The Great Epistle General of John to the Seven Churches in Asia.

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In Connection With the Prophecy of Seventy Weeks.
THE chief and ultimate object of this general Epistle of the beloved disciple is THE REVELATION OF CHRIST AT HIS COMING IN GLORY. As 1 Peter 1:1313Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (1 Peter 1:13) refers to His coming, so Rev. 1:11The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: (Revelation 1:1) relates to it also. The word is in both places the same, ἀποκάλυψις Ἱησοῦ Χριστοῦ, "THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST." Observe, this epistle comprises the three following subjects:—1. THE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN; 2. THE THINGS WHICH ARE; 3. THE THINGS WHICH SHALL COME TO PASS AFTER THESE. (Chapter 1:19.)
The first of these is the vision of the Son of man amid the seven golden candlesticks, exhibiting Christ as a judge over the Church of God upon earth. The second is the state of things in this dispensation. Observe as to this, that the Seven Epistles, as they are commonly termed, (which are not distinct from but are included as messages within the general epistle,) though addressed to certain churches then existing in Asia, glance at the same time at the Church as a whole, from its rise, as presented in Ephesus, where the saints lost their first love, to the Church in a state of decay and declension, such as Laodicea exhibits. The third, "the things which shall come to pass after these," relates to the events of DANIEL'S LAST WEEK, after the Church has ascended to heaven; and also to the millennial age at the end. The latter occupies the epistle or book, from chapter 6 to the end.
As to the last of these three subjects, which occupies the greater part of the epistle, observe how it and the Seventy Weeks of Daniel agree. Daniel, for instance, prophetically traces the Jews from their return with Nehemiah from Babylon to Christ's second coming; his prophecy having been already fulfilled beyond the SIXTY-NINTH WEEK, between which, observe, and the SEVENTIETH, an unnoticed period occurs, namely, the present time of Israel's dispersion; while John, in this epistle, addressed to the churches in Asia shows the ONE WEEK, the last of the Seventy, the time of "the prince that shall come," or "the beast" in all its different phases; the whole being comprised within the SEVEN-SEALED BOOK, which the Lamb alone has title to open and read.
As to the WEEK, mark how it is repeated again and again. 1. In chapter 6, under the first six seals; 2. After the Seventh Seal has been opened under the Seven Trumpets; (chap. 8., 9., 11:14-19;) 3. In the parenthetical vision, (in chap. 11:1-13,) in connection with the two witnesses and the treading down of the holy city; 4. In chapter 12., in connection with the woman and the dragon; 5. In chapter 13., with the beast; 6. In chapter 14:1-5, with the Lamb on mount Sion; 7. In chapter 17., 18., with Babylon. Thus, in harmony with the septenary character of this book, it occurs seven times. Besides which, in chapter 14. we have some further details of the LATTER HALF OF THE WEEK in verses 6-8 in connection with Babylon, and in verses 9-20 with the vine of the earth, the symbol of the apostate nation of Israel.
Here observe how the SEVENTH SEAL, SEVEN TRUMPETS, and SEVEN VIALS, are all connected; thus: The Seventh Seal contains the Seven Trumpets, (chap. 8., 9., 11:14-19,) while the Seventh Trumpet announces those judgments which are afterward given in detail, when the Seven Vials or last plagues are poured out. (Compare chap. 11:19 with chap. 15:5-8, 16.)
EPISTLE TO THE CHURCHES.
"John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come." (Chapter 1:4.) Thus the epistle begins, and thus (John still addressing the churches) with a farewell salutation it ends: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." (Chap. 22:21.) This, among other things, proves that it is what we believe it to be, namely, a general epistle sent by John to those churches, to which, as shown in chapter 22:16, Jesus sent his angel to testify.
Observe, as to the seven messages or epistles, which form a part of and are included within the general epistle addressed to the churches, while each belongs to a particular church, it appeals at the same time to the others: "HE THAT HATH AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAITH UNTO THE CHURCHES." These words, which are common to all, prove it to be so. Observe, the Spirit therein speaks, not to any one church, but to all—to the churches.
As to the seven messages, observe, in three of them the warning stands first, then follows the promise; while in the last four the order is reversed; there the promise stands foremost. A blessed example this of God's grace, showing that as evil abounds, as declension in the Church becomes more painfully evident, He is careful to cheer the hearts of the faithful with an emphatic assurance that they who overcome shall have their reward.
And now, looking back to the first three verses of chapter 1., To what, we ask, does this passage refer? Not, evidently, to that which immediately follows; that is, neither to the Son of man in the midst of the candlesticks, nor to the state of the churches as shown in the seven messages, seeing that these things, not being future, could not be named as SHORTLY COMING TO PASS. It refers to the PROPHECY, the contents of the seven-sealed book, the book of the Revelation or manifestation of Christ in His glory, which book, in chapter 5:7, THE LAMB RECEIVES FROM HIM WHO SITS ON THE THRONE, and which is for this cause here anticipatively spoken of as that "WHICH GOD GAVE UNTO HIM." Thus, while this was THE WORD OF GOD" on the one hand, it was "THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST" on the other; meaning that He who gives the book to the Lamb is the source from whence it all emanates, while Christ, who, as the prophet, opens the roll, and reads or unfolds the seven seals in succession, is the channel through which it reaches His people. For this, as we find in chapter 1:9, even for "THE WORD OF GOD AND THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST," John at this time was in the Isle of Patmos; that is, the Lord had providentially taken him thither, in order that there, apart from the world, His purposes (contained in the seven-sealed book) might be made known to His servant for the benefit of the Church. This is the same word and testimony, for clinging to which the souls in chapter 6:9, who die at the foot of the altar, will suffer, and in chapter 20:4, will be rewarded with heavenly glory. The word μαρτυρία, which occurs in these places, may be rendered both "testimony" and "witness.”
And here we may notice the scene between John and the Lord, observing the contrast between Christ as known to the beloved disciple when on earth, and Christ as judge of the Church. Overwhelmed by the sight of the Son of man in the midst of the candlesticks, John faints at his feet, when, lo, the Lord comes to his help—He touches, He restores him. "Fear not;" He says,” I am the first and the last, and he that liveth: and I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death."
And then He tells him of the THREEFOLD SUBJECT OF THE EPISTLE which He had before told him to write: after which He charges him with the seven messages to the churches in Asia. Thus the Lord, having put the sentence of death into him at first, in the end gives him strength to bear all that he was about to hear and to see; such strength as they need, who, with a spirit kindred to that of the beloved disciple, who, desiring like him the revelation of Christ in his glory, seek to enter into the Lord's mind in these wonderful visions.
THE BOOK READ BY CHRIST.
"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." (Chapter 1:3.) Observe, this refers, not to the book sent by John to the seven churches in Asia, but to the SEVEN-SEALED BOOK which the Lamb alone is declared worthy of opening and reading. "Weep not," said one of the elders to John, filled with grief as he was because none in heaven or in earth was found worthy of opening and reading the mystical volume; "Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, bath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." (Chapter 5:5.) These words assuredly tell us that "he that readeth" is none less than the blessed JESUS HIMSELF, while "they that hear the words of this prophecy" are HIS SERVANTS, alike truly blessed, having one common object, one hope, and alike given to wait for the glories unfolded therein, and at the same time to know that when afflictions, when judgments such as never were known shall come on the earth, then, even then, it may be said, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR—THE TIME IS AT HAND.
And here observe how it is when the Lamb takes the book. All heaven is vocal with praise. The living creatures and elders both sing the new song: "Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wart slain, and hast redeemed [a people] to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and halt made THEM unto our God kings and priests, and THEY shall reign on the earth." (Chapter 5:9-10.) This, according to the best authorities, is now understood to be the true rendering of this passage; showing, that it is not of themselves that the living creatures and elders are speaking, but of those to whom the prophecy points; for, though this epistle is addressed to the Church, it relates as a whole to the earthly people of God, chiefly the remnant of Israel, who from chapter 6. to the end are seen overcoming. In them therefore, as the above passage declares, the attention and interests of the redeemed ones in heaven are centered. This is "the kingdom of priests, the holy nation," (Ex. 19:66And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:6),) whom the Lord will redeem to Himself, who are to inherit the earth. Of Jerusalem it is written, that " the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it." (Isa. 2:22And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. (Isaiah 2:2).)
As to the question who the living creatures or living ones (ζῶα—zoa) express, we venture to say the ELECT CHURCH. On the very same throne with the Lamb, and not on separate thrones like the elders— having the characteristics of Christ in the four Gospels, namely, MAJESTY, SERVICE, INTELLIGENCE, HEAVENLY-MINDEDNESS, shown by the LION, the CALF, the MAN, and the EAGLE; having eyes before and behind, seeing both ways, like those whose vision, not bounded by time and sense, embraces God's counsels from everlasting to everlasting; being full of eyes within, as those who, having Christ's mind, are fully intelligent both as to God and themselves; and, lastly, being distinguished as LIVING ONES, in accordance with Christ's word to his disciples, "Because 1 live, ye shall live also;" do we not, we ask, in them see the GREAT MYSTERY, THE CHURCH, as above said? They it is who lead the praises of heaven. "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty," they say, "which was, and is, and is to come;" upon which the elders fall down and worship.
That the Church during the past dispensation did not exist, that it was a mystery hid from ages and generations, we learn from Col. 1:2626Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: (Colossians 1:26). There were saints, it is true, who had faith in the promised seed, who were saved by His blood; but it was not till the day of Pentecost that the Church was formed. Then the Holy Ghost, descending on the elect, baptized them into one mystical body, making them members of Christ, a thing till then wholly unknown to the faith of God's people. As to the elders, these we believe to be those who died in the faith before the Church—the new man in Christ Jesus—save in the purpose of God, had any existence. Observe in Heb. 11 the elect of the past dispensation are spoken of in the same terms: "the elders" they are there called.
NOTE AS TO THE VOICE IN CHAPTER 4:1.
The words of the first voice in heaven in chap. 4:1, 6 4 COME UP HITHER, AND I WILL SHOW THEE THE THINGS WHICH MUST COME TO PASS AFTER THESE," do not refer to the heavenly vision, but only to what will transpire upon earth during the week after the Church has been taken away; and next to the kingdom of Christ after the week has concluded. It is from heaven that John, in the presence of the throne, the living creatures, and elders, looks down upon the action on earth.
INTRODUCTORY PASSAGE.
"THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, which God gave unto him, (see chap. 5:7,) to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass.
“And he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John, [see chap. 17:1; 21:9,] who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, [see chap. 1:9; 6:9; 12:11, 17; 20:4; 22:20,] even of all things that he saw.
“Blessed is HE that readeth, [that is, Christ: see chap. 5:3-5, 9,] and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein [His servants]: FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND.”
THE FIRST SIX SEALS.
(FIRST VIEW OF DANIEL'S LAST WEEK.)
FIRST SEAL.—A white horse: its rider, having a bow, being crowned, goes forth conquering and to conquer.
SECOND SEAL.—A red horse: its rider, armed with a great sword, takes peace from the earth.
THIRD SEAL.—A black horse: its rider holds a pair of balances in his hand.
FOURTH SEAL.—A pale horse: DEATH, followed by HELL, is seen riding thereon, power being given unto them (or him) over the fourth part of the earth.
FIFTH SEAL.—The souls of them that were slain for their faithfulness, crying from under the altar for vengeance, are given white robes.
SIXTH SEAL.—The great day of the wrath of the Lord—sevenfold judgment—seven classes of men judged.
THE FOUR HORSEMEN.
In the rider who goes forth on the white horse on the opening of the first seal, we have a view of him whom we afterward trace through the book, namely, the willful king, or the beast—Satan's counterfeit of that mighty and blessed One, who in chapter 19:11-21 appears on a white horse at the head of the armies in heaven, making war on the apostate king and his followers. He and the other three riders, express, not different persons, but one and the same in different aspects, energized and borne onward by Satan, filling the world with war, desolation, and death. In the midst, however, of this dark scene, there is one gleam of light. In verse 6 we read that when a measure of wheat and three measures of barley are sold for a penny, the oil and the wine are not to be hurt; showing, we believe, that the saints are remembered, that "in the days of famine they shall be satisfied." (Psa. 37:1919They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. (Psalm 37:19).)
The four horses in Zech. 6:55And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. (Zechariah 6:5), are interpreted as "the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth," that is, they are angels who minister to the people of God. This suggests the thought that these four horses in Rev. 6, connected as they are with this false one, may be the reverse altogether of this; and that not only the man of the earth, the false Christ, is presented herein, but also a satanic imitation of those ministering spirits sent forth by the Lord to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation.
SOULS UNDER THE ALTAR.
Under the fifth seal a company of martyrs, converted, we may infer, through the testimony of the two witnesses, and suffering together with them in the midst of the week, are heard appealing to heaven for vengeance. The voice of their blood, like that of Abel of old, cries to God from the ground. Instead however of obtaining that which they seek for, they are given white robes, that is, they are raised from the dead, and together with the two 'witnesses are taken to heaven, as we may conclude, there to rest till their brethren, whom we afterward find laying down their lives at the end of the week, shall have suffered, when the wrongs of all will be fully avenged.
With regard to this fifth seal, it is interesting to see how closely it is linked with the fourth. In one we see the persecutor, in the other the persecuted. Death on the pale horse is evidently the beast at the time of his making war with the saints, (see chap. 13:7,) while the souls under the altar are those whom he slays, the two witnesses, we believe, being among them.
Observe, the symbol of the ALTAR, at the foot of which they are represented as having been slain, shows them to be Jewish martyrs.
Then, as to the white raiment, in which Christ appeared when transfigured, this explains the white robes in this vision as the symbol of heavenly glory. In chapter 7, observe, the idea is different from what it is here. There the saints are said to have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb; meaning, that they were justified souls, that they had been cleansed in Christ's blood. Here white robes, even resurrection bodies, are given to those who had been previously washed.
3. The terror of the kings of the earth and their armies on seeing their leader cast into the lake of fire. (Chapter 6:15-17.)
The above kings and their armies destroyed, here, termed "the remnant," to distinguish them from the two beasts who had been previously judged. (Chapter 19:21.)
THE TWO VISIONS IN CHAPTER 7
The servants of God, namely, the hundred and forty-four thousand of the children of Israel, sealed in their foreheads before the week opens, or at just the beginning thereof. (Ver. 1-8.).
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The great, white-robed, palm-bearing multitude, namely, the Jewish remnant, and a remnant out of the nations, who, having been faithful, have been preserved through "THE. GREAT TRIBULATION," praise God and the Lamb on the throne—a millennial and post-millennial scene. N.B. The throne is in heaven, while the great multitude before it is on earth. (Ver. 9-17.)
SAINTS SEALED, AND THE GREAT MULTITUDE.
REVELATION. 7
The tribes are here sealed previous to the outpouring of the judgments. Before the week opens, the Lord provides for that portion of His remnant whom He destines to pass through the week, and at the end to inherit the earth (ver. 1-8); after which AN EARTHLY MILLENNIAL SCENE is presented, the palm-bearing multitude, namely, those who will survive "the great tribulation," are seen giving glory to God, are heard praising the Lamb. Thus then, between these two visions, that is, between verses 8 and 9, the WEEK may be supposed to exist; in other words, its place historically is to be found in this chapter, though the week itself is left wholly unnoticed. Not that in reality there is any time fixed for the sealing; in fact this is merely a symbolical action, expressing God's purpose touching the spared remnant, to show the distinction between them and those who are to lay down their lives for the Lord's sake.
The great multitude, observe, embraces the sealed remnant who have borne the tidings of grace to the Gentiles, as well as those Gentiles who have been blessed through their testimony. Again, observe, the throne is in heaven; the great multitude before it is on earth; as to which we may add, that the worship of the whole earth in that day will point to one center—THE SANCTUARY IN THE LAND OF JUDEA. Daniel, when in Babylon, his window being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, prayed and gave thanks. So will it be as to the millennial dwellers on earth; whether in Jerusalem or in their own lands at the time, they will in spirit be there. The temple of God will be viewed as the place from whence their worship will be continually ascending to heaven.
The two above visions, together with that of the day of the Lord at the close of chapter 6., are included within the sixth seal. The seventh seal being opened at the beginning of chapter 8., its contents are unfolded through the rest of the book to verse 5 of chapter 22.
TRIBE OF DAN.
In token of the displeasure of God against the tribe that first fell into idolatry (Judg. 18), and from whence the beast, as we believe, is to spring, Dan is not sealed. However, in the end Dan recovers himself; he takes his place with the rest of the nation: "Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel." (Gen. 49:1616Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. (Genesis 49:16).) Thus Jacob, before he reproaches him as being "a serpent by the way, an adder in the path," (thereby pointing, it seems, to the BEAST,) pronounces this blessing on Dan. Accordingly, when Moses tells of Israel's glory, Dan is seen among the tribes of the Lord. No longer reflecting the tempter, the serpent, he "a lion's whelp," like his Lord, the blessed lion of Judah, he too is triumphant— "he shall leap from Bashan." (Deut. 33:2222And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan. (Deuteronomy 33:22).)
Under the first seal the willful king, or false Christ, is revealed. He there begins his career upon earth, when the "ONE WEEK" of Dan. 9:2727And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27) commences, at the moment of his making his covenant with the deluded children of Israel. Under this seventh seal a different object appears, even CHRIST AT THE ALTAR WITH INCENSE, like Aaron on the day of atonement, interceding for Israel. Now seeing that the first act of the enemy and the opening of Christ's intercession will synchronize, this seventh seal, instead of carrying the history forward, evidently returns to the same point of time as the first; that is, it re-commences the week, giving the history thereof under the Seven Trumpets, to the close of chapter 11.; after which, as stated above, it presents the week in all its different phases, down to the close of the book.
And now with regard to the HALF HOUR'S SILENCE IN HEAVEN: What, we ask, does this signify? A pause, (may it not be?) at the moment when the Church is caught up to heaven, between the Lord's ceasing to make intercession for her and his beginning to plead for the elect ones of Israel. Not that in reality there will be any silence at all, seeing that at the same moment the Church leaves the earth the Jewish remnant will be converted and take their place as a witness for Christ: hence this silence in the vision simply expresses a transition—a change in the priestly action of Christ, as in Lev. 16, where, in verse 12, Aaron enters the holiest in behalf of the priests, the type of the Church, and in verse 15 he goes in again in behalf of the people.
"And he (Aaron, the type of Christ in this scene) shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil: and he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not." (Lev. 16:12, 1312And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail: 13And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not: (Leviticus 16:12‑13).)
THE LAMB OPENS THE SEVENTH SEAL.
Silence in Heaven About The Space Of Half An Hour.
The Seven Angels Which Stand Before God Are Given Seven Trumpets.
SEVENTH SEAL.
Chapter 8:1,-22:5.REV 8 REV 9 REV 10 REV 11 REV 12 REV 13
REV 14 REV 15 REV 16 REV 17 REV 18 REV 19 REV 20
An angel, namely, CHRIST, offers incense at the altar. Thus intercession for Israel begins, as in Lev. 16, on the great day of atonement. Consequent judgments on earth immediately follow.
SEVEN TRUMPETS.
FIRST TRUMPET.—Hail, fire, blood, the third part of trees and grass burned up.
SECOND TRUMPET.—A great burning mountain cast into the sea. The third part of the sea becomes blood.
THIRD TRUMPET.—A great star called Wormwood falls from heaven; the third part of the waters made bitter.
FOURTH TRUMPET.—The third part of the sun, the moon and stars smitten.
FIFTH TRUMPET.—(1st Woe.) The STAR ( Satan) which fell under the Third Trumpet opens the bottomless pit. Locusts come forth; their KING, the ANGEL OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT, named ABADDON and APOLLYON, the destroyer.
SIXTH TRUMPET.—(2nd woe.) The four angels bound in the great river Euphrates are loosed.
INTERRUPTION.
The mighty angel, namely, Christ, descends from heaven and prophesies.
THE LAST WEEK of DANIEL. THIRD VIEW. REV. 11:1-131And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2But 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 and two months. 3And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5And 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. 6These have power to shut heaven, that it rain 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. 7And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. 11And 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. 12And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. 13And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. (Revelation 11:1‑13)
The two witnesses prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
The witnesses killed.
The city trodden down for forty-two months.
SEVENTH TRUMPET.—(3rd woe.) Voices in heaven announcing the kingdom of Christ. The twenty-four elders worship. The ARK seen in heaven, as in chapter 15:5.
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Final judgments, lightnings, voices, thunderings, and earthquake, as in chapter 16:17-21.
SATAN, THE FALLEN STAR.
Rev. 8:10,-11:1-12.REV 8:1010And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; (Revelation 8:10) REV 9 REV 10 REV 11:1-121And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2But 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 and two months. 3And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5And 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. 6These have power to shut heaven, that it rain 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. 7And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. 11And 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. 12And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. (Revelation 11:1‑12)
Under the third trumpet a star falls from heaven; and again under the fifth, as at first sight appears, another star falls. The true rendering however is "fallen,” not "fall." "I saw a star fallen (πεπτωκότα) from heaven unto the earth." This therefore puts it in a new point of view, suggesting the thought that the star, or rather he whom this symbol expresses, having previously fallen, is afterward seen pursuing his evil course upon the earth. Evidently this is no other than Satan, the dragon, as shown in chapter 12, in the height of his power and fury, during the "short time," or "time and times and half a time," after his expulsion from heaven.
He it is who opens the bottomless pit, and lets out Apollyon, the angel of the bottomless pit, the same as the beast of chapter 13., who being wounded to death is afterward brought back to life to be wondered after, and worshipped on earth as a god.
As to the mode of his death, it is true we find nothing stated in scripture, but we infer it from what we read as to the two witnesses, against whom he makes war, and whom he puts to death at the close of their testimony—we refer to Rev. 11, where it is said that "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 like manner be killed." “Will hurt them," observe we here read; but the true rendering of θελῃ is “wishes or purposes." The inference therefore is inevitable; namely, that the beast, their chief foe, who doubtless will seek their destruction, will suffer accordingly.
PARENTHETICAL VIEW OF THE WEEK.
(THIRD VIEW OF DANIEL'S LAST WEEK.)
Rev. 10, 11:1-13REV 10 REV 11:1-131And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2But 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 and two months. 3And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5And 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. 6These have power to shut heaven, that it rain 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. 7And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. 11And 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. 12And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. 13And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. (Revelation 11:1‑13)
Between the last verse of chapter 9 and verse 14 of chapter 11. an interruption occurs in the week, a distinct vision comes in between the two closing trumpets. This may be explained as follows:—The sixth trumpet having sounded, the seventh is about to be blown, and the week to conclude, when the attention of John is for a moment called away from the trumpets, by the appearance of Christ in the guise of an angel, who descends with the little book in His hand, and utters His prophecy. He tells of the WEEK IN A NEW ASPECT, showing how in the midst thereof His two witnesses, after having prophesied for twelve hundred and sixty days, will be slain, and also how for forty-two months the holy city will be trodden down by the Gentiles. Thus He vindicates God in His ways, showing that He is only just in sending the last woe, which is now at hand, to punish a world thus guilty of rejecting His grace: in a word, He accounts for these judgments, which we afterward find in the closing verses of chapter xi., when the interrupted week is resumed, and the seventh trumpet is blown.
As to the LITTLE BOOK in the hand of the angel, this we believe to be identical with the SEVEN-SEALED ROLL.
The Lord in His prophetical character had by this time opened it all—to the seventh seal. And now He comes down with it open, setting one foot on the land, the other on the sea, in token of His being the heir, the king, the lion of the tribe of Judah, who is to "HAVE DOMINION FROM SEA TO SEA, AND FROM THE RIVER UNTO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.”
As to John eating the book and finding it at the same time bitter and sweet, this shows, while the hope of the Lord's coming gave joy to his heart, that the exhibition of the evil of man, and consequent judgments at this terrible crisis, were almost too much for his spirit. So it is ever with those who truly enter into the mind of God in these wonderful visions.
Observe, the two periods, of forty-two months and a thousand two hundred and threescore days, in this parenthetical view of the week (chap. 11:1-13), are given in their inverse order; the reason for which is as follows. Christ having predicted the treading down of the city, and the great tribulation thereof, for forty-two months, the latter half of the week, then returns to declare that previous thereto, during the thousand two hundred and threescore days, the first half of the week, His two witnesses should prophesy, and be slain at the conclusion of those days, even in the midst of the week.
THE WOMAN, THE MAN CHILD, AND THE DRAGON
(FOURTH VIEW OF DANIEL'S LAST WEEK.)
REVELATION 12REV 12
The woman travailing in birth expresses the Jewish people, represented by Judah, the royal tribe, in their expectancy of the promised Messiah, Satan's opposition to him being shown by his waiting to devour the child.
The birth of the man child shows the woman's expectation fulfilled so far as it has been, namely, Christ presented to the nation, and afterward to the faithful in Israel, as "the first-begotten of the dead, the Prince of the kings of the earth;" while the catching up of the child represents the ascension of Christ to His present place on the throne of the Father.
The history of the woman being the two periods of the twelve hundred and sixty days, and the time and times and half a time, is that of the Jewish remnant during the WEEK, even the sealed remnant of Judah, the ten tribes not then being in the land, and altogether in different circumstances. Observe, between the birth of the child and the flight of the woman time is not reckoned, the present interval during which the CHURCH appears on the scene being a blank in Israel's history.
Again observe, the woman flies twice (ver. 5, 14); her first flight, at the beginning of the week, being moral, showing separation from an evil world to God, persecution not having arisen as yet; her second flight, in the midst of the week, being from danger, from the face of the serpent, after he has been cast out of heaven.
Two companies of martyrs appear in this chapter; the first in the midst, the second at the close, of the week. Observe, its leading thought is Satan's opposition to God's purpose touching Christ as King of the Jews.
This chapter 12., observe, looks back to the Jewish nation in its expectancy of the promised Messiah, and together with Satan's opposition thereto (ver. 1-5), and then, passing over the present period of the rejection of Abraham's seed without any notice, brings in the week at the end, at the point of time when the woman first flies into the wilderness. (Ver. 6-17.)
THE BESTIAL EMPIRE.
(FIFTH VIEW OF DANIEL'S LAST WEEK.)
REVELATION 13REV 13
This chapter 13 treats of "THE BEAST." Observe, the beast in verses 1, 2, expresses a system, the bestial empire, as in Dan. 7, revived and re-organized; while the beast in verse 3 is an individual, the willful king, the head of the system, who for forty-two months (the latter half of the week), is worshipped by men as a god. As to this beast, all that pleases the flesh, the natural man, the unregenerate heart, will center in him: and yet mark what he is in the estimation of God, as shown by his number, "SIX HUNDRED THREESCORE AND six," (666,) the "number of a man," one short of seven ( God's number), and therefore imperfect—threefold imperfection, body, soul, and spirit. Of him in the full sense it may be said, "Thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting." (Dan. 5:2727TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. (Daniel 5:27).) Man may worship him; but to the Spirit of wisdom it is irremediable evil. "That which is wanting cannot be numbered." (Eccl. 1:1515That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. (Ecclesiastes 1:15).)
THE LAMB AND SAINTS ON MOUNT SION. (SIXTH VIEW OF DANIEL'S LAST WEEK.)
Rev. 14:1-51And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 2And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. (Revelation 14:1‑5).REV 14:1-51And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 2And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. (Revelation 14:1‑5)
Observe, as stated before, in chapter 7 the week is not given: that which precedes and that which succeeds it is shown, but the period itself is passed over in silence. Here, however, the omission is supplied. The sealed ones of that chapter are here again introduced, sustained on the one hand, during the whole of the week, by communion with Christ, the Lamb on Mount Zion; cheered on the other, during the latter half of the period, by the sympathy and songs of the harpers in heaven, namely, their martyred brethren of chapter 6:9-11, 7:11, who had suffered in the midst of the week.
THREEFOLD CHARACTER OF EVIL.
Observe how chapters 12., 13., 14:6-20, come in between the seventh trumpet, or last woe (chap. 11: 15-19), and the seven vials, or last plagues, in chapters xv., xvi., in which we have the details of what is more briefly expressed in chapter 11:15-19. The reason is this: In these three intermediate chapters the evil of man in three different aspects is fearfully shown, in order fully and unanswerably to justify God in pouring out His last plagues on a world under the entire and open dominion of Satan. AS to the THREEFOLD CHARACTER OF EVIL here shown, we have, first, in chapter 12., the enmity of the dragon acting through man against Christ and His people; secondly, in chapter 13., the sin of the beast and false prophet, the heads of apostate power and of apostate religion; thirdly, we see in chapter 14:6-20, the universal evil of man, Gentile and Jew; the former represented by Babylon, the latter by the vine of the earth.
SEVEN VIALS AND SEVENTH TRUMPET.
The seventh trumpet, or last woe, and the vials, or seven last plagues, are connected, both referring to one and the same point of time, namely, the end of the week. This is known by comparing what is said of the vials in chapters 15., 16., with what we read of the closing judgments in the last or 19th verse of chapter 11. For example, in chapter 15:5 the temple in heaven is opened, after which the outpouring of the vials is given (chap. 15:6-8, 16:1-17); and in chapter 16:18-21, we read of voices, thunders, lightnings, earthquakes, and hail. Now then, on turning back to chapter 11:19, which speaks of the judgments of God announced by the last trumpet at the end of the week, and comparing the first half of the verse with the first passage referred to, namely, chapter 15:5, and then again the other half of this verse with the last passage referred to, namely, chapter 16:18-21, the correspondence between them will at once appear. The pouring out of the vials (chap. 16.) comes in historically between the two clauses of verse 19, chapter 21.
BABYLON'S TWOFOLD FALL.
(SEVENTH VIEW OF DANIEL'S LAST WEEK.)
REVELATION. 17;18REV 17 REV 18
The fall of the woman at the beginning of chapter 18. and her fall at its close are distinct from each other. In the one case she suffers at the hand of man used as God's instrument, when the beast and the ten kings, in the middle of the week, and at the opening of the forty-two months of great tribulation, turn against her, and burn her with fire: in the other she falls by the hand of the Lord, at the end of the week, when the beast and his armies are smitten.
Thus Babylon, the great symbol of human religion, exists all through the week, but in two different phases; her character at first being that of corrupt Christianity, the false worship of God; while at the end all profession of the truth is cast off, and man, in the person of the beast, together with Satan, is worshipped.
That her first fall will occur in the midst of the week, we judge from the fact that it is then that the willful king breaks loose from those trammels to which, to gain his own ends, he had submitted at first. Thus false Christianity, hypocritical Judaism, each merge in open undisguised infidelity, in the worship both of man and of Satan, who in that day will exalt man to the height of all but unlimited power.
As to Rev. 19:11And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God: (Revelation 19:1), this must relate to the first, not the last, fall of Babylon: for this reason—her last fall synchronizes, not with the marriage of the Lamb, as is the case in this passage, but with the revelation of the bride, the Lamb's wife, at the end of the week, to the earth, she having been previously married in heaven. As to this observe, that when the armies in heaven come forth in judgment with Christ, the bride of course comes among them, she being a part of the heavenly company; not that the full revelation of the Church to the earth will take place till she, symbolized as the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descends out of heaven from God. If it be asked when the marriage takes place; we reply, In the midst of the week: for this reason, that then the first fall of Babylon, coincident as it will be with the breaking of the covenant with Israel by the willful king, will occur. Babylon, according to this, first falls in the midst of the week, and at the same time the marriage takes place; that is, the bride, the true wife, is exalted at the same moment that the false one, the apostate church, is judged.
What the marriage imports, we believe to be her being brought into fully realized association with her glorified Head; which cannot take place till, after having stood before the judgment seat of Christ, has been fully convinced of and freely confessed all that was inconsistent and wrong in her ways upon earth. This is what is meant by her making herself ready: this fits her to stand in His presence unblemished and perfect, arrayed in fine linen clean and white.
Observe, the moment the Church, whether the true or the false, is in question, an angel is seen at John's side. Thus in chapter 17 one of the seven who had poured out the vials comes and shows him the judgment of Babylon. Then in chapter 21 one of these angels (it may be the same as before) calls him to look at the heavenly city. Still, the angel what is he? merely a servant, and not to be worshipped. He might, it is true, point to these visions; but Christ it was who had opened the book that contained them; and hence the word of the angel: "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of the [or this, τὸ] prophecy." John it is true might write the things that he saw. (Chapter 1:11-19.) The angel again might show the apostle the judgment of Babylon, as well as the glory of the heavenly city, the holy Jerusalem (chap. 17:1, 21:9, 10), but the testimony was that of none less than Jesus Himself. The Holy One, the Son of God, as He was, it was He who had opened the book; and He being the One to whom the whole volume bore witness, it was instinct as it were with His Spirit; all savoring of Him, the very life as He was of this story of wonders. In a word, it was this, even the fact of its being the testimony of Jesus, and in every part breathing of Him, which gave the prophecy its value, its authority, its claim to the full assent and belief of the heart: so that John was in fault, when, mistaking the angel for Christ, he fell at his feet, and was about to adore him as though he were the One who had unfolded these mysteries, and not merely his fellow-servant and fellow-servant of others, like himself, to whom this same testimony of Jesus was committed by God.
THE MILLENNIAL REIGN AND THE CHURCH.
In Rev. 20:44And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4) we read as follows: "I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness [or testimony] of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as [or those who] had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Now this we believe may be interpreted thus—I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:"this embraces the WHOLE OF THE HEAVENLY COMPANY, namely, those of the past dispensation, together with the Church, and the remnant who will suffer during the week; after which these last, namely, the remnant, are particularized or singled out from among them as peculiarly worthy of notice, as having been especially faithful:" I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness [or testimony] of Jesus, and for the word of God." Thus those are described, who, in chapter vi. 9-11, in the midst of the week are heard crying for vengeance from under the altar. After which their brethren, who are to die during the great tribulation, are noticed as "those who had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark in their foreheads or in their hands.”
As to the general structure of chapter 2:2-27, 22:1-5, wherein the vision of the heavenly city occurs, it is as follows: In chapter 21:2 the New Jerusalem, at the opening of the thousand years, is seen descending from heaven, as a bride adorned for her husband: but nothing more is said of her there; her beauty, her bridal adornments are left un-described; and not only so, but between verses 2 and 3 the word passes over the millennial period in silence, and proceeds to tell of the renewal of all things after the years of the kingdom have ended, and also to speak of the tabernacle of God being with men; that is, it shows the Church brought into yet closer association with the dwellers on earth: after which, in verses 9, 10, the descent of the bride out of heaven (one and the same event as before) is described, and then what is not named in verse 2 is supplied; that is, the bride, the Lamb's wife, even the Holy Jerusalem, is minutely described.
As to the Church, observe, in the opening of scripture it is foreshadowed in the person of EVE, and here at its close it is symbolized in the HEAVENLY CITY. It should be distinctly remembered, that the New Jerusalem is the CHURCH, not her ETERNAL ABODE, as many have thought, but the Church herself, in that day when she will be no longer a weary, way worn pilgrim and stranger on the earth, but the blessed companion of Christ, her glorified head, on the throne. Observe who it is that is the inhabitant of this place: it is GOD, GOD AND THE LAMB, the Lamb being the medium through which God's glory shines forth through the city. As to this last point, we read of the city "having the glory of God;" and again, we read that "her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal." Observe, the word "light," in the original is not φῶς, which means essentially light, but φωστήρ, that is, a medium through which light is transmitted and seen, as in the case of a glass globe enclosing a flame. Thus, then, in this jasper-like light, or rather vessel or vehicle of light, we have a beautiful symbol of Him, who though Himself "THE TRUE LIGHT," is at the same time the One through whom the Father's glory shines forth, through whom His name is revealed to His people. Then, in verse 23, We read, "THE LAMB IS THE LIGHT THEREOF." Here the word rendered light is λύχνος meaning, like φωστήρ, an instrument of light, and conveying in the same way the thought of the Son revealing the Father. Then there is another point, a blessed relief to the heart that apprehends how the Church of God is in ruins: the angel measures the city; and mark the result. THE "PERFECT MAN," "THE MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE Fullness OF CHRIST," is displayed. (Eph. 4:1313Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:13).) "The golden reed, the exact righteousness of God, measures all, and judges all. The result of the work of God is perfect. Nothing is too long, nothing is too short; all is perfectly regulated; not a stroke of the hammer remains to be given. All is perfect, God is the architect." This passage we quote from one blessedly taught in the word as showing the meaning, the mystery, of the "golden reed" in the hand of the angel.
THE SEVENTY WEEKS AND THE REVELATION.
As to the last week of Daniel, (which occupies, as we have shown, so prominent a part of John's Epistle to the Churches in Asia), observe how it differs in its character from the time which precedes it, namely, this present interval in Israel's history, during which the Church has been called into being on earth. Grace now marks the ways of the Lord with the world; but when the Church is completed and taken to heaven, then judgment will follow; then God will avenge both on Israel and on the Gentiles the death of His Son—of that mighty and blessed One, whom, in Rev. 10, John sees descending from heaven, and planting one foot on the sea, the other on the earth—thereby showing that the world and its kingdoms are His; that He, and He only, is "the Prince of the kings of the earth." This will be the time of the matured sin of the world, both of Jews and Gentiles, when men, given over to Satan, will receive the false Christ, the willful king, or the beast, who, unlike Him that came in the name of the Father, will come in his own name; and, having made a covenant with many for one week, will afterward break it, namely, in the midst of that period, causing all worship to cease, except the worship of himself and of Satan.
There will, it is true, be at this time a believing remnant in Israel, who, repenting of the sin of their fathers, in putting their Messiah to death, will through deep tribulation be brought into ultimate blessing: besides which, an election out of the Gentiles will be converted and prepared to share the joy of that day—even the joy of the millennial glory of Christ. As to the Church, caught up to heaven before the week opens, she will be wholly exempted from the judgments and trials of this terrible period; and will, after the storm is over, descend from on high into these lower heavens, or heavenly places over the earth, and be displayed to the world as the bride, the Lamb's wife, the co-heir, the companion of Him on the throne, who loved her and gave Himself for her.
Such is a brief sketch of the time preceding the apocalypse of Christ in His glory, even the LAST WEEK OF DANIEL. Now grace alone is in action, but then both judgment and mercy will act; the one in destroying the wicked, the other in quickening and training the elect for the kingdom. The "ONE WEEK," (Dan. 9:2727And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27),) be it remembered, is the great point to consider, not only as supplying the place of the past WEEK OF GRACE during which Christ was presented to Israel, and rejected, but as being the period of time which in the seven-sealed book is kept continually in view.
And now as to the beast, and the fact of his being raised from the dead, and worshipped in consequence. In the foregoing remarks upon Satan, we have said that this may be learned by tracing his history in scripture. This therefore we do. The following passages, read in their historical order, we believe will throw light on this point, and help to explain those two verses " The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition."(Rev. 17:88The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. (Revelation 17:8).) 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 that was slain." (Rev. 13:88And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8).) They are as follows. FIRST, The two witnesses prophesy; their enemies are slain, among whom by inference we reckon the beast. (Rev. 11:3-53And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5And 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. (Revelation 11:3‑5).) SECOND, The beast, having been killed, is next seen in the bottomless pit. (Rev. 17:88The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. (Revelation 17:8).) THIRD, Satan cast out of heaven, as in chapter 12:9. (Rev. 8:10,1110And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; 11And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. (Revelation 8:10‑11).) FOURTH, Satan lets out the beast from the pit, and also the locusts; that is, others perhaps who had been killed at the same time with him. (Rev. 9:1-111And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 2And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 3And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. 5And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. 6And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. 7And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. 8And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. 9And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. 10And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. 11And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. (Revelation 9:1‑11).) FIFTH, The beast, when let out, in revenge kills the witnesses. (Rev. 11:7,87And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. (Revelation 11:7‑8).) SIXTH, The beast is wondered after, and, together with Satan, is worshipped. (Rev. 13:3-183And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9If any man have an ear, let him hear. 10He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. 11And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles 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 a sword, and did live. 15And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (Revelation 13:3‑18).) SEVENTH, The beast is finally judged, being cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 19:19,2019And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:19‑20).) EIGHTH, Satan is retributively cast into the pit, from whence he had let out the beast. (Rev. 20:1-31And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. (Revelation 20:1‑3).) NINTH, Satan is loosed out of the pit: then follows his last effort and final judgment, the same as that of the beast. (Rev. 20:7-107And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:7‑10).)
Such is the history of Satan and the beast, the deceiver and the deceived, the "god of this world" and the "man of the earth," both of them worshipped, and both coming to the same fearful end.
As to Satan, there is one thing to notice, namely, that lie surely has not the power of life, but God here permits him to appear as the one who gives life to the beast, in order to punish the world for their rejection of His Son, of Him who liveth, who was dead, having sent upon them the "strong delusion," suffering them to be beguiled by a "lie;" to believe that, while they are bowing down to the beast, they are worshipping Christ. Satan may let out Apollyon, and so get the credit of having raised him to life, but it is God who gives him the key of the pit, using him as a mere instrument wherewith to effect His own purposes, both as to man and to Satan himself.
SYNOPTICAL VIEW OF THE PASSAGES PROVING THE FACT OF THE BEAST BEING RAISED.
2. “ 17:8
3. “ 8:10, 11
4. Rev. 9:1-111And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 2And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 3And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. 5And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. 6And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. 7And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. 8And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. 9And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. 10And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. 11And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. (Revelation 9:1‑11)
5. “ 11:7, 8
6. “13:3-18
8. “20:1-3
9. “20:7-10