°^'« Cevel"' ''""'■^ "'■'^'ve "ould al«ra., obLt .1 /"^O"' and at al L ""'" '» "oquire . ^'X'""" said that "It-, " ^""^fruft blessed "asoJif ""* ali the nations r.™"^' '' '"' ei-- "n" shall have„"de^l^^ f""' "^'^ t i ' l'*" ""'' "«* — ________~nd.nff liltennto his^fht ?„ t:\P'''^»oe, 'yi^j- , • ' ""^^"a, tboasl I?' 'dyings are '0^ unto hfs ser- fl^K I come °* *he propbecjr "^J truth which '"/"»«, or more '•^ver from the "^ *be midst of ') of the city, Pif'tual nutri- ^ha» be verj '^ter the holy •^'ng " twelve ''" to signify '® ^^ acquire '^en as they ^^i^ fruit '^ the heal- 'th will be ^wb shall '^"m: and leir fore- now not ''•esence, I though ■use thou OF THE REVELATION. ,«^ not m degree, even as an infant is hW . tion, Rev. xiv. 1-3 p 751 Tnf 1 ,f . ""^^ ^'"^ Interprota- dominion of that p rfect ihl '" ^' ''''^^'''^^ ""^^^ the bolized by « the th^nrof |^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^"f ^ ^^-^ i^ ^y- tion, Rev. xx. 11, p. 122) • therefl . ""-^ ^''' Interpreta- sball be no night there (/i' no s.t^' Va T"" '"^^ '^'' " '^^^- and they need no candl ^Li he t^ fth""" ''^ '^^^^•^^)'- God giveth them light • Ind thev 1 '"" ' ^'' ^^' ^^^^ "And I John saf th^L th?n/. i T^". ^'^ ^"^^ ^"^ ^^^r-" I bad beard and sren Ife 1 .f . """^ '^''^' ^"^ ^^en tbe angel which sWed me tber/b' "'^^'S '^'"^ *^^ ^^^ of -e, See thou do it notTfri am thv ll^ ^'" "'^^ ^« ^^^ brethren the prophets, and of thelX^^^^^^^ this book : worsi -p God And hT T ^ *^^ "''^y'^S's of payings of the prophecy of fhl book 1 T "^' '^^^ "^'«- -i":and ^^f! i^h^l^tim b^^^^^ and the end, the first aid th^t^s't ^B 1.?^' ^^^^^^"-^ his commandments, that their ^1 • ^^ ^'' ^^'^ ^^^' do through the gates into the c ty tZll'l ^'^^ "^^ ^"^^^ ^ cerers, and whoremongers and I'T ""^ ^'' ^^Bs, and sor- whosoever loveth and'm 1^^. HeT^^^^^^ ^"V'^^^^^'^' ^"^ * ^^^'^ ^ Jesus have sent mine * ^«AoZJ «j^a# wanwgr of love the FnH.. i .7^ ~ I'^^W 6e oa^fe^ the soru> of Ool he.So ! L u f'"'^'' «^" «'' ^^-' «'« 't knew him not. Beloved, no^ are ^eX ^'''i -T^ "' ""*' '^^'^'^"«« appear what we shall be: 5. shall fake awTf ""^ *"'«en in th/1 f f °'' '''«" «dd «»<* shall tat/, ^ f"" ">« "ordsof i T ^""'k : and if a " ?" tliit (ertifieth ,r "'^"""SS which arew,-» ' *"<■ <"« of f-^\ Even :'„ :^:: f'J saith, S r;'!" "> *"« boot. •f^f"^ Christ be w th ^m' '■'' "^"'«- The i °" '!"''<'%•• ,,.The apostle is t:^^, ^ ' ,!"' "'^ " («>'-) ^ "" "' »' ^ord i Slrr^ "'^' '^^-lt:?f o^'^-e pr„p,eey „, S"oh a manner atrbe "" '° "^ ^-^Z' Zt'^''" ^«- -an; "nderstand as Z ° '" ''^^''''y a »•<;»./„,• ""^ ""> apostle in ««« wysfe^). "^'"'''' ^^ no ;.,,,fe,,.^^ "^ proper means to do ""ixst still," &. , '""^ « a' iand ; . . i. ,. , . ^i""' be „i h ^■ '^^'f'^'fy that wien Jesnt " '"''"'' '^' b™ be sball be;" so ,u^'- '" ^""^ to everv !, ™<""»os, bis "reward" '" give to the .L Jnt^lTV ^""""^ ^"^ ^^« ^"^^ ^ It is said, "Blessed ar^ they tCd^h^ '" '"*' '' P' ^^^^• their authority may be over f^ ! his commandments, that those who obey thelm Jnlt^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^V^ ^'^^^''^^ *^^^ acquire the spiritual nutrirenrwht''"?^^"" ^^ ^^^^^^^ ^ tual life. '"^ ""^'"h imparts and sustains spiri- Jesus says that he is « th^ David and to his offiprine shJ hJ f ,«n .. P™""'" """"e to shall be to the well displd .m '^ "' ""'• ^° ">«« he -orning when the sSh""!::*^ '''"' ".«' '"o light of the (see 2 Sam. ^xiii. 1-5 feli ) ^ ™™"'e ""h™' douds" " ^^t^'J^'^::^'^-'^^ '" .he « te™ comprehended in the general tZ, uk T'. "' ''''^ ""»»<"■ are Virituall^ " W the wordf of ,^ f"*^''" ^»'' "-"^^ "''o those who understand ZZ L^i?^°^/ ""^ ''""t-" a™ the Bride say, Come. And le't , imt," I .'' ""!' "^'"' ^P'"'»'^ let him that is athirst come and wh "''^, ''^^ ^'""•'- ^nd water of life freely," 11^1™!!^^ ""' '^' '"'" '"''» 'he "f Jesns shall now cal ,non ! f . 1 '"«"' ""'' 'he elect of heavenly truth to "cle-ld!" "V'l' "'^ """"""'s^ And whosoever " heareth"!"/ >,'''' ""' '"'"""edge freely, words of the prophecy of Ihih' ."""T ^'"'» ""''erstund " tlfe 'he angels an'd ttlct of Je „ Ih ° """'"' '""""^ "'"^ posed among men to " col. " ^ ? f ^^ "f™ 'he well dis- - symboliJd by "the w"L o? Vf""'/ "'T'^" °' '^'" -""-h Wi- 6, p. 126). ^ ""' "^ '"^^ (=00 Interpretation, Rev. The word ..and" in thebeginningof the twelfth verse. and t„e f li ' 138 "'"•'' " '■<>■•" in the u .. "^''WAnoN. "if -nal Greek. '""" "'"' eighteenth verses „ 5" ">« eigliteenth «„, • '"^' "^o "ot fn the not to "ad,! .„ .. " "'neteentli v snj-ed that Jesus »■„""'« '"'™«'''h vemT °^ ^^^ P'oP^eoy ■"""y shallt; ^-i r^ ^^-^ 'hat he deW aT" """' " 'i^'^^^y" "-^r "ere from tte t ''' ''^" "^^p! a i th ^''*""''' °^ ''« ,. Tie "Postle then eo^rj"^ "'""' "'^^C'^If r^'""' »' ' Lord Jesus Christ be ^ th all "'''"■ *^Hi] aii saints." ^^e not in the ^ ai-e cautioned of the prophecy ^^^« ag:ain as- ^at" quickly," ^^'^e ; so that promise of his rs continue as Peter Hi. 4j_ the benedic- ' a^^ saints." «BI0M0» OP JBWH « ISEiEL * The word of thp T r^^A over tho„ «,„ „, Ltf:;X:X;» ;? "■^' -^••■'^. ^ore. ": «-«-«, and wrifrpoTf ; '"Z"'"^''"'"'"' 'hen' jom hem one to another into Tne IT " '<'"'^«»'"-- and r r '^""' *""* ^■"5 when The oVu' ""^ ""« "^» ^^"'""^ «Peak nnto thee, saying, Wm tho,, "f" "^ '^^ P»P'« shall meanest by these? Sa/into them V '^7 ™ "'"'* 'hon Behold, I will take the stick of r^nhtr^ ""^ ^""^ G«ii Ephram, and the tribes of CelS'n '"'" " '" ""o ^"^ « w;th h,m, even with the st eTof ^,f ^"^ ^'^ '-i" Pit them »tK=t, and they shall be one ,W \' ^"^ """^o ""em one -bereon thou writest shall be t ^C'r"; /■"" «■« stick. And say nnto them, Thus saiti, ,^ r ""^ ^^°"' their eves ^ke the children of Israel f:m,m„Lt?'.*'1' ^^'■''"'- 1^" he gone, and will gather them ^ """'hen, whither ther 'nto their own landfandV!,^ "" ^^^ ««», and bring , hem ^pon Ike mountain, oTlrJ^ Tf """> ""^ ""''on » l/an" hen, all: and M^iiT^:!™; '"'"^ ^hall be kinj "tf '% fe rf«%rf ,-„to , "^ «" «<»•« too nations, neither ehall Iz?'^" ^"■'^■- »7t:';z.rr» .^' f •■ -"her ,;:;? detestable things, nor with anvJi- " '^°^' ""^ with their - «hem out of all thelrTw^^ll;:::^-^!- ^ Iwii; or -e, w„erem iney have 140 9 "'" "^'-OHATION 0,.- because tho^r h *^® children nf r , ^^ («., the other ten trib!!'! '" ■"" » with th 7 f ,f' * "'■^'evor r ^/^^L ^"scattered n- ** " "'st net n««v.i —'V nre ;^-^M the other ten triZt '' "«* «^ with Z f , f ^' ^^^^'^vei ^ess, they are in ^ ""^'^'^^^y called the f.r, ! ^^ncerninir thnn, ^ 'before the RoT 7 ^ *^^ heathen no*- "^^ ^vii. q.^x , V ''f speaks .opSr''''«'^^« "otrritr ""'^ """' eoo *'"« 'hey uottrX """''''"S «■««., thaw *°" *'"' «'"ject rented by « ^/.f ^?^':f « Wved is that the ,e„ , -k •"besarereprel^;'^ '« «,e pr„pi,„;J^. - .nbes are re,.e. from the Teises just „L •^'"^''^•" TbisiTm '"' """^ '"o • '^^^onesm "Xi;T «"°H where the " .'""^"PPa'-em f-'oM the/' o^;;^""' » -«/pe ;, "t -^ -ot a distinot ^■"i that these ; „^' , ""'''^ """ong the ^' ^P^^'«^^i« joined ^ I ' ''^y people^ and / ' *^^^^^ restoration ^ JUDAH AND ISRAEL. P^fe wherever \ ^^'^^^^« of Israel ^v '"^^^•^'■ng- them, ^^ t^.^«^erthe. S ■f ^'I'o^y gives A t 'Shalmaneser v^ ^re than 600 *^« s"^>ject, ' ^^^"ti in the ■s aj-e i-epre- ® other two ' ^7 apparent is toJd to "^ his com- a distinct 'ong* ago 'Jaj (who is appa, ^ joined *« Jdols : let him alone 'VHn • '**^ , The prophet Jeremiah o Lord an^ T ^f ^^^ "Pon you • for T " ' ^^^ ^ wiJl not CZ VJuJfT) '"^P »eer for' /:/"■" T"!""' ^'""' "'« «« 0/ ^K^/a^ j^^;^ o . ever i„ ^^ P^dise ye, and sav n t ^ -^ "J the natiom • tm-,uv i. Israel. Behold T -n ^''''' '^^« ^^7 people tL* ^ '^ ^"' - -" "■ straight 142 THE RESTORATION OF 'V ,i the restoration : for it i« 1 , °^ Palestine at the tim. I therefore the^ „,„„ ,,„ oge.her If? ^f '""'' "-^'^^ "^'■"'}' I ad^ted that these northerl of/ """""V for it will «l"ef of the Bations." "' European nations aro " the ■^ut one may sav Tf fi, European nations, ho„ isTt'th™ '"'f "'•'' "-^""y "-"ong these •-eeause the, are' „„t alto" 7eT """''"'''" =" Silt Z^' Jews are, bnt are .ti.e^ if ' ''T' «'^«' natiofs^ nations ; they have intermarrtd "^ "'o P-'OP'" of these dreds of years, that the E„™!„ """"^ "'^"' &' Romany h„„ - of Israeiitish origin ; ! S ° t"" "^ "°" "" ~ '"h are of Anglo-Saxon orilr T ! "" °"'°'' '° ^^ "-^ Eng- Angles inhabited part of BSn.ndr:^;'"""™' „s „,„t th^ "ame into the country ,„T ' , ""' afterwards the Savn!! -'ves Ang,o.8a.onr:p;;^ -- 'h« ^"'-^ P-ple eallter the. ten tribes of Israel mixTd S T' "" ""'" "^ P'""'"'^ "-"t "at.ons Have we not, t en s ll'" """"^ 'hese European Peans Israelites, as we have to e^nT. "i^""? '" """' «>e Eero! Un^- we affirn. that -i^^t tr t.fa"hf t ^"^'""Sa^ons? The next question is. If the %T «''"' Prop/u:a,. deseended from the ten tribes of T^T' ''' "" '"<"^ or less na .ons, together with the wbl T .' '''" '"'°'« European Palestine at the restorafon? '^'~'' '"'"?'«- ">« restored to i:^f^^^cz:^t:!:^i^ -» a who. „ati„n -----;estoratio:i^-i[:r-s^,^^^^^ ^her to Israel, of Israel are t the time of aJi come to- ^the norih;" * the land of " for it will fJS aro " the aong these ? Simply '6 nations, e of these Qany hun- II more or the Enc- that the Je Saxons ^11 them- ""nly that European ie Euro- Saxons ? ' or less uropean :ored to nation >re will ty, and hovah, speak- JUDAH AND ISRAEL. 143 ing concerning his coming to effect this restoration, says " In that n.ght there shall be two in one bed ; the one sha 1 be Ld... and the other left Twn oli,.ii i • i- '^ °' "" utiuKtn, shall bpflr 1 ^C f^^^^^ ^« grinding together; the one shall be taken and the other left. Two shall be in the field- V ^w r;f"'t "''^"^' °^^ ^'^^^^ ^^^-' - communities, not even whole families, m general, will be selected ; but one here S :ti r:;r ""^' -' "'-''-'' ""— ■ '-»^ -^ ^^ heaven , «„d he shall send his a„gel«, „„/ they ahal .athcr to" gether h,8 elect," &c. (Matt. x.iv. 30, 31), ij, it will sudd -nlv be made apparent that Jesus still lives and is i,^hcav „ fo t angels wll .nfluence the best of mankind, and cause them to a this w, 1 be the sign of the Son of m.n ,•„ heaven" for men thelir f"h?v rid b„ ^irt''"'^:/" T""' '» to.r.ti,„, ,„jf 18 noria, but It they see thoi>«and3 uniting together and forming a community as evidently influenced b^ were on the day of Pentecost, they will have sufBcient evidence be Hhe^^n T'^" 'T™ ' ""^"'"'^ ^-'' '"' --' ""M served th!?T ," ' """" " '""'""•" I* ''■°«'<' '"' "h- served hat Jesus does not say that he will come himself person- « ly at tks nme, but merely that "he shall send his a "gels and they shall gather together his elect," &c ^ In the prophecies we find also that it will not be from amone he Jewish people that the leader, of the restoration wilUpZ^ among the European or nominally Christian nations). Fo^ w .n the Jews are called upon to " awako" and effect (heir own restoration, we are told that there is not one among them "a^ J \^ll lU THE RESTORATION OF dru„k..„ tho dr<.g„ onutcu^ln ^"'"'P «' '"» f-^y.- thou l,„,t nere U none ^o la^ He}\, "f^J' ""'' """>*■"!"'■» ->«,. fort thoo ? ?!«(, ,„„, t„„; "T,"^; ■ • "j- "horn shall I coDi- the .e.e.,, JiT /;;/'::?; '"7 " v,, "■« '-f of «ii li. 17-20. *^^ ('•^•' Peiiectly helpless), Tsa. tribes of Israel; for it is writtn ,1. . f. '''•«;™''<"''» "/Me fe„ M. ^aH,.nen upon .^e lZ^;Z:'^tfA". '^ ''' '"" fe* «. ,» «;, to Zion unto the Lorf ou" God^' ^i.'; f «"" father ,„ Israel, „nd EpKrain, u my first Jn." " " ""' ^ <«" " 1 his prophecy shows us clearly that it ;» ,1.. a the tea Idhes, and „,or„ particularly ofjo"! ^ , *7'">!'»'^ of are to be the first and m™t „„, • ^ ' ''P''raiiB, who restoration : tirereforf-.r 4 T° T"? "^'"'^ '" ^^^''""g "'« is destined to sl!^!" e 'grea ?» w'' t, T^ °' '""'•" "'"<''' kingdoms of the earths ^Hlrf , 'J™'' "'P^''^<'"'^d »" the "i-^/iisafnitWb ;; ' to l« descended from ,/o»^,. -de strong by the hal'tf -the" 'i'^urOod o 'j 'T T' -we^«iiLt^c::;:ufotw-:,r '""«^-- • ^^'i-- thein.age upon hisIHlirw J' ::irct*'"d b^f them to pieces. Anrl /a. * .1 iron and clay, and brake I'ing of BaVlon, untuX „ "w.ef ..'"tr °'Jl''-''«^»--. - up a Hngdotn whicb shall neC bet" : e "tr. ^j 1 alem^ which "f ; thou hnst ff them out. ^ she hath 'he hand, of fiall I com- •ead of all pless), Isa. esented by ^ake [and] i^/theten a day that "^ !/e, and T I am a indants of raim, who cting the 1," which Jd all the I Joseph. nds were l> ; from }-24). . Thou Jh smote d brake became 34, 35). I all the Inezzar, in shall " shall JUDATI AND I8KAEL. 145 It should be noticed that it is " M/. «/n«.," » i • i • power 01 the kingdoms of th s world " so fhnf +i, Judah prevailed above his brethren andTf i • ''"'^''"p* ' f^'* ruler; ,.. ... ..W,.^/, .^^;^\ ^J, ^ ^7/^^^^^^ we find it distinctly stated that -'thJhhth u '• ^'^ up Uod s kmffdom on the parfli Tf « •. j- • "filing for Judah thn t " f 1 7 ^""^ ^"'^^ distinction enough Judan that of him came the chief ruler." It w>u. ..r. ^.,!u 146 THE RESTORATION OP birthright." ^ ^ " ** """'' deserving of " the the ten tribef who artmked a™ r" "i '""^ ''*"°^»''»*» "^ to be the inrtrumenrin h A T^. ^' ^"°P=»° "»«»"» "« restoration, he^uestio: ^ es Ho:' "Z t'"'^""^ '^ ^'^-' *"« Fi-t, they will re eteTv™:: jri:™ 7.""'^ V""' or Wledgo. as is «7mboIizedT„r pXlh^-T ^ 't of the moon shall be ai tl,» i;„i,* c ^i. '^"'^"^^ """ the light sun shall be sevenfold al ill u <• ' '""' ™*' *^^ "s"" "f «>« the LoM shal 'e'l'^in, t2W.'r' "■ '^ r"''"* '''«'"' forsaken, nor Jndaho h^G d o^ he W fT , """v """ ''^° 'and was filled with sin as^wl ^ "fhosts , though their ."t of the midsTof BablTand de^"'^ ''"*' "' ''"^'- ^'- be .„t cut off in her inouitt w '"'^ ■»*" ^^ «><>I: Babylon. yetsheis'::3:n„-,;^; ^'f ,'"'™ ''^'^ one into his own eor.ntrv cIT 7! *" "" «" ^''"^ the work of the C o^Vood' ^"""'^.^ 'f "» "eclare in Zion aud ye fear for the ruZLtt ;hal-.t"'h:Mrtb:T ^'' rumour shall both come one year and ,t,,l\- "^ ' * n ??4^ iced his bre- xvii. 26-28). ns of Jacob, ving of « the well as of the seen dan ts of I nations are to eflFect this oy to do so ? avenly light " the light light of the 'he day that healeth the > is to be a nation even delivered " alem shall nant whom 1 not been lOugh their ael. Flee his soul: ve healed I go every re in Zion Jart faint, land; a ' another r against how the !ieavenly JUDAH AND ISRAEL. 147 |ght or knowledge is to be given to the best among men and at be same time all the nations of the earth are to l ZvoZ^ t "trouble such as never was since there was a nationleven o that same t me ;" for now it is nnf fn v.^ i "^"'^n, even to war with pr,nfl,l, . ? ^® """^^ ''"^ g^^^^t nation at war with ano her great nation for that would be a very com- ruer.'-;^^^^^^^^^ '""l *^"« '' '^ ^« ^^ " -ler S ?1! T A I "' '""^'^ ^^^'»«t ^»« fellow," as it were so that life and property shall then be insecure in all the nations of the earth; and "in mount Zio:, and in" and'in^thr^ «l^all b deliverance, as the £ord hi sa and m the remnant whom the Lord shall call." Therefore ttattrt .''" '"'' ^" *'^ P^^P^^-«' when t yt ge her " n" ". T "f ^ ""^^' '' ^'^ ' ^"^ ---^e to! flone " r«,lT', r "" "^ " Jerusalem," for there and there tt * f 1 deliverance :" and they will know well at what time odo this; for a " rumour shall both come one year, and after that m another year shall come a rumour and violence In the land ruler against ruler." So when the first "rumo„ " comes they will " not go out with haste, nor go Vflight'Tlsa In 12), for they will know assuredly thai they have a ful y ar^ .^ ice ; that the " violence [will not bej in th'e land" un iZe hall come "a rumour" again " after that in another year ."so th y will not hurry themselves in any way, but will quieTy'and deliberately arrange their affairs, and get their prope y in a hige mmoun Zion and m Jerusalem," when the ''time of trouble IS actually about to come upon thL world ; even a Noah when he foresaw the flood, built the ark, and arranged every-' thing so well beforehand, that when the flood was actu fly alu the ark with his family, and so was saved, that the earth mi. ht n:s:^:L^tSi:S r ::v- ^^ «^.ii. Du, as ,u oja time, tnere was deliver- 148 THE RESTORATION OP ii ft' M ' """""y" It is «o«, also that " LowmI'm! " """,*» """» ''"" that the " many" have access to fn ^ .^""^ " »"«»««<)." as they read and write Tthlt ° h \ """""'^'^Se, inasmnch ex.eption to the ^^ IT lie raT/"" "»' """"• "^^ " » "many" w.re unable to re^d or write ZZ^^'fT ""^ of the « je ? • '^'"™"^ '''"^P'""™^ '" ^"■'^'itute the sign -ent of t,.e n,ik„„fu?rurilS e" th^T"' ^"'''"- nations of the earth so r^StT TZ , ^ *"""? all the P-es, that the;:lyirnirnu7JK;» P-tical pur- ment, so that when " out „f 7,™ i, i, , ™" ""^ govem- -ord of the wd L. i^^r. ^it rjt'' ''° '""' "■"' *« the most distant nations^hTuTW^ T^ he communicated to the representatives of the mo t 1!^* "'' ''y ^^'^g^aph , and their appearance in .t„7. "* "'»''°"' ""V also make in oneTonTh at anv titrfT' r'«'P'"«°f the world with! message req^themtdVi'Ttth' ,?""'? '^'"^''P'"'' ^oat, telegraphese, as cttll/L'^r t ::;r ^ ^ JUDAH AND ISRAEL. ^n We know gin to take hall run to -4). This e " many" any" have ind steam- vel, for as , "many" d fro." icreased," inasmuch •> he is an tions, the T the few ich is re- Jge; but e know- the sign Its, tele- govern- ' all the 5al pur- g-ovem- and the ated to b; and > make I with- Taphia Bteam- of the 151 millennium (and so, of course, of those events which are imme- diately to precede the millennium), as the young shoots and leaves of the trees m spring foretell the approach of summer, according to the parable of Jesus (Matt. xxiv. 32). Therefore, also Isaiah, in describing the circumstances which aha! immediately precede the time when " the glory of the Lord shall be revealed," says, " Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low : and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain; and the glory of the Lord shall he revealed, and all fle^h shall see it to- gether, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." In constmct- iDg railways, valleys are exalted, mountains and hills are made low, "the crooked" is "made straight, and the rough places plain : and by these means the facilities of travel are so greatly increased, that when « the glory of the Lord shall be revealed all flesh shall see U together," for all nations are brought near together by the railways, and by the telegraphs, and steam- boats which accompany them, and act in concert with them. When Jesus worked miracles in Palestine, a few people in the neighbouring towns heard of it, and after several years some for- eigners inquire about him (John xii. 20, 21). Suppose that the Almighty was to reveal himself in a manner equally wonderful now in these days of steamboats, railroads, telegraphs, and news- papers, the intelligence would spread from one end of the earth to the other like a flash of lightning, in comparison, and the whole world would be "astonished beyond measure," even as the tew who actually witnessed the miracles of Jesus frequently were. It only remains to notice that " the glory of the Lord shall be revealed suddenly, just when men least expect it ; for " as it was m the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given m marriage, until the day that Noah ent--ed into the ark and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise also as ii was in the days of Lot ; they did eat, thev drank, thnv houn-ht, :f 152 THS HESTORATION OP they sold, they planted, they builded • h«, th, went out .„ S.-dom, it rained sTlr^^ v """^ ^"^ ">«* I"" destroyed them all ^Z ,1, f ^-T'™' '™"" ''^''™" »d that which the' be j.:tti3 :^fj^^::r •'-^''-*- moment, the best amon- the dm,.p„;. ^, r , ' '"' ""''•> "I' "°y and also of the ten tribes „f1^™, 7?""'^'''' ('••^- tb-rews), tbo European, or .^ ^^:,:^^ "««.i"a.on^ almost every European is now probaM " ' ^ ™'"""<"' *»' oHgin, as was be Jo shown in pp uo'r42T "' t "' ''"°'""■^'■ to u«;te together as one ..mm,,'^- J • f ^' ""^ '"' ''■••W "F" «o. of Judah ,. ; Israel 17.5 '« ""^" *" ^'^ ''« '-^'^'•a- &<*!;"; for they .. '^ .^ ". .^ ''if V'''""''^ ""' '«' *"- enable them to c„.»,: i,",X'n. "^ ^'^''^ "'«'«'«"' "> have some knc,wkd.;.,t^;2rl ^n f ""*' '"'"^^ 'W P=')phecies, whfch w re ntonildTr ^<°'''. "^ ''™"'^<' ■" ^e in a dark pla. „,,« th^d^a ''da;:.'(;;: Via! *'" " ^''■■"^"■ anj;:::f:trt rrrzTtr '-"r^- -"*o- time, but they werewriUp? ' .1 ' "'" does during tho day- :;nto[our]feei,::r:'^-^^^^^^^^^^^^ -" wtthrwrt':;? rr ■ r r "^ £ ^^rvrn may not use a lamp a nl2 f T™'' *"" """» ™ay or Shan be full of thrkn wl tl "thtr'r *'"' '"""^ " -'«> !he sea," it will be no ^7 '"■^' "' *« waters cover 0^ to s'ay, " W;X:"TLrf '°'''^''™''^--^ signs ; for then " shall «I1 l """ P'rposes and de- least of them unto the "els'of'^hr .^7f •'^''°™''l '""- "><> the meantime (as we h^ u TZt f If^'" .f^)" «"'- - respect to spiritual things or heavenfv 1 ^' " "''*' '''"' '■>« designs of the Almi^y ^::ltZlZ^T:''t i lay that Lot heaven and WR cannot ? i^^&T thtin oit', at (injr tht; .Tsws), d " among nucli that iiraelitish -Hed lipoii le resiora- fficient to iless they !ed in the H shineth 3 without the day- a " lamp X. 105), rhe sun may or " earth PS cover phecies, nd do- om the But, in e, with egrards use OP JUDAH AND ISRAEL, 153 1 the light winch we have (viz., the light of prophecy or the the word of God, which should be as "a lamp unto fourl feet and as a light unto [our] path," to enlighten, and direct us in the way of righteousness and truth) ; or else remain in utter dark- ness altogether with respect to heavenly or spiritual things, and fu«nre events. Nearly all the prophecies refer either to the evils which were destined to come upon Israel and Judah on account of their perversity and wickedness, or else to the blessedness and exaltation, glory and happiness, which shall ultimately be their portion. That which has been written in these few pages, in re- ference to the restoration of Judah and Israel, is only a very small part of what one might learn from the prophecies concern- ing this great event. It was not easy to write more fully upon this subject (which is so very little understood at present) with- out making it appear too complicated for the general reader; so these few pages are not written with the intention of giving all the information upon the subject which the prophecies afford, but merely to direct people's attention to this subject, and to show how clearly the Bible answers some of the most interesting questions, so that some might be induced to search the Scrip! tures for themselves (comparing Scripture with Scripture, for no prophecy of the scripture is of any separate [t'S/asl inter- pretation," 2 Pet. i. 20), and thus acquire all the necessary information upon this and many other subjects of no small importance. The restoration of Judah and Israel will most certainly be ac- complished shortly. None can possibly hinder it ; because none can frustrate the designs of the Almighty i nevertheless, though we cannot - fight against God " and prevail, we may act in con- ^rt with him as his servants, and be pre-eminently successful. We may find out what bis designs and purposes are by studying the Bible, which was evidently written by men who were influ- enced by angels ; and as we acquire information ourselves we may communicate it to others, and endeavour to induce them to f 154 ON THE EE8T0RATI0N OP „„^b „^ „„^^^_ co-operate with us and with tl,. 11 • i . . designs and purpose, th 1 ' ^^ ? '" """^'"^ out these and may caC ofte,; ^ 7"^"' "^ I'" '"™-"» "' «■» LoH. «« »orW in order Jh^.^ ,Cl\l'"'"' f""!"' """'"P"" - W. and the ^^uS^^To^T^^^ f^^^ < gout these 3f the Lord, and 80 we > come upon of Judah )in in the GOD AND MAN. ' And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our like- ness ; and let thorn have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. ^0 Ood created man in his own image : in the image of God created he htm ; male and female created he them" (Gen i 26, 27). ^ ^* It is somewhat remarkable, that in the very first chapter of the first book of the Bible is revealed to us the astonishing truth that man, poor, weak, ignorant, erring man, was originally created m the "image ' and after the "likeness" of God, our Creator and our heavenly Father ; so that man is the son of God, and therefore capable of becoming, in all respects, like G.xl our heavenly Father, even as the infant son of a man is capable of becoming in time m all respects like a man his father. This seems incredible to us, simply because we do not see the spirits or souls of men become like God, as we every day see infants growing into manhood ; but it is nevertheless true if the clear simple statements of the Bible are true, or if there is any reU.nce to be placed m our reasoning and reflecting faculties. Let It be observed, in the first place, that the very same words arc used m reference to Adam and his son Seth, as were before used m reference to God and Adam. " And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth" (Gen. v. 3\ XT j-icru IfiG GOD AND MAN. enco is, that AdVn! ;::.'TlhTfe r ™, \ ™' "■' '"""™' '"f"" tual body") as Setb was lit, » > , '■'" '''«^'"'''' •■'' " '1'"- man. ■^""' ^^ ''^^" ■« S"!" was ,■„/„„< Tlie (n/a«i Sell, had logs and r.-t ';> .,.,,, , , he could not walk likp him . t . , 's ™ncr Adam, hut but he Lad little J^lni 1:1^7' 'T' ""' ''"^-^- cal powo' and effect ■ L uTJ ' "'" """" " '"' Vh"'- yet he c..ld not slk ami ,1 " ? TT^ '""' ^''"'" '"«''''h", yet., did .otseert:!^ r:i2dt I" '^"■-■"' reflect much, sin,,,ly hecause 1„ «™ y tl" i, ! . 7°" " '? his manlike faculties and powers wZ ,V , t""^' ""'' strengthened by time, by use aTd Z ^'' ''''™''''"'' ""'' «»« Seth diffu^d iron, L ir ^ "''P^"^"'=«- As the m/;„< /««< eo "■■'PaWe because he^dM t ^yet e 'ub,^: e ^ ''T^K"''"^' '^^'^ bis heavenly Path., a- ."'ifuMt'^ '^r .[^rr "'fl Seth was not a eon of man (and so canable f\ ™* respects like Adam his fath r) simnlvT , ,""""= '" ^'" yet exhibit the faculties andj r'/f h,- X ll" "' ""' "" . Scarcely any doctrine of the Bil is I^aI ^ -. that m.,., is the son of God h. hlv:? ^^'^ Tsf- ril'o the ro. Scth, and to describe ural infer- Jis " Bpiri- " natural tvas in/ani ^ilam, but i fingers, th phy si- lls father, ind brain father'tJ, son or to ncy, and 'ped and lie infdnt 1 tiio m- k1 Crea- ties and ut little il far ill - se them • as ab- capable siraplj of God infant in till not as 18 this* ' so is 001 AND MAN. 157 I destined eventually (when ho shall have attained some <]ogree of perfection) to exorcise faculties and powers like those of God our creator. Were we not very dull of comprehension, and ex- ceedingly slow to believe anything which is not as yet verified by our actual experience, we might have understood and bel eved this, from what is stated in the verses just now quoted from Genesis ; but in consideration of our spiritual infancy, the Al- mighty has not left us without much stronger assurances of this great truth than these afford ; for example, in the Psalms it is written, " I have said. Ye are gods \prhf,, precisely the same word which is used so frequently in the first chapter of Genesis and which we thei translate ' God,' singular, though the word 18 plural, ' Gods'] ; and .11 of you are children of the most High • but ye shall die like men" (Ps. Ixxxii. 6, 7). No words can be plainer than these ; » men,'' who are yet to " die like men'' are distinctly said to be ^^ gods ;" and lest we should pass over the sentence which conveys this truth as merely a form of expres- sion, meaning little or nothing, and not by any means to be un- derstood literally in its full sense, the same idea is repeated in another form of words : "All of you [without any exception! are chiMren of the most high" God. And lest people should still be incredulous, Jesus Christ himself quotes this very passage when he accused of blasphemy, for saying that he was " the Jon of Gou. - ^s it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods ? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God caino, and the scripture cannot be broken ; say ye of him, whom the iather hath sanctified, and sent into the world. Thou bla^nl.eroest- because I said, I am the Son ut God?" (John x. 34-ut>.) ' 're, Jesus most plainly declares that he differs from other ra^n in that he 18 "sanctified" or holy, while they are all more or less unsancti- fied or unholy ; not in that he is God, or the Son of God, while othor men are neither " gods" nor " chi.lren of the most high" God ; very far from saying anything like this, he refers th.m to Ps. ixxxii., where it is most diH+J... Nr of«,fz.^ *Uq* -n -„^, „v»-.v.t taai mi men are 158 OOD AND MAN. I li "gnds," and <« children of the most hiirh'Tn^ them, 'HovveverincrediblethirX::"^^^^^^^^^^ ''^' T^ '^ a^ true as any other sUfprnnof • .f ^ ^ ' '^'^ "everthelesa Scripture .us't b Ll^l 7 ,:e^v^^^^^^^^^ ■ '"» »*•"« "^ those portion, which . ,i them .:. «oth«t every one may seleet be maicing it of le^ a„ h„r y Cn 'ZT f"' ^"^ """ -"" «., of no authority whatever I? 1 T " f"""" "''"''""" Word of God, we mnst beZ «. u I"^ """ "'" "''''» '» ">« it may eeem to us for else we l7 ' .'""'""^' '"™*'''<' the Bible is tn,e on°y so Lr 1 " , °™"'*'"'' ""^ ^"^ "'"t or as far as it is in aoCdtcrwThl;"'"' "' ""'' "" ""''""• The Bible is either arrtU "^ '°"'°' """^ "" ^'"'^"■ troversy, or itTnot Tf ^ '•" ■""'""■' "^ <'"""" "^ »'<=<">- neither'Llie:e;:r-,aiofTers"n"""'^; "'"' "^' '^'' Christians, and so aeknowled™ ,' '" ""* gospel of 'the Christians;, then wrd:"S oThe B^e I a"n td 'T "'" then we appeal botht IL? ^'""'' """"""'y »' ">« BiWe, doubtful qClontl otsr- even't'r' '° '^^'"'•^ ""^ with the Jews or with sJI^Z'^/JZJZZl '''""'"' phets, saying, " It is written " chUdren of the most hiirh" pj ' T"" "' ""'^ "« " «» the Son of God w th ttt, dffP ' ""T ''""" ^^''"' ""'^'f i" this world Sot lid hi •"' f""'' *''«' •''™« <^»"'0 i"to perfect »d hoT if i i„I "'"" ™' '""" '"G^IW* Father differs from the" 1 1 o 1 Knd •IfaS'l th *"' "'"T' ""'* "« -til now have known imperfeftlolt^nllt's. Z^ ^^ aOD AND MAN. 'Ms, " the. ad said to verthelesa 3 vohoh of cted alto- lay select lat Would 5 opinion, Jle is tho Vj^ which [^credible say that further, further. f of con- y, 'Wo >1 of- the ews nor side any iS to be 3 Bible, ide any sputing or pro- istians, Jod, we B " all Qself is ae into lile he Father lat he Adam "The 159 I first man Adam,'" it \% true, came into the world jwrfect like ** tho last Adam," bat ho dirt not continnn bo ; and all his pos- terity have inherited more or less imperfection, inasmuch as we all more or less resemble our fathers or our mothers in our dis- positions; for the form and quality of tho brain (which is the seat of consciousness, and which also enables us to reason, to re- flect, to love, to hate, &c.) is determined by that of our parents. Children resemble their parents as regards their brain, their in- tellect, and disposition, even as they do with respect to the form of the features, or the colour of the eyes or hair, «fec. It was for this reason that it was necessary that Jesus Christ should be a new creation, even as Adam was (so that he is called " the last Adam," 1 Cor. xv. 45), otherwise he could not. have been perfect, and so could not have accomplished the work which his Father saw that it was necessary that he should ; for if he had come into the world by natural generation as other men have from Adam to the present day, he would necessarily have inherited imperfection from his father or from his mother, or both, even as other men ; therefore God formed him in tho womb of the virgin as perfect as Adam was originally formed " out of the dust of the ground," /.«., of the various elements which consti- tute our world. In one respect alone Jesus had the advantage of the " first man Adam," for from childhood he had opportuni- ties of acquiring " the knowledge of good and evil," without himself sinning ; whereas Adam could have little or no know- ledge of evil without sinning himself: he could only know good while he remained perfect. Moreover, Jesus Christ saw the history of mankind, and the effects of every variety of transgression for four thousand yeara, from Adam to his own day, so that he had every possible inducement to continue perfect and holy. After the testimony of Jesus Christ himself to the fact that men are " gods," and " chOdre'- of the most high" God, it seems super- fluous to quote an apostle on the same subject ; nevertheless, as the anostle Paul carrif>R mit thn irlon mfVipp mnrA fnllir xaa vill 160 aOD AND MAN. t refer to hi, epistle to tlie Romans, where he says-'< The Snirit .Mf beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the chad^n he,rs with Christ ;" Jesus Christ himself brgdeSed as 'Tht firstborn among many brethren" (Bom viHagT 1 ,f brother, as it were. Now if we, wi h J^^ns a,rfs ^ Z h d' are not only "children of God," our heavenlv f1 I ? f * Jesus Christ himself answers this question, when he satV Blessed are the meek ; for they shall M^riuie eaU'lZt V.5). Agam the Psalmist e.claims, "Ye are blojed o7th; Lord which made heaven and earth. The heaven even h heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath heZen'toZJ-^ .tr fT" ^l'- ""■ ''■''^- H-^ - ^"d it Snctly sttd that God, our heavenly Father has " o'iv.n .1,. .u , children „f men ,.- so th'at all .h;so:hoS tlT. ^,^ like Jesus « shall inherit the earth," iust as n-,i„r,ir , children inherit his property, so' aC LTcM L/inTe: U _h.8 property, according as they shall become capable of t«k ."g care of it, insomuch that they are descrf Jas" " bl" compo-d of .. „, „,,t,„ ,, ^.^^^^^^^ Christ for ;: .. h'ad'" problemwhichdoub;iessha;:LSmI ;tS:^^^^^^^ If our .soulsor spirits are to live to alleternity, how arfttv to bl suitably occupied ? The answer is quite clL frlX pi" e •' head" ' tlSr "" 1 T^^ . ^'''^ ("'* '^"^ C"-' - "^ nead, their "leader and commander," as it werel will K. . company of ma«y millions of perfected and gloria d Tp its or ledge, wisdom and power, " with the increase of God" our hel veuly Father, insomuch that they will perfo™ worts of 01.1;! OOD AND MAN. 161 " The Spirit children of ! joint-heirs asons, if we I, andjoint- 3ed as " the our elder ; our head, 3r, but also ^e inherit? he says, th" (Matt, sed of the even the the chil- 3tly stated th to the " meok" 8 a man's n inherit ) of tak- " body" " head," aeavenly he great en, viz., ley to be passages as their ill be a )irits or know- >ur hea- atioD— first the simplest and easiest; afterwards the more complex and difficult. But some one may say. How can God be said to " increase'' in any respect ? Is he not, and has he not always been infinite in every respect ? The answer is simple. The God to whom the Bible introduces us differs greatly from the First Great Cause which the Philosophers and the (so-called) theologians speak of. Let me not be understood for one moment to deny the existence of a First Great Cause filling infinite space and existing through- out all duration. I only deny that the Bible introduces us to such a being. It would be useless to attempt it ; for we cannot possibly begin to have any idea of simple infinity, such as in- finite space, or infinite duration ; how then could we begin to •understand anything concerning a being who was infinite in all respects, according to the abstract mathematical idea of infinity ? The God to whom the Bible introduces us is no such abstract being that to begin to have an idea of him we must first think of mfinite space, infinite duration, and inevitable destiny, &c., and so associate him in our minds with the cold vague ideas which such abstract terms as these convey to us. Far from it, the words of the Bible are calculated to give us very different ideas of our Creator. When the apostles ask Jesus to teach them to pray, he does not begin by saying, Eternal, Infinite, Incom- prehensible, &c. ; but says, " Our Father, which art in heaven," &c., thus giving us, in one simple little sentence, a more clear, accurate, and exact idea of God our Creator, than we could ever possibly obtain by any number of vague abstractions. The God to whom Jesus and the Bible introduces us is " our Father;" he differs from our earthly father, in that he is " in heaven." "' The God [and father] of the spirits of all flesh" (Num. xxvii. 16). Perfect in goodness, and also perfect in power, as far as we, his children, are concerned ; for as he was able to create us, h- is most undoubtedly able also to preserve us, or do anything with us that he pleases; which is quite enough for us to know on that 162 OOD AND MAN. IM' ; f subject. And lest we should be inclined to doubt his perfect oower as regards ourselves or our earth, when we learn that he^sl the F,rst Great Cause, he has caused it to be recorded « i^ the .ostandsti,i...hout:x:v;^^ X::r ranTift^ wards m the days of Hezekiah, he .Ltually caused 'the earth to revolve backwards, so that the shadow "upon the sun dM o" »;": *:.;ri" '■"•" ■'- '•- - '-"" - The Bible does not begin by describing the infinitv of God our Creator. It merely says in general terms, " In thXl^, Gods =.n^j, plural] created the heavens an 1 the earth "Id thus d,sm,ss,„g all generalities with one sentence, it Is ot t^ describe the state in which our earth was when " G,Kirunder took to prepare it for the reception of man, and eventuallv to "".tner'Td'- "f'^'ri "'"''''""" «"""h"roJ: likeness. G„d ,s not said to have created the solid earth o„t nothing during the "six days" spoken of in the fil chaZ of Genesis , for the earth is said not only to have been in e^ t ence previous to the six days' work, but L to have been cove ed ocean intil God caused some of the land, which was at the bot om of this interminable, boundless ocean to rise above h su face and so became " dry land" as at present. ■ Ihe Jirst verse of the Bible informs hk tl.„t .ii .i re- ii^sTir-Tt f v-'-"ofsp- ^ Deiu^s cal.ed Gods (o^nS.) ; and the second verse informs ti" ™P°»f "f "-ater had condensed and fallen aod so would form an impenetrable cl«.d completely shutting o"; 164 GOD AND MAN. Uie Bun 6 rays from the surface of the earth, until some means were used to coudense them also. How was this done ? 77 nety of plants were created which absorbed these vapours into tteir structures and as the heat was still great and th mois tu plentrful, hey d,d this with a rapidity of which we in tl e e days have httle or no conception. Everything was then fav™ abh, to the most luxuriant vegetation, and as the plants matured and fell m succession before the younger and more vigorous growth, deep and broad beds of vegetable matter were foCd which afterwards were consolidated into coal. Thus probablv a great proportion, if not all of these opaque vapours were cleared the earth. And it was a vast company of many millions of forming or creating these varieties of plants with the principle of reproduction within each of them (so that though the ndiVu dua plan was short-lived, yet the same kind once formed might continue as long as the conditions of the earth and at mosphere were such as to admit of its existence). These angels are all comprehended in the general term, "the Spirit of God - for^though they are many, they all act in concert as " oile But one may say, How do we know that " the Spirit of God " which IS said to have " moved upon the face of the waters" nrl vious to the SIX days' work, represents a great company of ng^? Becanse i is written, " Bless the Lord, ^e hS angels, that CZ 'n^rength thai Jo kis con,n,andr,unts, hearkening unto te "ke ofhs v,ord Bless ye the lord, all ,je his hosts : ye minislelZf his, that do his pleasure" (Ps. ciii. 20, 21) """"to" »/ Here we find that when the L'ord God speaks, it is done • not by magic, as It were, but by the instrumentality of "anges- or they are " hearkening unto the voice of his word," aTthey 'excel m strength," so that they are well able to " do Ws coZ mandment.," insomuch that they are represented as " hi hosts" I GOD AND MAN. 165 not or ' mm.sters of hi, that do his pleasure," even as the hosts o, arm,es, and ministers or servants, of a great earthly Icing might be supposed to obey their king when he eommanded, and so "do his pleasure " or execute liis will. That there were many " sons of God " at the ereation, is ap- parent also from the answer of the Lord to "Job out of the whirlwind," where, speaking of the time of the ereation, he says shouted for joy ;" and these " sons of God " were doubtless the company of many millions of angels who were occupied in the work of ereation, and who are elsewhere called "the Spirit of God,;' and "god^- also. These angels have one Head o Lord who IS called in the Bible " Jehovah" or the " Lord God " But one may say, If the work of creation was not effected sud- denly as If by magie, but gradually by the exertions of some millions of angels, how is it that it is said that God was only six days prepanng this earth for the reception of man, and creatii, notice much, ,t is bui reasonable to suppose that they count Lr nlT T' "^ "" "" '"' ''"''' -" «- "P» »»o whole number to mark a distinct period of time corresponding t. our day ; this whole number, which has been chosen. Is a thousand, according to the Bible , so that a thousand of thei. fhem' '' " ""''■ °^ "" J"""") "Constitute " one day" to Theref.,re the "six days" of the creation were six thousand of our years, which afforded ample time for the work of preparing his earth for the reception of man, and for the creations/man^ lor there was no actual creation out of what we call nothing per-' formed during these six days or six thousand years, for there was dl : T" r'""' "'""'""''' '"'°"' 0- ^1""- Wore the s" dajs work as there was after, the only difference being that it i r GOD AND MAN. IQ'i mg f^ 1 is a f their was in a chfferct form. So God did not strictly speaking create anything during these six days or six thousand years ; he merely formed, organized, arranged, and reduced to order, substances or materials which were already in existence ; for instance, God 18 not said to have created man out of nothing, but to have formed man of the dust of the ground," i.e., out of the various elements which were already in existence, much in the same man- ner as a mechanic might be said to form or construct a locomo- tive or any other piece of machinery out of the iron ore. So as there was no actual cr.a^eon (strictly speaking) to be effected,' doubtless angels could as easily form the various plants, trees and animals, m a few thousand of our years, as men could form construct, or build the various works of art, such as watches' ships steamboats, or locomotives, &c., in a few months or years. t or the angels numbered many millions, all " sons of God,'' with one Lord God, Jehovah, so that there was no disunion among them, but perfect harmony, peace, and concord. It should be nrticed also that both the Bible and the science of geology inform us that the simplest plants and animals were created first, afterwards the more c >mplex, and last of all man the most complicated and most perfect conceivable organizationl This fact tends also ;o convince us that the six days' creative work was performed by angels who were continually progressing in knowleri^e ^d power, foiling first the very simplest plants and unirJn "f f '"^ r"^''"^ ^"°^^^^^^' «k^"' «"^ power, until at last, aft«« a period of about six thousand years, they were enabled to form man in their own image, and after their own likeness, for man s organization is so perfect, that it gives con- sciousness and individuality to spirit, which is to angels, " sons of God," or " gods," what flesh and blood is to us. La body by means of which they see and hear, &c. While we have a natural booy, composed of flesh, blood, bones, &c., they have a sptrttual body," compose! of spirit, which is invisible to mortal eyes, but which, nevertheless, mav fill all «n«.o v».,..i. ;. 168 GOD AND MAN. k ill he same manner as electricity fills our earth and atmosphere, though It 18 not recognised by our senses; for we neither see it hear it, feel it, smell it, nor taste it, and would be quite ignorant of Its presence but for the aid of science, which reveals to us the act hat 1 IS continually everywhere about us, for with an elec trical machine we can collect it in any part of any room, thus we know that it exists everywhere about us, though the unas- ^tecl senses of our mortal bodies do not perceive its presence. And If electricity is most certainly present all around us though we do not perceive it, why may not spirit also be present ? as it most undoubtedly IS, and whenever or wherever an organisa- tion is formed perfect enough to give consciousness to spirit, im- mediately we have another individual spirit, which, though at first It IS conscious of seeing, artificially as it were, by means of the wonderful mechanism of the mortal eye, and of hearing also by a mechanism equally wonderful, the ear, and of reasoning and reflecting by the most wonderful of all, the brain, the minute and complicated mechanism of which utterly surpasses our com- prehension ; yet, nevertheless, the spirit, which first receives con- sciousness by means of these, ultimately becomes independent of them, and sees with spiritual eyes even as God sees, and hears with spiritual ears, and understands, reasons, and reflects even as angels or - gods" do. It was of this the beloved apostle was thinking when he argues that we must necessarily be " like " God hereafter, -for u;e shall see him as he is," i.e., with spiritual eyes ; for we all know well that mortal eyes cannot possibly see God or spirit. - Beloved, now are toe the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be : but we know that when he shall appear, we shall he like him ; for we shall see him as he ts. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure" (1 John iii. 2, 3). * From what has been said, it is clear that when " Gods [d'hSI said, Let us make man in our own image, after our own like- uess, they really meant what they said literally in its fullest aOD AND MAN. 169 sense. And as these " Gods " (who taken together constitute our heavenly Fatbr and Creator) prepared the earth for the re- ception of man, ana created man also upon it during a period of 6000 years, so shall we also, their children, again prepare it for the reception of man, and create man upon it, after it shall again have been destroyed by fire ; for again " the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein shall be burned up " (2 Pet. iii. 10), so that it shall be again a melting mass, even as it was some thousands of years ago. But It will not continue so, for it will cool again, even as it did be- iore; and the waters shall again cover the earth, and "darkness [shall again be] upon the face of the deep ;" and " the Spirit of Grod [shall again move] upon the face of the waters." But at this time " the Spirit of God " will be composed of many millions ot spirits of just men made perfect," who shall then be " one " with Jesus, even as Jesus is " one " with the Father (John xvii. 21-23), and therefore will be " sons of God " and " gods " even as Jesus is " the Son of God " and " God " also ; so then we all taken together will constitute "the Spirit of God," Jesus Christ himself being our Lord God, so that we shall not only bo 'children of God," but also " heirs of God, and jo.nt-heirs with Christ; and, like our heavenly Fathers (Jehovah and his angels), we shall be occupied for about six thousand vears in creatirg or forming the various plants, trees, animals, &c., with the principle of reproduction within them, as we shall acquire knowledge, fc;ki]l and power to do so, until at last we shall be able to " make man [again] m our own image, after our likeness ;" and then we may rest for a time even as our heavenly Fathers did before us : for a great work will have been accomplished,-man, our son, our heir, and our successor, will be in existence (for when one man and woman are created, we may consider all mankind are, for they may " be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth " with- out any additional exertion of creative power, even as any num. ber of copies may be printed when the type is once Hot^^ /irA 170 fiOD AND MAN. I '.I with far firouter works tl,n„ tk-.o f,,r ,„ni ''^''f.'"'P'«' plane. .0. or .. ,.e our t^ Ira';;'!::: r :■ Tu:: our s„„ have yet to be ereatej out of what wo call notbiL Tj eve„a,wehaveori.^„.teafr,,„tl,isLr;1!V r a 1 the ot ,,.,• planets whieh move round our sun «„■' all .1 planetswhichmoverounaaIlo,hersu,,»,pJ,: '„,;! ft Koneration of " sons of God " reenlarlv at J„IT . ? ^^ f,.„ H,,,,,.„„,, , "•fe""'"yi at stated intervals of a vaTs of X '"7' "'-"" "' ''"■■'"^'^ ^''^'"''"'.V. "t «'^'ted inter" val of a few weeks or months, produce swarm of bees Thus 18 all creation swarming with "o.ods " "«„„. «f n 1 .. of all ages, with everfdegree^Lordlffkt' >""'''''' ' or feap wouj. oxist between man and the First Grn«f Pn„. w ao„„,di,,„ to many theologians, seems to av^ '„'': "^ die during the past portion of infinite duration, and a" L7 la nt I^ ^°' " '"''''™ ''' "f ""'i^'y '" ''■'ieh bis W he" atent or dormant powers exhibited themselves so wonder, t th m SIX days of twentyfour hour, each, he erea3 „ of notb, hy merely speaking a few words, all the vis ble ea ton, the thousands and millions of stars or suns, more or e! hke our sun, with their planets, more or less 11^^ " ' wh^h revolve round them. But then he seems to haveXen af aid of going too far, of being carried away by his impTtu tyand sudden and newlyacquired activity f so he veryC" den., .nd cautiously determined ,0 ereate'^n, in bk own ■ heavenly ' occupied nil lions of r If'ss like !jing ; and ts are oc- npy their 'iginated, Fill, with *1I other ^ion after vals of a ed inter- . Thus I angels, power ; ' is man n of the 'iron-h- infinite infinite Cause, n Very as only itherto ?rfully, out of ' crea- )r less cartli, I been ipetu- r pru- i own OOD AND MAN. 171 tants Moreover accorfTn^,™ "'"T" "^ '"'^"'S™' "''>"«- ra„8„ ,aa e.TlU ° f J ? "-"ny theologians, the First Oreaf ««»ffood as they profess ,0 believe hin"„ be i.r^rj'^'"' been in « .,a>lly exeited state when ' 'inl,! , "" m even one of the planets. F„r , Z"f """' "*" of mankind are des ined to snff.r , ^'*'" '">«!<>'' 'l«il and his an4h »;tr„^ ' f'"^ "'™<^"* ""h "=0 off themselves 0° of b„ I ' '^'"'•-=™^ "f b«ing better cou,,tless.ir;fete™itWa7 "T f'"'"'"^ "'™"e''<"" the thmg ,o do „ith creating man, if it were r f llv so 7^"^ over .nfinilefy ju,t sneh a God LnVl, I! 1,„ , ,' "** ''""• bo also infinitely "«r«yi,' and rlo. .' , ""■"""'^ "''"''' ""' continual praises oiT'L^ most certamly would reqnire the from this dol tosi neeThr ^^'V''" ^'"""''' *» '^^'l such to be tL ieon i^ ° 1 ■'™.""" """''"'^""y --epresented "a any clearer ideTrhaSrn^^lh''"'' ""^ "" ■'°' ^'™ pity of " the spirits of just LTre';rtt""7ar.r "? '^"- 111? the praises of God throu.'hont tl,„ „ !, * "'^ ""ST" as if God was like a 7.1^1 ti "''' "«''' of eternity, praise o.tZrtlXnXrt^l ""^ ,<'"''^'"^<' '" ™rbi:i theolog,-ans) must have be sad l T ^"'•"'''''■"" '" "'^^o knowledge, goodness or power to havT f /" "^'•"■"°" "' possibly be everlastingly Sb," B, t , """" "''" ^""''' tion whatever] ie „„<„ „,4*™ my mS™ ""^ T"" :hr„7s^oSr-Ho::^^^™^^^^^^^^^^^^ we may be. wTsL, sir: ir rh'^^lL^l^.J^-^- * '"-1^ ui uvii ai8- MICROCOPY RtSOlUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) _£ APPLIED IIVMGE inc 1653 East Main Street ?°5^?s;«'l New York 14609 USA (716) 482 - 0300 - Phone (716) 288 -5989 -Fax 172 GOD AND MAN. tit have the opportunity f, do ^f T"" "'"" '""'"'^'"''' ^'l'"' "e We ■.... jv'e 4 lo r;^ :; ' dirnftiittr^ "*"■ so, we shall be ffettini? mr,r. „„ '1'™"""''. wit as long as we do ». ^ o """^^ "no more unhannv " Ti,„ transgressors is hard," whether the t,..,„» P^'^; ^he way of and sooner or later L sin ll 1 TT'' ^ ""^" '"• ^P'"-''"' '«' »"» oily would have b en oCthrotr %T]' '™ *''"^'' ""^ «-■■• voh heartily endeavoured to "turn ev r" '^' "^ "' ^ine- God had not the hearUo destr Xm L"' "'■" "" "'''" -o--^ttTel^1oSr?^^^ --."--■: he mi;;trb^";ti,trti^:r:Sv; those who when we perfected. ' as we do he way of or spirits, ] learn to ; for " as » Adam], 5t Adam, ditional. " When 1st to his eousness ith com - wicked^ It lohich 'ot die " is prin- 'ho Was md cry rown." hrown, ? Be- I His lad not d their Nine- way," Jonah iaused 3f the leveh. GOD AND MAN. 173 that great city, and cry a'^ainsf \t " n. ) to go mnch against his wm Tl, ' f f '''' ^^i^^^^'^nh forced this my saying when I ^ " J^^''^^"^^' ^^' ^'^^^P^ains, " Was not before Lto^tS /^jf: ^Z T''' ''''''-' ' '^' and mercifuL slow to annJ ,J '' '"'' "" ^"«^^"^^"^' God, thee oftjLi^'Z^:^Z^t^r^ '";'""' '"'' ^■^^-^^^'•'' felt within himself tLt 'rjo ^ 1 !"" ^""'Y''''''^^'^'^ '^^^ should not be "overthrown -Jn T ™"^'^^^ ^^''^' ^"'^veh ho had a great obi' [on I , J " k " '"*^ "^''^ '" ^''-^^ore l^e should\ppc r ht a o Zr"" ^ "'? ^' ^'^ ^°^^'' ^^^ was not to happen, and also milr.!?"'" ^^ ^'"'^'^'''^^ ^^^t thinking menTo disregrrrth ^^^^^^ t'TT) °^ ^^^^ - God threatens man, thSt he ^yTnll t^o": Ir'^^^' '"^' from his evil way ;" and if ihvZ , *"^" "^^^^3^ 0"^ ie inflicts the p/nlai^lfj ^isl l":™ '"^ '*''"' '■■^" V.Z., to canse us to " cease to rt. 1 r '^™ "''J''"' "' ^'™. And if suffering i„ thTsTfe „t 1 'i™'' '°^ '^''™ '» ''» '>'°11-" suffering t,.o eW. resu t o \ ot: ^ oVf "' "' ".'°™"= -' or spiritual world, most oertlT^nT ''' '" *'"' "»' '*' Micts no punishment unnnr\' «°™" "^ l"'" ; for God t^e ne.t, w\ich ^1? rrntriuJlTe;";"- ^""' " otherwise he would not be " a gracious gT " ' ■}' °''J*"'' but a cruel tyrant worse Pv.n • i ' ""^ "^reiful," &c., men are. " If y„\h7n L W '", t^"'"™ "'"" ^' ^'^^'-t,^^ unto yourchi,dL:tw:r;i'Zitu:v:t: ^t-f ^ wMoh is in heaven " r;t'r:VMr ."^f f'^ " ''^"'" oni?xtrs"^f'::i::^f^'-V^-''^eie'»^^^ fete is feed for eve^ tl 1^ emit';"' T^'^'"'."'" ^'"''' °«" "any ; but it is not true IsnTpll' . " *' '^''<^'"'"'' «f and Father, nrerely becaut ,w"";^^^''^?.'» ''«"->«"" rely because they have been divest ed of their 174 GOD AND MAN. ffr * fleshly bodies ? Most certainly not. The same Tn,! • ,. all power over us in this ivnrl.l i,, . , " "''"' '"'« in the spiritual world He 1 "p" 'r^' ^'1°^' P""^^ »ver us Nevertheless, it would he the heiirhf „f f ii„ , to presume upon the goodness of oll , ^ ""'' '"'"^•"'' God is justa'nd wise':; wtl l^i'atrr'V'"'^"''^ ' '"'' most certainly "eat the fruit of [o r1 ot ^7^^ ^ ^'".'" not weakly spare us, but will alow\,s to sll „ ""' consequences of our sins that we mav or 1 I "'""'■■'' perienee that "the way of the t»„ ' ^ ^ "" °™ *'" -y also be a warnin/fo othe": TZ^IZ t^iC' '' evil wavs thnno-ii h^ «„'n i. '^^'■'-^ "jem nom tbe same shall neee'ssXie eniss "f r? rr ' '° "'™^"' '^''•^'' possibly be for'our I'Sl t :! r'nT-Tuf H T"" en5la;tZra^s1r^Tr"'^^"^^^^ would^we thCt If a ZlLTj ^17\ *" "^'' "*^'- ^'■'" that death by tortLVfot^eVJ t ^ .""' P""'"''"'™'' ""d liu propnecy ot tlie scripture s of any 8pnar,f« T';?' n w rrx: t^t ;-«);,o™'oo.in/trs::: jtz they take t ZZ onsl^te^L^ " "libf, ^^'7 i:; uC.: .^1::^-- -asonlK^^^^^^^^^^^^ Which wouTdiX r r tC!:;,- : ^s-;r* "''- .ngly full of contradictions, on purporthat It f n L' ''''"• pe.ledtoe«reiseo„rreasoni„gfaLSrr::o:iS^^^ .:»,-.X / I who has er over us f all flesh, i " (Num. madness luity; for we shall God will ^ natural own ex- " and so the same It which t cannot ^od were istly and What -nt, and !• small ? ly more od con- rla, )nsui,as Jonsidev le rule, fipture, estab- us, and others i seem- e com- ripture GOD AND MAN. 175 Seriptnre, one mnft ev-n ni-Ao ° »"-' >«>l»teat ed of rei ivJs "s t' fl LT" ^' '^ '"■"'-■ '"«'''■ for Jesus v,v. ..if " ""? '" "'« t'liristian career \, . . , " iire also, ne cannot be mv disoinlo " if , f i this isolated passage of Scrinture litPr.11. l^' '^^ *''^' aia.e..a^^opp;. ,„ J::^S^^^ ^s not worthy of me," &c The fir! 7 i ""'T^^ '' "^^^« ^han me tLl! ' ''""'""' "f punishments in the spiritual Zu th owi xn^ r,:^:: 1 '"""'" ^"'^'' '-^^ '° ^^ spirita d ,1T. T. "™^''''^""ff "■• otefol I'-uishment in the .t; f :; al ?;jr^- ^^ -.'-'"'^'' to arrest the atten! " -i^, ui.y wm tind that the whole tenor ..f fh« c • ^ IS diametricallv onno^Prl +^ +1 i f ^® Scriptures — . .;? . ,°?„":,' r,:;:'.; ST; " ":,r ■' '■ - 7 f»r»r>-»>CB»wi!lKi»-. 176 GOD AND MAN. Hi ■' ^ill' can yet persuade themselves, or snffprfh«mo.i . . that u w„ ,„„, un™:!:fn:fr r:r .0 boeo„,e spiritual da,.k„et; "'^ 1 '.tlf ,""- '" '"^ VI. 23.) No,v the spiritual " light" which w,« !„ ni ,•' the apostles' days has since hecome sn "^7.?" 1 I T '"' " how great is that darkness 1 " ^5^ I I , k T^ .""'' suits from perverted and corrupted tr, ."«(!* f"!'""'' ''■ which is the result of utter ign, r'ance M 'n ha- flT *,"" """ advances in the knowledge liiCll .„."•' '''"^'>;""'«'« K^eat of the natural worid, but itt ry qu" s io S Z " "° '"^^ :n such a state of absolute ignofaletd e ;r :uh IT "" to the spHlual world as they are now in these our owl dl^^ we can only hope that as the darkest hour g ra^^^ fZLT he dawn of day, this spiritual darkness m^y he ' fi a„, f the near approach of the " day dawn" snoken .f ''^".'^"'"' "^ which time, it is said that s/iritTa "tt 1 '^Z'"" ^r' earth, and gross darkness the people ■ hut ZrTf ^fr "" upon thee [Israel], and his /or/LlTe Z ^^ .f IZ th? Oentiles shall come to thu r>nht ««^ 7 • ^ ^"^ %;.%. Lift up ^^::^^V^^fTZ gather themselves together thev ..nm» +« +i^ , ' °®^ CO- fro„far, and I, ^^^iC^J^tZ^^^'^^f Then thou shalt see andfl^ together, and *C W j J, T and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall h increased to an unlimited j^.f . . ' 7'"^"^* ^^«^^edge will be that they are really ;rXo„:i.e ^^^^^^^^^ Z^' •^'^^^^^^^^^ from the prophecy of Hosea • uyJT^ ^f' f ^^ "P?^^^'^' oasrae, 11 J. , ^ J:!^::^:^^^ ' ^e persu.'ided fJ doctrines. I'ist cautioned was in them lie, " the. light less I" (JMatt. Christians in'' n-kness," and ess which re- ter than that y made great d of the laws 3n Were ever th reference n flays ; and y just before gnificant of cripture : at II cover the shall arise thee. And rightness of 2: all they ■ sons shall It thy side. t shall fear lall be con - unto thee" and Israel %e Will be understand s apparent e children be num- GOD AND MAN. 177 hered nor measured ; and it shall come to pass that in th. «; ^hereu roas said unto them, Ye are not n^^t'i^i;'' and Shalt rot turn away from me^' (Jer. iii. 19) ' " ^ ' Father of man, and that man is the earthly child of God Th^ word God represents all God-kind (whether th y be Lord P f vals, or periods of timeTf tC ^LZtrd^t 'Z in thrBiSo^^h frt i::d'Grd; '"'" t'-'-'^ -"^^ f? 178 GOD AND MAN. Hi #* HI), ;l b"f's, capable of seeincf, hearinrr nnrl „ *• n ^^'^ '^"^^ "«o.IV' insomuch that th y 7TlJ ,'"?,"''"' *''«^*'' '■'"<' take the place of their heavenlvr- I '"I ." '" '"''™"' "' time an earthly son becomi „n f ""'' ^""'""'' '« '" d"'^ and attend to th bus^ r/of an e" Tr;"':"" "^ "'^P'"-' time the earth will hive 11 , , ^ '""""•• ^""^ ''^ ">is -ent .rows old^lL Ti„f to™; ' " l.^ri'^ " " ""' "^ «''^- cerning the earth and the he to ' h i""' ""^ ° ™"- Meaffarment; as a vesture sh„fl ,"■'""'""'"'" ^"'^ old shall be ehanaed ■ CtTlJ^ t '''""'^' """"^ '""' ''"^J have no end."^ The children o t, '™'' """' "'^ ^^^'^ 'I'"" ^- seed Shall ^: ^:^^ Z:^:' ^tZ' ^ uauutuH or years tlie coat is worn out finrl f.,iio ^«- > , , so also little or no change is perceived .nil .Tf' ''""^ ' tury to century, nevertheless it Ikl f ""■* '^''<'"' '^^"■ two thousand y ars or o t In tl nT ""' ""'' '^' ''''™' teenth millenary bein"n..n f , I '•"e completed its four- wni yield to ^^:i:zt:^:i::!t^'^^- everything visible to mortal eyes g owl old Td 'ch ' ^"^^ know that nothing is annihilated ; ffv „ when w ir ' "' *X:7in-::i\C:r-^^^^^^^^^ gasses and of molten rock. And if so' if ft f-'" " ^^"'''y "f «P, every particle of subs^ant'wIiTh s t:~:":ak''r' earth a sn table habits h'nn fnr> «. / necessary to make this enters into the '^^^^2:!^^^:'^:^^ ^'^'^ -ee; and if also the spiH.s or so„in;Xt'ilLrof': GOD AND MAN. 179 80 that wo shall bo abloTje ht?» ? 7°"' ""'' ''»''«' *<=•' see and hoar, &o .-ZilT\i"'':'"'^'^*'^^'P'"t^'>T"gods" ^or. a.a,-„ p;ep.:V, 1^:!^ ZZ rXliVr'""" "? again creating man unon if in reception of man, and Hkcnoss ? ovo^n as "u^Cv '„ l" ^a",:.": Jcf 1""' it/ ""^ ««n, le. hi. ^^e^r!::^;::^"^^''''^"'^ or occupation or amnscment f„. ti ■ *"""'>'<' employment throughout the countira^e et '™Cr " '"'"''''■ "' "'" olouda and singing p^almf, CLT'^'^J^.f^ ^o™^" "f" many nominal Christians contcnf .1, , ""'"''" ">«' quil occupations may be wen 1 t'T ""' '''"'• «"'='' t''™- pacities 0? these ."minal Ch ri ti ^f b^""^;'' '" "" ^^«^"' - they will acquire some little twr ." '" ""^ ^"""^ "'•■" and "■«Wofhra;. m or tfr; '""T'^'""' '"^''"'' shall have lived as sniri.r" ,? ^ ""'' ''^^''' "fte"- 'hey thousand years or .T:k,2'^ ^7"" "' '''"' ^^ '•' f- yon, //e tL ieiievea on lit ? f"^' '^'''"■^J ^ ^V ™«o ana greater „»* tr S':;™* f '/ **'" "^ *"''-. Fa&r" (Johnjciv 121 w t *' *'"''«« '^i"' ">• ■ "'/ truth thai those Ihtlie^l'Z t""n " '""''^^ '" '"^ ^-' works that ho has done but ,h«llT / ' ""' ""'^ ''" "■" s-™o Jesus has ever yet done ,• " be a 'se' f ,'" "rt" "'°*" ">» m Father," and so shall , .°^'"'' .^.^^s the Saviour, " I go to to do great'er work ha\ ^s dfCrd" '" 1"?'^ "^ '^"^^^^ But some one may say WeH iff „ f '""'"'"'• »s to believe that we e'rljor ated 'nT""-'"' "™''' " "" the1)keness of God, so that we ar^' sons fV'^^"''' """^ ^f'" ourselves, capable of advancinl from „„. ^"^ *"'' "^'"^«" another to all eternity? Th" anl f P" '"' P"*""™ to ^Jf J he answer 1, plain. If we reallv h.. i( 180 GOD AND MAN. decreaso from day to dat „„! <■« »«'"on» would inevitably increase in an eql «b' olh!^" "f"' ''°""S^ *°'"«1 veiled] face behold „T as' in I , "?"' "'"' "?''" [°^ «- [would be at last] e ang^d ?„.„ £T "-"'"^ "' ""^ ^"''' glory" ^2 Cor. iii. 18) That ^V '""".'""SO fro- glory to of the knowledge o this gre! truhTsf "'°/''"' "P"" »' of the apostle John • " Beloved 1 ' ' a"'''""''"" fro™ "'« words it doth not yet apLr what we'^.T, . *'" """ "/ »»''. ""d t-at t e efi^et oCn theXf' r n;":^^';^ "T'' wis," such 11 f mukiiig us "gods" and d inevitably lings would 'pen [or un- i' the Lord, 3in glory to ^ect upon us Q the words '/ God, and 'that, when ^im as he is. imself, even ctly asserts 'd hereafter I is pure" mr Father V. 48). CHRISTIANITY. r.l^Tf'''^^ '?''' *^' ^^'•^ *^y G}od With all thy heart and strength, this is the, first commandment. And the second I hke, namely this Thou shalt love thy neighbour as hll T ere IS none other commandment greLr ttn thes " £' XII 30, 31) " On these two commandments hang all the iZ and the prophets" (Mutt v^i; An\ u tt /'""i' "" ^^« 'o'"' hn,h A ifiii y.l\ ^ ' ^^>' ^^ tf^(*f- oveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this Thmi cii„u ^ • "™^^ rru 1 1 '^' -^^ousnalt not commit adnlfprv wrwi ::: Th ■"■ rr "•""' "°' '^''' '^•«'" «•=«" - s laise witnes?, Thou shalt not covet • and if th^r-^ i.. .t ihou Shalt love thy neighbour as fce//' (Gal. v. 14). " Beloved let us love one another: for lov , of On^ . ,„ i ""'o™. lo^eth is torn of God, ana Zo^etH Gof ' He tZZZ \ y>o.etk not God: for Goi is love. And w h^e kn wn afd be hevtd the love that God hath to us n.^ ■ j ^^elleth in lo.e ... J.tto^ . ^:^'' ""''l'^ say I love God, and hatoth his brother, he is lliar : for /.Z loveth not Ms brother „Ao„. he hath seen, hL can L Je Qol htTuIT "l'T\ ^"•' '■'■■-""-ndmenrhave tfSn h™, That he who loveth God love his brother also." " Whoso 182 CURraTIANlTY. ' ) '<»• witl, regard to Qod we arrporffctlt^^ .'"^ "" "^'^Ubour: do good nor evil to l.im ; buU 1 1' "• 7' '"' "™ »<•■'">«■■ 'ow-man , for witb man we a „, l!" "'"' T'""'' *" «»^ ^1- goodorforoviUndifweli^lf, "n"? '''' P°"<'*' f"-- «°ul, mind, and strength we t ' ° ^".•' "'"" "" "" heart, "'is lovo, but by exerting „I " .0°!,^"''' ""' "^ P""»S to ameliorate the condition o^i^ *::"■"' "' "" """"? rec«;^ rm:rbr„tf r^/rr °r '-'^-^ »^ p- proaperityof his earthly "hndL?. '' [T "'"' ''^^'^«» '^o Gfod, onr heavenly Fa her w? ' """"^"'eless, all the We of ».«y be, eannot M^tZZT'^" ''™'><"«»"'"'t love " we love one another," and so ar^.'*:; ''T "' ?«*='- "nless iv. 18). It was for his reas„rLf ? ''"'^'°' '" '"^"" (' J"!" "new commandment," in wiicht T' ■=''' '^'''='P'«« ">» command of Go'" 'f only test whereby we may know th» ".i- '■ ^' ^■"'^ ■' 'he those of Antichrist, if wl"hrvlllv ''T'''''''" "^ Christ from f»i ivo need, nnd vviIwt'Ut'thtlio ? love in word, foliii iv. 7, 8, •w of God and Jmmed up in libour as thy- is or actions. [" neighbour: > can neither rd to our hi. powerful for dl our heart, '' of proving our ability ss and per- desircs the the love of 'SS that love feet, unless ;e"(lJohn isciples the i^ery other ou, that ye ' love one disciples if his is the irist from »nd maoi- deed and be "dis- s; but if CI1RI8TIANITV. 183 T>o do not show our love to God by loving? our foilow-n.an and prove also that we really do love him by^ur oHo t7i S " half to benefit h.m either individually or collectively, ac di t as our opportunities or abilities n.ay enable us to dot th wo are most certainly not the " di«eiples" of Jesus C ri '; he Z:i^T7 ^" '"' "' ""'"^•' -'^ - '-« "0 claim Iv a . Let any one honestly attempt to act up to the requirements of th. "mv commandment," and he will soon find that hVLs L.t t I , , '?' '""^ ^^^k\ihom as himself, but a very great work mdeed, and one which it is almost imp >s8ible for a man to accomplish in the present state of the wor d ; f u to to h,s time one would most certainly fail in it, if h Zded father or mother, sister or brother, wife or children, or evTn h own hfe more than his duty to God; therefore Je us clution those who undertake to follow him to first consider the cri's as any man with common prudence would, if he was about to erect an expensive building (Matt. xiv. 2i.33). Tor ti et j^ no sacrifice whatever which he might not be callid upon t make n showing by his deeds or actions that he reall^ Td acTur to the great and comprehensive commandment, "Thou X love thy neighbour as thyself." If all mankind or Tven he greater portion of mankind, generallv acted nn .'.!?• ^^'". 7^ the. would be little or no d^eu^nt fin" i M fs Z;? ^ called upon make little or no sacrifices, and would suZ little or no hardships : for where would be the difficuTtror wtr eh! rnli:r'" 'r^f ^" ^^^^'^^^^^ nelghbours's oV^Jres t^ eoTat ?"t l^ '^ ''^^^ '"'^ ^^ -^^-« ^h^t they v'e "equally? In such a case there would manifestly be no diffi culty, no loss, no sacrifice, in comparison to the advanttt which^would result to each individual and to the whole com 184 CHRISTIANITY. iii\ more or les, evil-disposed neighbouT-^and in tL .T^ ^"""''^ without .ftin/ttiir?. a*"; ^'i-tdZs:, "r"'^^^- see an example to the rest of the S for therjl 7 "^^ re% prosper far „ore than any na^fhi Ue ^t Xt" r4tm^':r;lrh7ar:oX;TnThlnT^^^^^^ for they will have the great advanta;foTa n-rhteo:^ L n """' sa. government overthe whole earth^ for .he^'-terjlor Z" ■ ' Bt the greater act up to the mselves. Far much to bo uld be found aence is that learn to do perhaps the lid be com- he loss of all world, if he his nine or Id show by ais expense. naketh him- a that there !S a remedy sparation of linety-nine thering to- Ired or one 3try where up to the lemselves, they may 3ost assu- », so that the other great and principle, ise ;" and •uld now, d univer- :doin and CHRISTIANITY. 185 dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole S^tn. v:i^27; ""^^ *'^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^'^ ^^^"^« ^' ''^ --^ The separation of the best of mankind from among the nations 18 the next important step towards bringing about this great and wonderful result ; and this separation is to be effected by know- ledge corresponding to their goodness of disposition being sud- denly g,ven to them, so that they will unite together and bLme one people and act m concert wisely and deliberately, so that they will make every preparation necessary to enable them to go to he country provided for them as soon as the time arrives for them to do so (see Eestoration of Judah and Israel, pp. 146-149) thus forming a nucleus to which others may afterwards flee for safety and protection. Thus shall t! become the " saviours " "slZrZll P^^P^^^y ^^^^1 ^« fulfilled which says that F r it \'T "P "^ "^'"'^^ ^'"^ *" J"d^« the mount of Esau ; and the kingdom shall be the Lord's " (Obadiah 21) From the apostles' day even to these our own days, manv have heartilydesired to be disciples and servants of Jesifs cS suffered the loss of all things and at last submitted to a crue'l death rather than deny their Lord. And it is only quite latdy withm this last century or two, that men have ceas d to perse cute unto death the Christian martyrs, merely for pers stintl testify to the truth ; but now we are comparatively free from s^ud pe secution for conscience' sake; therefore, now^'s the favour abl time for us to declare freely the gospel truth, and to ac up wo dUutTdT ^'^ I'' "^'"^^^^"^^^ ^°- -^ --'in word, but in deeds; neither does Christianity consist in subscrib- ing o a certain set of opinions or doctrines, however correc th se opinions or t ese doctrines may be. Bat Christianity consists L Wing our fellow-man as ourselves, and in showing this lov by our deeds or actions, as was before proved (pp. 181 182 ) And the great object of dl the doctrines,'and of all the knowlidi.r 186 CHKISTIANITY. I fi il ^:^ZT^^^ or Ueavenly thi„^, „Moh .he tian princMe and if 117, ™ *" ''°' "? '" '"» ^^^''t Chris- not that effeo.; insl d of Lttl"" "V" '°'""^''^'' '"'™ fes, to belie™ thTtl d^":7i;"-:,:t™"'T '" "= '" p"- "Ifyawe.b,i„dr,aysj:^™'t Uh^^^^^^^^^ no sin : but now ye say. We see • Zr^Z ^ "'"^ ''*''^ (John ix. 41) Moreover „r v""''**"^* y""-- «n remaineth" glory tii; »n r . ■ ' 'I "^''°' ^°*''^ of """in? " in his nions o^r artioie^^tirh S ft^t^^^^^^^^ -'^ ^pi- but estimates the amount of the tr.,.f-.ruT ""'"'"'«! had, by the amount of gr/^tk™?!^* each individual performed while livinHn The earth -ro^^' "'''°\''' '"'''^ blessed of my Father inherit .r> _,*^°'"«' ^J-^ he, "ye fromthefouuLTrfoAhew'rid Lr-" r^'"'''" '"" gave me meat: . was t^^t^LVs^T.^Zl'^'xr '' VpnL T T' ^^' '° P"'°"' ^°d ye came unto me ™Vofrfeast?f r: LXrt^ '- t •--- ^"■- (Matt xx^r qi .1A^ T j , ^^^^^^^^j 7^ have done it unto me " articles of the Christiar tJT ^T- , °'' "' *" ""« *"« prove that they^p^rd^ Ir 'cSLtrbl'S ''' ""* benevolence and love towards their &I1I '*""', ''^ zeroising good works and kind X L h m t^hT ''"f"™'"^ cultivated good dispositions, IhaltTe 'co^d mn^ktsuffi: th' -ra. and prLcal kno"wli&^;^ir:„f- ,t! ■s, which the J great Chris- wledge have to us to pro- condemn us. should have remaineth" 'ing " in his ►ns," he does 3 men's opi- f otherwise ; I individual lich he had ■ys he, " ye 3d for you fed, and ye f : I was a tne : I was e unto me, )ne it unto unto me " ot because > the true sy did not exercising erforming have not suffer the iick of all 1 learn to acquired than the •r profes- r^RISTIANlTY. 187 sion, 18 to be acquired ..herwise than by the practice of that trade, business, or profession ; so he who would understand Chris- tian doctrines must practise Christian precepts ; and honestly do ?^ 7^".f n^""^ ^' ^" ^' ^^ ^"^^« ^°^- "^/ ««y ^^n will do his [God s] will, he shall know of the doctrine;^ says Jesus (John vii. 17). And again, the apostle John says, " Everij one that loveth is horn of Qod, and knoweth God" (1 John iv. 7) Love rules and actuates all perfect spirits ; and the more we* are ruled and actuated by love, the more we become like God our heavenly Father. "Knowledge puffeth up, hut love huildeth up {ayaTH) olKoSofid, 1 Cor. viii. 1). If we have not love, God cannot benefit us by giving us any amount of knowledge or power ; for this would be but to make devils of us, for we would be disposed to use our knowledge or power for evil purposes ; for knowledge unaccompanied with a corresponding degree of love does not huild up, it merely "pufeth up;" but if we have love, if our great desire is to do good, or to benefit others, God can give us any degree of knowledge or power in a very short time, and so make angels of us. Thus it is that " love huildeth up." But one may say. How can one acquire or increase this love? The answer is. Simply by occupying ourselves occasionally or contmually with good works, i.e., works of benevolence, or works which have the amelioration of the condition of mankind (either individually or collectively) for their object. Whatever one labours or suffers for, he naturally becomes attached to and values just m proportion to the time, labour, or suffering, which it has cost him. So if we labour for our fellow-man, we shall undoubtedly soon become interested in his advancement, and will love him practically and seek his good, Justin proportion as we labour for him; and this disposition would grow upon us so that it would soon become a confirmed habit, and be our chief object in life • and then we should be on the high road to all perfection. For when benevolence or love is the leading trait m our character, u-it«M«t« -.^jti-- ttSIm 188 CHRISTIANITY. '!< 1 gree of perfection to another, not only here on earth h.l\T hereafter to all eternity as angels of God, " sons of C^d ' and "gods" (see God and Man, pp. 160 177 im tu . ' f ^ ''every one that loveth is LrnofrnTT}' ^' '^ '' *^^* al\ *h^^ 1 J , -^ ""^^J and Jcnoweth God •" fnr receive it in proportion as we become so built un «« ^,T^ exalted above meaanra" ,v™,„ • i ^ yuunn up or of knowledge^" h^lVrh L: " The'^^' "r? snail be like those who are represented as saying, »< > CHRISTUNITV. i' Father, as milds us up (fledge and designs and om one de- fa, but also God," and IS it is that God;'' hv 'ather hath t certainly IS it were ledge and ver. 3cause we exercised fed up or ;er degree itle Paul, d be ex- velations, senger of leasure " sted with ith afflic- up with b, unless ove our and all hitherto B at any ways if )oner or saying, 189 "We wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness but we walk in darkness. We grope for the wall like the bHnd and we grope as if we had no eves" rTRa \w q 1n^ """"»a°ci Of who. it is said that the'^e i^t t i " J LI ttZ to come fo the knowledge of the truth " (2 Tim if?) Clt because " God ^.eth to a man that is U Zl^^ht K h .ivlr "t? ""i *"°""^''^^' ""'^ J"" ■■ t"' t» 'ho sinner hegvethtrava,] to gather and to heap up, that he may give to h.m that >8 good before God " (Eocles. ii. 26). So if we Zi e "wisdom, and knowledge, and joy," wemust ndeavourTopleaL God and we can only please him by cultivating a good dispoT tion towards our fellow-man, bv exercisino- »„^ in -^ W for him by constantly b^inr^g^drwt^^^^^^^^^ lence, by labounng to make man wiser and happier Bv 1 dmng we should please God, and thus we shouldT"goS^ „ h.s s,gh ," and he would give us " wisdom, knowledge, and t;" to our heart's content ; and thus we might vei-v L„T ■ centuries from books, or from our own mental e:fertions for anLl« could very easily communicate to us a few ideas whih wo^H enlarge our understanding to that degree that we m ghrsoon know much more than has been hitherto known by man ^7 fore ..s written "If any of you lack wisdom, It h m ask „f God, h,t g veth to all men liberally, and upbkideth notTand It shall be g,ven him : but let him ask in faith" (James i 5 eT And he must show that he really has this " faith "^ LI' dUd ' ZT^?. '•:■":; ""r"^' *"'' ■''"'»«'' *° *« ntmost of his pte sent abihty to benefit mankind, and trust in God for more w Xm knowledge, and power, as he may require it, and he sWI un' donbtedly receive it. But if he does not do this, thetis no evidence that he asks "in faith," forfaithcan only ianif t L^ "by works" James ii. 14-26), and where there are no woSL the presumption is that there is no faith either ^ Christians are undoubtedly bound to assist and to do good to 190 CHHI8TIAN1TY. prove the condition of the ZuolZZ'l """^ '" '"'"' *» ™- ">» mm not content himself wh.T "l"'^' ^ <^''™«» acquaintances occasionally if 7tl^ « 'f™^.""' '^'■"'^^««'» »f his "d had neglected to prea'ch the *I .^'"f ""' ""«• <'<"'<' so, r- ">f -""o of Christ Could pS ? ""^ '■"^-'' of thai; the earth in these our days • b„t fn S ^ '^'""^'^ '"'own on volence, they also preached th! , '"" '° P™""^''"? hone- honefit and adva„ce'n>e ,t „f tt ^^ '.- " lobonred for the And behold the result , rery manvfrn """ '""" ^°«"'»^?^- become true Christians in .11 ao-rfl";"""? "" "'''ions ba/e P«se„t time ; and not only „ w T .t T'"'^' ^^^^ '» the population of the whole earth have W ""' '™^'' P^^' «' 'he »">»"»- Romar. Catholic nattl^x^^^'T^^ '''"'-■^^^K-.cd. Ti"> derived so .„„h advant^^X 'S-'- '""'; "^""'^'-» mvanably become what \!.J^7cmjT\ ^' ""'^ '"'™ ««'««> have not only U^Z^fl f[ ^''^ ''« 'P'-otes^a™* -%to.<;, at least so fara^e, it:!':' """ "''^' '^ -"=0 when were the arts and sciences loC"."" '"""^'^^^' f"' «t present among the ^21 7 ""''e™'"od as they are derstand maehin!^ and rnXr"" ^^'"^ *'' ""^" »»- and chemistry, like^ey n^y ": 'rallv?"""'"^' ^^•"''="^' among the Protestant nations? ^^'"''""ydo m some measure 4 t;\sro t^ ;t i':i? .r- - ^^^^....^ ,>:■■' no. we have na[i ns o^^r 'r^'^f »' P-P'e ; Ii;?htenment and civilisation L .T ^ '^ gradation of en- And the understa d7 iTmX pJr.'^rf »' *" "'^ heathen, exercised and cuhivafed .h" thev '"^ ^"""'''"^ '"= «» standing many spiritual andhlTtr: '"'It " "'"^- them are even now ready to enWth^ I ^^' '" "■*' •'™y "f submitting themselves to God to7„ t. °^°'" "^ '''"^™ ^^ done in heaven. This they Inot n f " °" """'' "« " i" ■>.i«d among the overwheWn*". ^ T '"'^f^etorily while spiritually advanced ; rtheTwiinr ' "'.FT'^ "'"' "^ ""* ^ selves and become one peol o!?!™""^.""^ '" ^^P"""* them- deeds or actions that the? "le"' """r'" *'"' "-^ "'eir »d truly are the " dial^s " !f T ^r*''"''" ""■<• «> 'eally nation he bom at o«cT'' as it w ^''™'- ''''»« *'»" " « " ^*^« M. .„.« t, :;rjLl7;j"'--<''""S- 'o the prophecy, nation be born at once ! flrJZZtt " """ *^ ' "' »*"« « . ' t ' 192 CHRISTIANITY. cfo«M. *...,,.; ,„v. %ffo^" lit:; l'""f '';'*',?'' prepared the world to nmdL. .1 ^ • ^' '^'' ^<"' '"'S his will on earth even'^T.rrP"""P"'P''' """>"'" do tHese peop.eThlVrst^^i;;;tk fthtf^ '''''"" " appointed time, and G™1 win , "PI**™""* »' the all whieh theTml, .. ° """' '"''^^ P™"<'« *■« them children oaTiri'ri?" ","' f-''" '»' "=^ ^"""S as one nation wHl br.' 1 1 ''7 ' t'" S'"'"'^^'' '"^ether Hiffl, " Ja \, P*"'?'" "f ""« saints of the most te tent Z ™'^ '°™ ''^ "^ '"^ '" ""J™-™ °f what the ?ro portion of the hnman famil/were bef fe oaW 'Uhe "rof God " some t.me previous to the flood (Gen. vi. 2, 4 ^ .es?:ni?::iK-r^^^^^^^^^^ thy neighbour as thvself " Fn. aiirl ' ^ ^^^^* ^°^^ •-iie most nigb. Moreover, all hard labour » iri „ii t»no«s labour will be executed by maoWy as L f „rf r T" so that the people may be occupied w th moTeoonteXork .' Protestant nations, have hitherto been; for they seem in general I J- CHRISTIANITY. 193 to have died and gone into the spiritual world with very little more knowledge than they had when they entered this natural world,. Hard work, and indeed all physical labour was given to man, that he might have suitable ocoupation while his animal nature should predominate over his intellectual, and so might in some measure be kept out of mischief ; for people cannot be idle long; if they are not doing something good, or something indifferent, they will most certainly be very soon doing something evil. All experience proves this to be true ; and if this were not so, man would probably stand still like the other animals, and never advance a step in the scale of intelligence. But man is so con- stituted that he cannot be idle long ; and if he does good, he advances towards perfection ; but if he does evil, he suffers the natural consequences of the evil sooner or later, and so gains ex- perience. Thus either way he is benefited ; with this temporary and important difference to the individual — in the one case, he is benefited by rewards and blessings ; in the other, by punish- ments and sufferings. All hard and monotonous labour disappears as general intelli- gence advances ; for when we begin to exercise our ingenuity, we soon perceive that by the application of a little machinery, one man may be enabled to do what was hitherto the work of ten or even of a hundred men, without working very bard himself either. Thus the more we advance in intelligence, the more time and opportunity we acquire to advance still further, until at last we shall scarcely do anything directly by the labour of the hands, and almost everything indirectly by means of machinery ; so that we shall be continually called upon to exer- cise intelligence and skill in all the avocations of life, and so shall undoubtedly become very intellectual and skilful, until at last we shall be fitted to be occupied as angels in works which require the intelligence and skill of angels. From childhood, and even from infancy, the whole population, whether rich or ^^^., ..... ....... .,.^,,^ '.-^^^-.•i nimvjt x.\j «v--_; uii V) a iluclux vuucciLiuU, N -«».«I>«MHM>.«3 194 CHRISTIANITY. and to bocomo acquainted with the variom sciences, snch a. Astronomy Geology, Chemistry, Mechanics, &c., so hrt" may fo ow h,s particular inclination, and occupy himself mo„ espeemi y w, I, that particular science or ocoupatL which mZ h>m best A study and learning will bo made as attractive a^ possible to chddhood and youth by illustrations, oxhibittn and •r , -, ^'iovvriuen, J- nere shall he no more thencp nn 7/ ,f/Z' ""' "" "''■ """■ «■»' '"'* ■>»' ffll'^d his days r tnecm shall die an hundred, ears old; but the sinner beL-^n hnnd ed years old shall be accursed" (Isa. hv. 20) ; for then H shal be common tor children to have the knowledge and und" standmg that men of a hundred years old now hfve, and they W.I bequ.e as well or much better prepared to "die" and enter the spiritual world. ' All this, and a great deal more than could be exnressed in wntmg, would be the result of regarding our ueTgC s Z ourselves, and their children (however poor or ignorant The, col': zr f "r- "f "' •'""^"■^ best-we Li' could for the amelioration of their condition, and for their ad vancement m general intelligence. We would thus und ub ed^ have a heaven upon earth. In fact, until we are prenared avou'raw: tT'"'"' T"' possibly be in a condltiorm tavourable to happiness than we might be, as men, women and dispositions, and show by our deeds or actions that we loved one rich ng or exalting ourselves at the expense of our neighbours He that would be "great" or a " chief" among us, should endea" vour obeeome so by being our " minister" or'" s^rvan!" Matl hi uu ' I "'"^ *"' ''""™* *» •'»«fi' tho rest of us with hisweaUh,orwith his wisdom, knowledge, skill, or ingenui y. Up to this time people who called themselves Christians, wiiL f CHRISTIANITY. IM Ibovethn"l f ^','" ^-^o^o-^ff t» «lov«to them«elve» portant than their neighbours ; and they had their reward, for they generally succeeded ; but such people have no claim wha Uinst sought to better the condition of the whole people, while he himself renamed as one of the poorest of the people, not even 0™! V ' '° '"^ ''^ '"'^'" •'"' "=«y seelfto'bter their other andT"' "t" ",! "" '^""''^ "-"^ "> ««' dWvantage others, and to make themselves appear superior to other peLlo Ch tf. 7 "t r'^ "' ^'■™'' *-"' ""Antichrist or a^ si ^^:>^t^; "<" ^""-^ '» ''^'"— >" «4 the A nation cannot be exalted intellectnallv, sociallv anrf ™„ rally, unless the great body of the people are r W e^Uattd „" advanced Intel eetually, socially, and' morally ja y motthan a pyramid could be exalted without elevating „r extend 1 i,^ basis. But as by extending and elevating thels s of a pyram d cvenTpVorr''^'''''''^"''" '^"^ ^"■'"■^'" P-pS even up to the apex or summit; so also, by increasing genera ntel igence among the populace, and ameliorating thfir condt tion ,n everyway, one elevates and exalt, not the ;opulace onlv but every other grade in society also , and those who'do the Zlll for the populace can scarcely fail eventually to be the mostT ^ngnished and exalted, when the populace, Lner or latT ea „' to appreciate what has been done for them It. 18 now more than eighteen hundred years since Jesus upon earth tnd be 1^' "'""n"" '^ey might enjoy a'heaven npon earth, and be a blessing to all other nations. They reiected his teaching and filled up the measure of their iniquitieTbvS ftre Them t' h' ' '''''""" .""^ "'»" '*'"^'^ ''^- » "- ^Ottered them to be a scattered and afflicted people ever since, I I I9(J CI1BI8T1ANITY. and has cause,' '" < -»>«! * i bo Cl,ri.,.,r oven in "f^™, «-"'""-«• Somo have ref„,„d to nation. ta*e p,„ Jred f , t ^ "■"""'" """<»" i ^^ 'he™ 'n.e«« nominallv f'!! ^' ""'""'» ""en in name. I'ave not profitod mo 1 ,1IS „ 7 """'^""y ''"«^), bocanso they But as, when God "^ .T ,7)"™ ^ *" ^^t of the ^„.pel' from amon.. thorn oZll *Z^7'' "" ''™' ""'«=""' "-e Wt from amon^ 1 76] ri tia„ "h 1" ^f ''" '"g^'l-er the best being his peenliarly Cued ir, ^'"'^ '"' ""'' ""=«■ "« ''^m the Jews for a tiufe And ^^^7^ " 'f ^"™"'^'"'^' ""^ verted to Christiauitvfthe«.T """^ .""»'«'"•<' J«>vs were con- more, Acts ii. Tit^tJ'"T '" """ ^"^' ™'" ''"''y """y n.i.i- which bof L jlwli"!"! T" •""'' *'™"' «''° -•"■ no* dso shall many t .,m,I .ds fr„„ T "^ J""'"'™ ; ^ "-nations be .atCr ^to^ h ."^d Zn'r''""'"'"^ ^•'™- people, and so shall esoan,.ft • i ^™""' "n* ""''ed ..bout to come up thnlX^T"' "''"'' '^ »°'' -"-"'y number of this companl w pr^bl'"",""."""" ^"^ ""' first Christians who were o t°i^T ""> "'""ber of the nn-ber of nominal cSia;stelrr;r.r "^ '"•' munity or peopljf? / If, " '''"'™'" ^-^ '''^"■><" «"■"- «otionsthat'^wTre.;ilvdoIov/ ';\',° ''""' ''^ °" '«»■■•« "« ourselves, while shall onT ose " ' our .r;;, ' n "'"""^ ^''^''^ "*«°»». " ;n. all o^ur"!':;;, :„d r!it',:'iz;::T:v" r jf >au.hed at as fool, i. addition, for therlluld ^IltTil^ / y tion on the ' reliiSfld to a bo Chris- ir actions : ; yet these ' practised far above le. to be sot ansa they 10 gospel. the best r the best oflf from y cast off ere con- ily many ;he cala- lem ; so y Chris- e united ertainly Lnd the r of the as the act up 3t com- Jeds or , while >ns, w ■ time, nd be jether ClIRISTU.fc'ITY. j0- too «verwhola,i„g . „^j„H,y ,g,i,„, „„^ .^ we .hould be a. a ,„ro 8w„||„wc,l „„ by the m„lti„„k bu i prty, out shall without doubt fow nc to our nnWx, o«.i ♦ *i tu«I a.si..„„„ewbioh we wiU .elder '^X^;>X^^^';:Z become we. tl„er, and more i„flue„,ial, numero ,, nnV^welf OP fn, T "r' "' '""'^ """'• I'""""' ™-n, weak Z; or,n«ff„,fioant ho may appear, i, yet, nevertheless ean«'br„; ec^^rd'andM „,CT5M8;f ."ie'r^'^r- T? ^"- «srea.,ytoeaJS;;ft^^^^^ behalf, and every present sacrifice we may be called nnln Z 7i:::'\:Tr- ":b"" ■^--'^^s-hir-iair. .d" ovrhs hiZn t""""" " •""^'™''' "'"^ «» " father per^LTaVrber a■:::lTrd^:?"°T^^ T^^^^^^^ .ijes force to the reasoninfof l^apo'slrhlth^^hrst" //a m«» say, I fo„e fforf, „„rf AafeM A» i™(/cr, *?» a Z '■ for he that loveth not his brother whom h, hnil. a C fc.. (?o<. whom he hatJ, not J„ 7 (1 John if Z' llT" ' to be lit g':::? ■"'"' "^ ""'P*'"" °f "---^ P-f-ted so a 198 CHRISTIANITY. If" in all perfection throuXTuhtt ^ " ""^ "' <*<"'' '""'^-^^^S the increase of God "' o" V ™™"*^»« "S^^ "f eternity, "with "God and Man,"i leo lelP " ""' ''"^''" (^^ suijrtLt:;:? in ttitttir ^'v- ""^ »^ ">« -"er «'7 or write all which can bjf'""'" •'"" ""^ ""'J'^"' '« ""^ to but merely to say or wrUe stC? ""'"" °" *'"'^« «"«-»'«, few of the most fn elCt" d w 7"™",' ""' ^"™«''° "^ "^ tiey may be induced tflo k i„to fhl T ""'""^ '"'■>■ «■»' and search out the truth fo^ , ""'•'"="' ""<• ^""'j' 'hem number of people bee m intc eTTt ^ ^"^ '" " ^•"^™'" -«kty paper i„ ,hioh these th„:;:,\!7-T'' '°, ?""'"^'' « cussed, and every one wb„ I,. """'^ *nd freely dis- any difficulty iu^u„derl„dt any ,„esti„„ ,„ ask, or who has these subject can eas y ^tfn hi^ "T-"""^ " "f'^"- *» editors of such a paper andTf L .•?"'*"" "' «"^'«<">« *" 'he questions themselves Jhev'""'*'"'' """"" """''■■ all such cannot answer Tn a clmn T'^ P""'^'' "=°^« ^'"oh they to that purpose," othafanv "/"^"^ "'s"* "» "evoted haveanoppLu'ni" f ' pWnlthe ""'' ""^ ^^P" -""''^ tions, should he be able t" do s" ,t 7^"' '" ""^ "' ""= I""'' of positive knowledge on the e it, ' """""^"^ "»?-« soon be acquired. I„ the mZf • T""" '"""J'"'^ -nigl't in this little book has not theTffr'f T'"" '" '"'™ ™«» of a few thinking men it s not t , ..""""""S ""' ""^n'ion quantity of writiL or p '1. 1 ,t, *"' " ''"'"^'■^'' «»«« the r have attempte'd ^ CtYat'Ss ^v f ^^f •- by onr deeds or actions that we 1„™ ?^ """"'" » Proving and that all opinions „r titles w^'V^"''''°"' as ourselves! to make „s do so, are useless to ■!' "^'"^t"' »»' the tendenc; in the day of judgment'? :r;::rre:;":r™","^''"^*»^ «o - .s .he height Of foiiy for ;^:::- iviir r : 111; ^ again to that d, increasing rnity, " with Creator (see id the other ect is not to se subjects, tention of a : men, that study them a sufficient establish a freely dis- •r who has iference to ions to the 3r all such 'hich they 3 devoted )er would the ques- le degree 3ts might 1 written attention imes the proving irselves, sndency nything nay be. s into a CHRISTIANITY. jgg perfected sooner or^Ia.e ,0 at to bl T ""I'f, "^ "^'"""'"^ performing works of croatio" Z > *"= °«'=«P'^.'' ''ie "gods " in great truth is o,]cu LfM ' ' "" ''"""y- ^"^ """ '"s no more despise the meanes of mVni " T ^° '"' '"'' *'"'" an angel : for we shaTnorl/ T^ ""'" "<= "°"'^ "^^'P's' we shd. 'con ij: a, 1": LhTL , '? Tf'V^ '^ "'"' ■^' '"' later, when perfected Th ,sf f° '" ^''"""'' "^'""" the effect whfch the anosL t v. ^ """"■""^ P^"'^""^^ savB " rJ !, ^ '^''''" "'^'■"5 ttat it does, when he says, Beloved, now are we the son, r,e Cr,/, j -. , , amar what u,esUl ie: JZZojin> ', f f""' "'"'"' we shall ie like him ■ for llh^r 7 '"" '" ''"'" "rP""^^ man thai Halh this k^fn hi M t If " ^'"'/"^^ » pure " (1 John iii 2 3) '^ ^ '''"^ '""" "' ''^ t«°d] bestfmanktd^til'" f - '.'■^' '-^-P-«on of the and the restorationTf Td 1, "'"'/f ™' "^"""^ "f the earth, other most i:rnttnt„n:e'„t;^^^^^^^^ ^'* ^"^ take place upon the earth • so Zf .1' ? "" "'"'"' ^ have now litfle enoagh t im'e eftt l''''' '""™»" '»^° their Lord now th„ ll I ! ^'^P"™ ""omselves to meet bless «« righ.l,s 1„, "ll d " '°r i° ^•''*" '"=-*" »d wicked and fv-din'sedrfih?-?' "■"'' ^^ ""' ""»'' "-e they have u«e Iv des 1 /.f "'" """"^ themselves, until the'righteorSt:: edt "^rreVef- T'^'"'. ^ ""'' heaven be likened unto ten viraim ' ^'^^ ^"'^'^ ^hich took their L imps, and /■>/^ H'l 200 CHKISTIANITY. went forth to meet the bridegrooa. An,! «« f., and fi,e were foolish. They thl^wJ. f rV"'''""'''™ ''S and took no oil with them but tL ^""'f'' '~^ *eir lamps with their lamps. WhZ 'tlV^J' "° """^ "" '" *''«' vessels fo«, ''> "a^e been revealed tone centuri™ ^ "'""'' y«' seem to «We "/ ^a„<, rfe,,^^^ /•„„„: ^,'^ ^'''''''y wriWen in the ''^"-'J'^entfortk out ofZZl'"'':/"'"' "«%»«% ha h done then,, a„d my glVt'^" ^''™'''"^' ^ay, Mineido created now, and not from the ,f- "" *""'" "''"'■ They a,^ "hen th«„ heardest ibemJt'lTT"^' "^^^ l«=f«^e the d y ^'->-