The Revelation of Jesus Christ

When the church had so sadly failed, as we see by the later Epistles of 2 Tim. 2 Timothy, 2 Peter, Jude, and 3 John; and thus, when the perplexities of the last day had set in, how exceedingly blessed to have "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass." We fully admit that great mistakes have been made in attempting to explain this book. And perhaps one mistake above all others has been the source of all other mistakes; that is, the omission to carefully notice the division the Lord Himself makes as to the contents of this blessed book in the 19th verse of the first chapter. He said to John, "Write the things which thou hast seen." That was evidently what he had then seen up to that moment in chapter 1. 1-18. Then," and the things which are." The things that are, as we shall see, occupy chapters ii., iii. The things that then marked the condition of the seven assemblies in Asia. And these, seen prophetically, describe the whole history of the professing church to the end in seven successive epochs, or states. Then "and the things which shall be hereafter," or after these; that is, the things that shall take place after the close of the entire history of the church on earth.

Thus there is first, the introduction; then Christ as seen in the midst of the churches.

Secondly, The whole history of Christendom so long as it is recognized.

Thirdly, What will take place after the close of this period in which the church is gathered.

Now is it not most gracious of our God, to give His servants the very revelation of all this, in relation to His Son?

We would not then assume, or seek to explain, but rather in lowliness of mind, seek to understand all, in His presence, who has thus been pleased to reveal them. It is evident, however, that if we try to apply the things that should take place after the gospel period, as though they belonged to the period in which we live, we cannot possibly understand them. The Lord guide us in our meditations by the Holy Spirit.

If we then just read the book, we find in chapter 1., the Lord, not as Savior here, but as Judge, clothed in judicial robes, walking in the midst of the churches. And, as we have seen, how He divided the subjects of the revelation.

In Chapters ii., iii. the successive but complete history of the church downward to the end.

In Chapters iv., v. what will take place in heaven after the church is no longer on earth.

In Chapter iv. The creation-claims, and glory of the Lord.

In Chapter v. the redemption-claims, and glory of the Lamb.

In Chapter vi. what will take place on earth after the church is gone and is seen in heaven. The Lamb begins the judgments by which He will take possession of the inheritance. The clouds grow dark, the storm gathers. But!

Chapter vii. is a parenthesis in which God reveals His gracious, and hitherto unknown, purposes of grace, even in the midst of most fearful judgment.

Chapters viii., ix. The seven trumpet blasts of judgment; first on the circumstances, and then on the persons of men.

Chapter x. Time to be no longer prolonged, the period of dates, or of the end begins. (Dan. 9-12)

Chapter xi. Three years and a half of Jewish history rim on to the end; the sounding of the last angel. This closes the direct line of prophecy.

Chapter xii. Reveals the sources and character of this world, and its opposition to the Christ of God, and His people Israel.

Chapter xiii. The Roman empire appears on earth again: its terrible persecuting character.

Chapter xiv. A general outline, or synopsis, of the seven great events.

Chapters xv., xvi. Preparation; and the pouring out of the wrath of God upon the earth.

Chapter xvii. The full-blown character of apostate Christendom, now become Babylon. The resurrection of the Roman empire explained. Its -connection with, and the destruction of, the great harlot.

Chapter xviii. The detail of the destruction of Babylon.

Chapter xix. The great harlot being destroyed, the marriage of the Lamb takes place. Then the coming of the Lord, and His saints with Him. The supper of the great God; and the destruction »of the Roman empire.

Chapter xx. Next the judgment of Satan. The millennial reign. Then afterward the judgment

Chapter xxi. The eternal state to verse 8. Then further details as to the bride—the Lambs wife—during millennial days, to chapter xxii. 6. Ending with closing remarks. Such is an outline of the subjects of this wondrous book.

And all this direct revelation God was pleased to give unto Jesus Christ, to show His servants things which must shortly come to pass. We must not overlook the persons thus pointed out, “his servants." They are the persons to whom these things are intended to be shown and understood. However deeply the outward church

Now John " bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw."

Let us then approach with holy reverence, and read this book as the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Wondrous privilege to have the future thus opened to us. " 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 near."

Verse 4. "John to the seven churches," &c. John the servant has the responsibility to communicate the Lord's mind to the assemblies. But the Lord is the self-existent and eternal One; and though the subject of the book is governmental judgment, yet it is blessed to see grace and peace first " unto you." The number seven is frequently used as a symbol of completeness in this book. And how truly, how infinitely complete, the Spirit before the throne; and that throne the throne of judgment. Yet grace and peace still to the assemblies from Him. " And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth." Now what a revelation of the Person of Christ is this. Do we know Him in each of these characters? The last days of failure had begun: man had wholly failed in every position in which God had tried him. But the faithful witness is revealed as the object of faith, and as the risen One, having the pre-eminence very death. But now a new title is revealed. " And the Prince of the kings of the earth." The world has rejected Him in this character. God now reveals Him to us as the coming Prince of the kings of the earth.

Verses 5,6. What a test these verses present to the various gospels and states of men! It is not unto me, and my efforts after holiness in self; no: " Unto him that loved [or loveth] us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood." Oh, beware of those false teachers who would tell you that no one can know that he is saved, or that his sins are washed away. Is there a breath of uncertainty in these precious words? Is it unto Him who I hope will wash away my sins? Are these words yours? Do they express the very state of your doubting heart? If so, you are utterly wrong. We beg of you, let the question of your sins be settled, before you attempt to understand the judgments of this book.

But there are two things: not only has He washed us from our sins in His blood; and if washed whiter than snow, without blame in His sight; but he has also made us what He is Himself. Is He the Melchisedec Priest—the Royal Priest? He has made us just what He is. " And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father." Oh, what glory. He has made us like, and suited to Himself. " To him be glory and dominion, forever and ever." Amen.

Verse 7. This glorious One, thus revealed to us, is surely coming from heaven: and mark the condition of the world when He comes. Will He find the world converted, and glad to see Him come? " Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him."

Is it not amazing that Satan can deceive men with the thought that they will all be converted before Christ comes: the " Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. May our hearts be bowed in worship, as the glories of the Lord are thus revealed to His servants. How encouraging in the midst of last-day failure.

Verse 9. Now what can we say to John's salutation, Is it true of us? He says: " I, John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ." He does not say, I am your apostle, or bishop, or anything of the kind; but " your brother." But do we know anything of companionship in tribulation? There is no question that this will be the case in proportion to faithfulness to the rejected Christ. He "was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." Whether he was banished there, as is said, or not, that is not the point. Whether a prisoner there, or a laborer there, he was there for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. Now, wherever we are, and in whatever condition of life we are in, can we say we are in our Patmos, where we live, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ? If it has not been so, may our GOD grant from this day it may be so.

scenes that await the redeemed of the Lord.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ: No. 2 Revelation 1

Chapter 1.

Verse 10. " I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day." No doubt, on that Lords day, the Spirit filled the soul of John with thoughts of the Lord. What a preparation for the right understanding of this revelation. "And heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying," &c. May we not say this great voice demands our most earnest attention? It was the Lord that spoke to us in that great voice. He said to John: " What thou seest, write in a book, and send it to the seven churches." (Ver. 11.) Thus John is used to communicate what the Lord shows him. He is the inspired instrument, he is to "write in a book."

" And I turned to see the voice that spake with me." How much we need turning to see the One that speaks to us. "And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks [or lamp bearers]. And in the midst of the seven candlesticks, one like unto the Son of man," &c. (Vers. 12, 13.) Mark, John did not see Him as Jesus, Savior, but clothed in judicial robes, girt for judgment or government. And that in the midst of what He still regards as golden light-bearers in this world. There was the whole, complete state of the churches, and one in the midst like unto the Son of man. And is this the first revelation of Him we need to have? Behold the Lord in the midst of the churches, for discipline and government.

What purity, divine righteousness, penetration, burning judgment, against all evil! what majesty and glory! He is the worthy One to govern His assemblies. If we thus knew Him, should we run about amongst the assemblies seeking to put everybody right? What mischief has not been done by even real servants of Christ, through forgetfulness or ignorance of this revelation of the first and the last, in the midst of the assemblies. Even John, the beloved and aged apostle, may have needed this, judging from the sad state, of the assembly in his Third Epistle. Ah! this revelation should make us slow to judge our brethren. Will it not have the same effect on us that it had on John? He says, "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead." (Ver. 17.)

Do we not need this revelation of the Lord? We cannot either understand, or bear to look at the state of Christendom, unless we have thus been at the feet of the Holy and the True, in the midst of the seven candlesticks. " And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last." (Ver. 17.) Have you ever felt the softness of that hand? Have you heard the sweetness of that voice? When overwhelmed with a sense of His judicial majesty, and our own utter unworthiness, then how sweet to hear Him say: Fear not. This is the much needed lesson, in order to be able to deal tenderly with others, and to understand the patient,, gracious dealings of the Lord with assemblies. Does He not say, as it were, I know what ye deserve, but I died for you? "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." (Ver. 18.) Thus was John prepared for the further revelation of Jesus Christ. Are we thus prepared to read and understand? Does our state of soul answer to that of John's! Human pride and self-sufficiency will not do here. Lord, open our ears to hear, and prepare our hearts to meditate on this book in Thy presence as thus revealed.

Verse 19. John was not to forget what he had already seen—the Lord Himself in the midst of the churches, clothed in judicial majesty and glory. The Lord says: " Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter " [or after these]. We often forget the first, but each of these three divisions of the book, or revelation, are equally important: the presence of the Lord as Judge in the midst of the churches; the things that are, during the whole history of the churches, or Christendom whilst owned of God; and then the things that shall take place after the close of Christendom as God's testimony on earth. Remember it is the Lord that thus divides the Revelation into three parts.

Verse 20. " The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks." John may have been meditating that Lords day on this very matter. As the stars had been set in the heavens to give light, so the gifts of the ascended Christ had been set in the church to give light. But what a mystery it must have appeared to the aged and last apostle, that a kind of Episcopal clericalism was now coming in, and excluding the very true gifts of Christ. Yea, as he says, " I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them, receiveth us not." Yes, even the apostle was refused by this new clerical assumption. What a mystery is clericalism in its beginning, and its whole course. First it refused, and then for ages persecuted to death the true servants of Jesus Christ.

A careful study of the Third Epistle of John will greatly help us to understand the Revelation. What a comfort to see, however great this mystery, still the stars, the gifts of Christ for His church, are in His right hand! He is revealed as holding the administration, however outwardly clericalism may prevail, and however dreadful the outward state of Christendom may become. He sees the gold: He knows them that are His, and there are no other light-bearers in this dark world than the assemblies. He says: " The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches." From much that follows, it is evident the word "angel" does not here mean a spirit. It is also used to mean a representative or messenger, as in Matt. 18:10: " In heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father," &c. And Acts 12:15: " Then said they, It is his angel.":l John will help us much to understand who the angels are. Look at the character of the aged Gaius, and then at the rise of the clerical spirit in Diotrephes, and then can we, in the light of the New Testament, doubt which of these are the stars or angels? Which represents the mind of the Lord as to the church? Yes, for the comfort of the aged apostle, the Lord thus instructs him. The mystery of iniquity would still work, enough to overwhelm the heart of John, but the Lord would still hold the administration in His right hand.

Chapters II., III.

We now come to the things that are—the complete history of the present period. The seven addresses, divide the history into seven divisions or epochs. We shall find this to be the case.

Verse 1. "Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write." Just as John wrote to such as represented the assembly, and not directly to the assembly (3 John), so the Lord does not directly address the assembly at Ephesus, but that or those which represent it—" The angel of the church." It will be found also that He reveals Himself to each assembly as most suited to the state of that assembly.

And as clericalism was beginning to displace and refuse the gifts by Christ (3 John), He presents Himself as having the administration. " These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks." What a blessed revelation of Jesus this is. He is the same as from the beginning. Let us not forget this; and that at the close of the first century He thus had; to reveal Himself. He now gives His judgment of the first state of the church. Throughout He approves of all He can.

Verse 2. " I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience." There was not the same freshness as forty years before at Thessalonica. Then there was " work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope." We learn from 2. Timothy, 2 Peter, and Jude, how much evil had come in. And the Lord says to the* angel: " And how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted." (Vers. 2, 3.) What lessons still for us. And all this, and more may be, and yet the heart be declining from the Lord. " Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." (Ver. 4.) The love of the bride waiting for the return of the bridegroom had begun to decline, and for long centuries that first love was almost lost. We may hold the doctrine of the Lord's return to take the church, His bride, but oh! has He the place of the first love in our hearts?

Verse 5. " Remember, therefore, from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, -except thou repent."

These warnings have again a special voice to us in these last days, now that the Holy Spirit has again restored the privilege of knowing the Person and love of Christ, and the hope of His coming to take us to Himself, as the church had it in the beginning. Has He the same place in our hearts, or are we fallen? Can He say, " Thou hast left thy first love"? Yet they had this mark, there was not indifference to evil: e: Thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also Hate." (Ver. 6.) We are not told what those deeds of evil were, so that the principle might stand good, whatever the form of evil. From 1 John we may conclude it was the practicing of sin; and this every true Christian must hate.

Now, though 3 John was not addressed to the assembly at Corinth, where Gaius lived, yet all the godly would no doubt receive it with thankfulness, though sent to Gaius. So here at Ephesus, and to all in the first stages of the church's history, it is, " He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Ver. 7.) Thus the Spirit reveals the words of Jesus, not only to the angels, those who distinctly represent the churches, but to every one whose ear is open to hear, not the church, but what He saith unto the churches in this revelation. May He open the ear of every Christian who reads these few lines.

Now mark, the promise in each case is to one class only. "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." (Ver. 7.) We shall find different circumstances at each stage of the church's history, but faith is the evidence of life, and overcomes, whatever the circumstances. Evil had come in, false apostles and the like, but there were overcomers. And these should not be blest merely in an earthly paradise, but " eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God," It would have been dreadful for man to have eaten, and lived on forever in a body of sin, even in paradise. This could not be. But the overcomer shall live on forever with Him, and in the paradise where sin can never come. Thus evil coming in, and false apostles, clericalism, and evil doers, and even the true believers declining from first love, marked the first stage of the church's history. May the Lord write its lessons on our hearts.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ: No. 3 Revelation 2:8

Chapter 2:8.

"And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write." We now come to the second stage of the church's history. This is marked by fierce persecution. And Jesus is revealed as " the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive." How suited to the tried, suffering saints. Have we not each found, when love has grown cold, and the world has taken the place of waiting for the Bridegroom in our hearts, that then the Lord, in His unchanging love to us, has sent us a time of trial and suffering? He knew the trial and poverty of His suffering saints: and no doubt the chastisement had its sanctifying effect.

Verse 9. He says, " I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, but thou art rich." This may seem like a contradiction. What! those hated Christians, exposed to the fury of heathen mobs, hunted from place to place, cast into loathsome dungeons, torn to pieces by wild beasts, put to every form of degradation, and deep poverty, and Jesus says," But thou art rich "! Yes, rich in His love; rich with Him throughout eternal ages. Oh, suffering saint, at thy wits' end as to this world, hear the words of Jesus: "But thou art rich." The church did recover from the persecutions of this its second stage of history, but there was another danger that threatened, yea, attacked the church from which it never fully recovered. Jesus said, " I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan." The rapid increase of the ritualism that had been resisted by Paul in the Epistle to the Galatians, now spread over the church like a blight. The effect was to take believers back to the condition they were in before the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ—the observance of days, and festivals, and ceremonies, which now were but beggarly elements. (Sec Gal. 4:9, 10.) All this practically ignored redemption, and the everlasting completeness of the believer accepted in Christ. It set aside the righteousness of God, and led men to seek to acquire righteousness by law and the ordinances of men. From this the church, as a whole, has never recovered. And it would be well for us, individually, to inquire, Arc we in the full blessed liberty wherewith Christ has made us free—" perfected forever," or are we in the helpless bondage of the Jew before Christ came—over struggling for, but never getting deliverance?

As to suffering, the Lord says, " Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer," &c. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." How sweet and cheering His promise to the suffering, persecuted saints. As Satan had led the world to put Him to death, so Satan was permitted to put them to death. Little do we know what it was to be faithful unto death. But a martyrs grave was accompanied by a crown of life. Such shall not be hurt of the second death. These, then, were the characteristics of the second stage of the church's history.

Verse 12. " And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write." This brings us up to the third epoch of its history. The manner in which the Lord reveals Himself now, plainly shows that judgment is needed at the house of God. " These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges." This brings us to the time of Constantine. The church began to dwell where Satan's seat was. It was fast becoming a great worldly institution with its head quarters at Rome, the very seat of Satan. Spiritually it was decaying so fast as to tolerate them that held and taught the doctrine of Balaam. When Satan could not curse Israel, then he used Balaam to lead them into association with the heathen and to commit their sins. This was exactly what happened again in the third stage of the church's history. The temples of heathen gods, with many of their feasts and ceremonies, were called christian churches, and christian worship. And Christendom became almost more corrupt than heathenism. It is not now doing the deeds only of the Nicolaitanes, but " So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate." Persons were recognized as Christians, who were practicing sin. Such had been declared by John to be of the devil. (1 John iii. 8.) This grew to such a head that in the next stage of the church's history the clergy were allowed to have concubines, but not allowed to have wives. If there was not repentance there must be judgment. " I will come unto thee quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth." And again the Lord says, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." This is for the last time said to the mass of professors; after this it will only be said to the overcomers.

How suited the precious promise of the Lord to such a state, when those who falsely professed to be His servants were seeking honor in this world, even where Satan's seat was at Rome! He says, " To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna." Not at the table of the emperor, or the feasts of the world, but that unknown, hidden feast with Himself, " the hidden manna." " And will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." In all probability the names of these hidden approved ones have never come down in human history. They had the hidden secret approval of their Lord, and would be utterly despised by the seekers of honor in this world. Is it not so now? Those who enjoy the sweetness of communion, and approval with the rejected Jesus, are least known in this world. Reader, -how is it with thy soul and mine? are we satisfied with that hidden stone—the Lord's approval—however unknown by this world? And still more closely, do we prefer even now His secret approval rather than open and known approval before the world, or even the church?

We now come to the fourth epoch of the church's history—what are called truly the dark ages—the address to Thyatira. We must notice a remarkable contrast now. There are two parties—Jezebel, and a remnant. All is open to Him who is revealed thus: " These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass." In the midst of such terrible darkness and wickedness, He saw that which He could approve. He said," I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first." We have no approval of Christ to surpass this in any of the previous states of the church; indeed, none equal to it. Is this the Lord's approval of popery? Far from it. He says as to that, " I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel," &c. Now if we study the history of wicked Jezebel, how she stirred up Ahab to persecute the true servants of the Lord to death, such in the dark ages was Rome, or that woman which professed to be the church of Rome. Has she not in her wickedness ever stirred up the civil power to persecute to cruel deaths the true children of God? Every mark here of Jezebel's wickedness is the distinct character of Rome.

Who, then, would be the angel of this dark period? Whom did the Lord so highly approve? The true church of God under various names, and no doubt many who had no name. These have ever been hated and persecuted by Rome, by Jezebel. And, however Rome has reviled true Christians as heretics, and as holding the doctrine of devils, yet something of their true history has come down, which answers exactly to what the Lord here so strongly approves.

They may have been called Paulicians, Poor Beggars, Waldenses, Wicklifites, and other names of reproach. But great as have been the hatred and curses of Rome, greater still was the infinite love and approval of their Lord; and He whose eyes are as a flame of fire, can make no mistake.

Now read the judgment on Jezebel. Space is given her to repent, and she will not repent. How long has He borne with her wickedness?—some thousand years or more, and He still bears with her to the end. But her children shall be killed with death. Her judgment shall surely come, as revealed further on in this revelation.

In verse 24 the Lord turns round again to mark the distinction He makes, between Rome and the remnant, now addressed as a distinct class. Rome may put upon them paper caps with painted devils, as a sign that those they put to death hold the doctrines of devils, but do they think they can deceive the Lord Jesus whose eyes are as a flame of fire? No, He addresses the remnant of Thyatira as not having " this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan as they speak." He bids them hold fast till He comes. And now, for the first time, He addresses overcomers first, as though none except the over-comers are in the least expected to have an ear to hear. The great mass of Jezebel are thus given up. They have no ear to hear what the Spirit speaks to the churches. But in their folly they will even arrogate to (what they call) the church the authority of the Spirit, and blindly demand obedience to its authority instead of to the Spirit by the word. And how suited the promise here to those who have, at the instigation of Jezebel, been crushed by the powers that be! (Read vers. 26, 27.) And better still, " I will give him the morning star." In each case the promise comes down to the individual. " I will give him," &c. Is Jesus Himself the morning star to your soul—more precious than all beside? What could He say more? I will give him myself.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ: No. 4 Revelation 3

Chapter 3.

We now come to that which succeeded Jezebel or Popery (or rather the period of Thyatira)—the address to the angel of the church of Sardis. This surely brings us to the period of the Reformation, or its result, commonly called Protestantism. The Lord continues to address the angel, those that represent the church, whether true or false. Is it not a sad fact in Protestantism as well as in Popery, that many take that place, yea, call themselves the church, who are not in the New Testament sense Christians or saints at all; who have not even the mark of the little children, whose sins are forgiven for His name's sake. (1 John 2:12.) But as they take that place, they have its responsibilities. (Matt. 24:48-51.)

Now, notice how striking the revelation of the Lord Jesus is, in this the fifth epoch of the history of Christendom. He presents Himself as "he that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars." The so-called protestant churches failed to own, or even know, that He had sent the Holy Ghost in all His infinite fullness, and that the ascended Christ had all-sufficiency of gifts to bestow for the church. Colleges and education have taken the place of Christ, and the Spirit, to the unspeakable loss of the church. But let us hear the Lord's own judgment on Protestantism. " I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." What solemn words! And do they not most accurately describe the true condition of a lifeless Protestantism—masses of people professing to be Christians, but without a particle of spiritual life? Awake, 0 reader, and inquire is this your case? Have you passed from death unto life? Are you a child of God, or still a, child of wrath, deceiving yourself with the imitations of Judaism? What are all your works, and sacraments, and prayers worth, if still on the way to endless woe? The Infinite, the first and the last, says," I know." We cannot deceive Him. There are still the remains of gospel light in Protestantism, and He says, " Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die; for I have not found thy works perfect before God." Your works may have the greatest approval before men. How dangerous the flattery of men, deceived likes yourself! But let us get before God, and there try all our ways and works, by His holy word.

Verse 3. " Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard; and hold fast, and repent." What was received at the Reformation, the beginning of the fifth stage of the church's history? The scriptures, the very word of God in the mother tongue of the people, so that all could now read the inspired word of God. Are we continuing to value the word of God? This is what the Lord bids us hold fast. Another thing of unspeakable value was received—justification by faith. Thousands received, not the mere doctrine, but the blessed enjoyment of the certainty that they were accounted righteous before God on the principle of faith: and thus they had peace with God. This was the gospel they heard and received. Have you received this in the power of the Holy Ghost? Then Jesus says to you, "Hold fast." Yes, hold fast this blessed certainty received again at the Reformation.

What is the actual state of the Protestant churches as to the enjoyment of this blessed certainty, of justification from all things, made known in the gospel? Take the most favored, the Established Church of England. Her Articles prove how she once received and held this truth, and the all-sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures. The writer happens to be staying in a large village for a short time, where there is no Romanism, and no Dissent; yet, in visiting amongst the poor, he cannot find a single case, where a person enjoys the certainty of justification, of being accounted righteous before God. We will just look at a sample visit. The writer called on two very aged people, who were very anxious to be saved, and had been so for many years. They appeared to be much in the condition of Cornelius, when he sent for Peter. After a little conversation, I said, " Well, you are getting far advanced," (one was about ninety-three,) " do you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior?" They both replied, " We hope so, we are doing our utmost, we pray much, and Mr. comes and administers the sacrament to us, but (one said) I really do not know whether I am saved; I do not think the Lord answers my prayers, but I do my very utmost, that I do." The other said, " Yes, we strive our utmost," and much of the same kind.

As it is a fruit-growing district, and many were gathering cherries, I said, " Now if a man brought us a sieve of cherries, and gave them to us to eat and enjoy, just as we sit here, would you say, I am striving my utmost to get on that tree, and gather some cherries; I must do my utmost to get those cherries? Would you not be rejecting the gift, and despising the kindness of your friend? The man has been on the tree and gathered the fruit, and now freely gives to us, Do you not know that Jesus is the Man that has "been on the tree, to bring us the gift of salvation? He has been nailed to the tree. He has "borne our sins in His own body on the tree; He has bowed His head there, bearing the load of our guilt and sin. And now the fruit of His death He freely gives to us. even eternal life and salvation. If the cherry gatherer goes to the tree and gives you the fruit, you have it. You have not to strive your utmost to get to the top of that tree there, to cat the fruit. You have not to pray for cherries when they are freely given to you, have you? You have not to strive for, or pray for salvation, when it is freely given you by the Man that has been nailed to the tree."

The eyes of the old man of ninety-three gladdened with joy as he said, " I never saw it in that way before!"

I said, " If Jesus were to come into this house and tell you your sins were forgiven; that you were justified from all things; and that you had eternal life, would you not believe Him?"

-"Surely I should, oh yes, sure."

'"Is it not the same when He speaks in His word to you? Now hear what He says: ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.’ (John 5:24.) You hear the words of Jesus, you believe God that sent Him."

" Surely I do," said the old man.

"Then does not Jesus tell you that you have eternal life?"

Much more followed as to justification from all things, to all who believe the message of God. (Acts 13:38, 30.) But is it not terrible to tell these anxious souls to strive, and pray, and take the Lord's supper as a sacrament, in order that they may be saved in the day of judgment? There are villages in England in which the sound of the true gospel is never heard. She has received the scriptures, she has them still; then the word to her, and all Protestant countries, is " Hold fast and repent." Yes, God calls on them to repent. And if not, the doom threatened in 1 Thess. 5:3 will come upon them. " For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." Thus also the Lord speaks to Protestants. " If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." (Ver. 3.)

Shall we stop our ears, and refuse to hear the strong disapproval of Protestantism by the Lord? Looked at as a mass, there is not one word of approval. Is there nothing true or real in all this vast profession? Hear Him speak. He says, "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy." Is it not exactly as Jesus thus describes Protestantism—a few names? Do we belong, do you, do I, belong to the few approved, or the many disapproved? The Lord search the heart of every reader of these lines. The Lord knoweth them that are His, and surely it is high time that every one that nameth the name of Christ should depart from iniquity.

Again the overcomer is addressed before him that hath an ear to hear. That is, in these days none are expected to have an ear to hear, except the overcomers. We are surrounded with ever-increasing religious sensuous delusions, infidelity, worldliness, and the powerful fashion of this world. " He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels." You know the particular dangers and temptations that beset your path. Would the Lord say you are an overcomer—the white raiment is yours? When many, who are now written and regarded by men as Christians, shall be forever blotted out, your name is written where it shall never be blotted out! Will your name, as an overcomer, be confessed before His Father and before His angels? Is it not time to awake and be in earnest? If you are an overcomer, and the Lord has opened your ear, then hearken not to what the pretended church says, but hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Thus we have the very judgment of the Lord on the result of the Reformation, as He sees it in this day. It is important to notice that Sardis (or Protestantism), like Thyatira (which had Jezebel, or Popery), runs on to the end, to the coming of the Lord. But there is a distinct action of God, by the Spirit, as well as outward characteristics, which mark each epoch of the seven stages of the history of Christianity. The special action of the Spirit of God was in the Reformation. Not only was Popery left aside, but God was no longer using simply a remnant, that is, the Waldenses, &c, as He had done. Thus the Sardis epoch succeeded that of Thyatira. In like manner we shall find the sixth stage, as described in the address to Philadelphia, will succeed that of Sardis, which, though it runs on to the end, yet is practically, as a professing mass, given up to superstition, infidelity, and worldliness. The overcomers are alone excepted. It is no longer, as Thyatira before it, regarded as God's witness on earth. This gives very great interest to our next inquiry as to the closing stages of the church's history.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ: No. 5 Revelation 3:7

Chapter 3:7.

We now come to the sixth stage, or epoch, of the history of Christendom. And whilst Popery and Protestantism still continue to the end, yet, in the address to Philadelphia we get a new display of the Spirit's energy. In the midst of, and succeeding, that which had a name to live and was dead, the Lord Himself (not any ecclesiastical system) is presented as the object and center of attraction to the children of God. Yes, while Romanism and Protestantism are running their course of failure, there are those found whom the Lord can address as the angel, as representing the church.

May our eyes be opened to behold Him, and our ears to hear Him. Thus He speaks to us. " These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth." You will notice, this is different from the revelation of Jesus as Judge, in the midst of the churches, in the first chapter. In the midst of all the failure of the church, He is revealed to us as He that is holy, He that is true. It is not the church, but Christ Himself. Are we occupied by, and attracted to, Him, or associated with that which is set aside? What a relief to get away from man, the spoiler, to Christ, the holy; from the modern Babel of confusion and falsehood, to Him that is true. Such is, in this stage, the action of the Holy Spirit to lead souls, not to ecclesiastical systems of religion, but to Christ Himself. Oh, are we attracted by the moral excellencies and glories of Christ? Are our hearts satisfied with Himself? What can we want beside?

The heart may be satisfied with this blessed revelation of Jesus Christ, in these last clays of failure and declension. But, you may say, I am so perplexed with the present state of the house of God. What discord and divisions! What is he, and who is he, that can undertake the government of the present state of the church? Well, there is no emperor, king, prime minister, episcopal archbishop, pope, council, or conference, revealed to us in this address, in the sixth stage of the church's history. Therefore we must conclude that to none of these is committed the governmental power to rule the church of God in these days which succeed the Reformation.

Truly, we need the revelation of the right Person to govern the church on earth in these last days. This is exactly what we have revealed. Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, was over the household. (2 Kings 18:18.) "And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant, Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah: and I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand.....And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open," &c. (Isa. 22:20-23.) Yes, the holy and the true is revealed to us, and the words spoken by the prophet to Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, are applied to Him in these last days of Christianity. Have we really understood this?

Have our eyes been taken off every human form of government and assumed authority over the house, to Christ Himself, the true Eliakim? Oh, how we pass over that which is of the utmost importance. Is not Christ over His own house? The key of government is on His shoulder. When all has failed, He faileth not. Thus is He revealed: oh, that in peace we may thus know Him, and own Him. If not, we shall either go with the crowd, or be utterly discouraged, in these days of human folly and division. He has all wisdom, and all power. His love and patience never fail. We cannot trust the church. We may trust Him for the government of His church, or of the few who desire in all things to be guided and governed by Him, as distinctly and implicitly as we own Him for our salvation. All is on His shoulder; all in His power. May our hearts evermore confide in Him. Surely this revelation of Jesus Christ is most precious to our souls.

And He says, "I know thy works.” Is not this enough, however misunderstood by the world or the church? What is the state of soul so precious to the Lord Himself in this day? Is it great display in religious activities? Is it great power and display in those He thus addresses? Is it because they have great power of miracles or preaching, as in the first stage of Christianity? No, He names not any of these things. He says, " Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name." How far do we answer to these three things? Are we conscious how little strength we have? Well do I remember a dear laborer of Christ saying—not, I am thankful I can preach to great crowds, and do great things—no, but, " I am thankful to find I cannot sometimes speak a word for Christ to souls I meet in the train, or elsewhere: thus I learn I have no strength; and if I do speak, it is Christ speaking by me." And can we say, though all else seems gone, Yet we have the word? Jesus says, " My word." Yes, Lord, we have Thy word. Oh, how the name of Jesus is denied in all kinds of ways. One was speaking of the mighty power of Christianity—one who would entirely ignore the divinity of Christ, and deny His atoning death. What a contrast to the state of soul here described. Well, there is the contrast between the mighty power of Christianity without Christ, and Christ in felt, confessed weakness. But we shall see more of this boasting in the last state of Christendom.

Jesus says, " My name." Have you denied it, and taken some other name? or can you say, That precious name is all to me, and I am ashamed of every other? If this is so, He will not forget it.

Verse 9. Now Jesus lets us know that at this time, as in the second stage of the church's history, there is a great increase of Satanic Judaism, or ritualism. He declares it all a falsehood, a lie. It is really appalling to see its rapid increase. He knows, and He says, " Behold I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee." All is in His hands, and nothing disturbs His peace, and His peace He gives to these weak and despised ones. All ritualism is that God may love them. May He open the eyes of many, and show them that the true spring of all acceptable service, is to know that He has loved thee. Yes, to know that He has loved me. Have you the blessed consciousness that Jesus speaks to you, when He says, " I have loved thee"? If you have not, what is all your pretended early holy communion? Is it not, as Jesus says, not communion with Him, but like those who " do lie"? It may be said, How uncharitable! Is Jesus uncharitable in telling us the truth?

Mark how intensely individual all this is. Can Jesus say to the reader, " Because THOU hast kept the word of my patience"? Oh, think of His patience during these centuries of confusion and folly. He waits the Father's will, and then He comes to take us to Himself. How full is His word of this blessed hope. Are you keeping His word? Am I individually keeping His testimony in His patience? If so, He who speaks to me, says, " 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.:? " And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it." (Luke 19:41.) If Jesus wept as He thought of the near judgment of Jerusalem, ought not we to weep at the near judgment of Christendom? That judgment shall: as surely come, as the past judgment did on Jerusalem. And He will keep His word to every saint waiting for Him. He says it; that is enough for my soul.

Verse 11. And now He says, "Behold, I come quickly." For the first time He thus speaks, in the clays of Philadelphia. Oh, what words from His heart to thine and mine. His coming quickly is thus connected with, not keeping us through the world's trial, but from it. Does He not know what His words mean? Yes, He will come quickly, and take us, all who are His, to meet Him in the air, and so shall we ever be with Him. If He is coming quickly, how would you desire to be found when He comes? Say, if it is to-day—for He quickly comes—how would you be found? Oh, what a purifying hope His words give: " Behold I come quickly."

He now says, " Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." What have you got to hold fast? If you are only hoping to be saved, then plainly you have nothing to hold fast. Have you really the certainty that your sins are forgiven, for Christ's sake; that you are justified from all things; that you have peace with God; that you are brought into favor in the Beloved that you are the object of the everlasting love of God; that you have the knowledge of His blessed will, in the midst of all the dark confusion of the last days; and all this, and much more, made known to you by the Holy Ghost dwelling in you? Then hold fast what God has given you, in His own sovereign love. Let no man take thy crown.

And again, it is not the assembly that over-cometh, but "him that overcometh." We can only overcome as we lean on God, in these days of ever-increasing difficulty. But how suited the promises to the day in which we live. Do you say, Everything seems going to pieces, and the believer who would overcome seems shut out in isolation? He says, " Him.... will I make a pillar in the temple of my God." Do you say, My heart is so deeply grieved with putting out and going out? He says, " and he shall go no more out." How precious to the weary heart! No more excommunications, and no more evil, from which to separate.

Blessed scenes of everlasting purity—and so near. Oh, awake, my soul, and wait to see Him. All will be well.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ: No. 6 Revelation 3:12

Chapter 3:12

We will linger a little longer on this precious, verse. If you refuse all the names of a divided Christendom, you will then have to bear some name of reproach. He knows it all, He feels it all. Was He not called Beelzebub? He says,, of the overcomer, " I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."

Oh, how dear to His heart are the overcomers in this day. What are the names and honors of Babylon, compared to the holy delight that awaits us in the city of His God, the new Jerusalem? Not titles emanating from Rome?, or this world's universities, but " coming down, out of heaven, from my God."

Titles may come from heaven or hell, which would you prefer?

Let it be well remembered, that again it is only the overcomer that is expected to have an. ear to hear. And " he that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."' This address then, to the angel of the church in Philadelphia, is the special word of the Lord to the churches or assemblies in this day. And the overcomer, whose ear is open, will thus know the mind of the Lord at this very time.

The church, as it was in the beginning, has failed.

Thyatira, or Romanism, as Jezebel, has failed; Protestantism, or Sardis, has failed; all have failed as a testimony for God on earth. Now in Philadelphia, there is an entire change; it is no longer a church, or assembly, or church principles, but Christ in His personal glory and purity: " he that is holy, he that is true;" and He on whom the sole government rests. Thus the Spirit sets the Lord Jesus before us, and thus He speaks to us. Now in this day of utter ruin and departure, is your ear open to Him, or closed?

It will not do to rest now on church principles; we must have to do with the Person of Christ; and, whatever weakness, there music be the reality suited to Him. If there be an attempt to set up an imitation of the church, it will fail. It is a feeble remnant, or a single overcomer, who has Christ alone.

From this hour may He be the one blessed object of our souls; and our ears be open to hear Him.

Verse 14. We now come to the very last stage of recognized Christendom; after this it becomes Babylon, or the beast. " And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God."

When all have failed, He is still the Verily, the Amen. All the purposes of God are fulfilled in Him, the last Adam. In the past eternity, He said, " Lo, I come to do thy will, O God;" and He is the faithful One. In the end, in the midst of all that is false, He is the faithful and the true witness. In all things surely He has the pre-eminence; He is " the beginning of the creation of God."

Now He speaks, may we hear His judgment on a boasting Christendom. "I know thy works." Unconverted, proud men, may boast of being the true church. He says, "I know thy works." Is there a secret thing unknown to Him? He says, " Thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot." Surely, it would be more honest to make no profession of Christ, than whilst making such a profession to be utterly indifferent about both His blessed Person and His holy teaching. No one can fail to see the increasing indifference about Christ.

How is it with the reader? Is your time spent in idle gossip, or pleasures, or zeal for forms of godliness, denying the power, and with no heart for Christ? If so, let us further hear the word of the Lord. " So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth." Yes, so far from the world being converted, the lifeless professing church is to be utterly rejected, as nauseous to Christ; and for these very reasons—" Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind,. and naked."

What a description! And mark, these words are spoken to the angel of the church in its last state, to that, or those, who should truly represent the assemblies of God. Do you say, Well, the angel means the clergy and ministers of these days? It may be they think so, and take this place. But if this is so, then what words, what a description of the clergy? " Wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." We must not forget the few names of Sardis known to Christ. But if these words of Christ are addressed to a proud, boastful clergy, of these very last days of Christendom, is it not awful, and high time to awake from the fatal slumber? There is not one thing about these that Christ can approve. No, these are marks of the unconverted. They are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. If these lines should ever meet the eye of one unconverted clergyman or minister, do ask yourself, Do these words describe my real state? When you think of death and judgment, are you not wretched and miserable? As to all enjoyment of the present favor of God and true riches, are you not poor indeed? As to all certainty as to where you will spend eternity, are you not utterly blind, not knowing whither you are going? And as to the righteousness of God, are you not naked? Can you say tire righteousness of God is upon you? No, but you are naked, and unfit for the presence of God, and yet you are boasting of riches and increase of goods!

You hope to acquire righteousness by works of law, and this you preach to others. Do you not see that you cannot do this without rejecting the righteousness of God, accomplished by the death and resurrection of Christ? What is the death and resurrection of Christ to you? What is it to you that the holy One has passed through the fire of divine judgment, a sacrifice for sin? Jesus says, " I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich." You must admit you have not got it yet; your seeking it by works of law is the proof you have not got it; no, you are naked; He says so, and He does not counsel you to seek to be clothed by works of law, or ritualism: you must come to Him for divine righteousness. Do you say, And must there be no practical righteousness then? Yes, He says, "and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed." Divine righteousness, justified, accounted righteous before God first, then practical righteousness before men—white raiment. There never is, or can be, the latter without the former, and in this divine order. And then " anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." Do not rely on the teaching of man; for the natural man, however educated, is not, nor has, the anointing of the Holy Ghost.

We must not, however, limit these words of Jesus to the clergy of this day. Are they not of vital importance to all who make a profession of Christ—this boasting Christendom—about to be cast off forever as God's witness on earth t Are you trusting in its boasted riches, its vast machinery, prosperity, and worldly power? Do you think outward prosperity in this world an evidence of divine favor? What a mistake f No; Jesus says, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." Be in earnest, and change your minds on this matter. Chastening is rather a mark of divine love, as in Heb. 12

Oh, poor deceived Christendom, do not vainly suppose the Lord is with thee, and approves thy doings. No; He says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Thus, in the very end there is nothing of a corporate character the Lord owns as a whole He is outside, but knocking still. Oh the riches of His grace! He seeks the individual communion of His saints. This must be so, until we meet Him in the air, as revealed to Paul. (See 1 Thess. 2:19; 3:13; 4:15, 18; 5:23.)

In this last stage there is no body of Christians owned as such; and to get the end, as to believers, we must go back to Philadelphia; and for this reason, the coming of the Lord is most distinctly brought out in Philadelphia, but not named in Laodicea. Until He comes, if any man hears the voice of Christ, he will then cease to be a Laodicean, and no doubt will be caught up to meet the Lord; but the mass of Christendom, unconverted Laodicea, will go on to the full-grown Babylon, as we shall see further on in the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Thus we know that they who are not Christ's will be left behind, as surely as all that are Christ's will be taken up to meet Him, and be forever with the Lord.

It is also remarkable that the promise to the overcomer in verse 21, is so worded as either to be adapted to the individual overcomer until the Lord come, or to the overcomer who shall be saved during the terrible crisis that shall follow when Christ comes, not to take His saints, but to reign with them, as we shall see at the completion of the first resurrection. (Rev. 20:4.)

Are these things so? Have the seven stages of Christendom run their course? Is it a fact that any day the Lord may come; and all who are His be taken up to meet Him, and all the rest of Laodicean professors be left to. then, worse than Laodicean darkness? To which state do you answer—that described in the address to Philadelphia, or that to Laodicea? We do not ask to what body of people do you belong, but what is the state of your soul? Mark, the case is revealed in the clearest possible way. There is nothing our Lord Jesus blames in the former: there is not one thing He approves in the latter. Christ is everything to the soul in one state; He is nothing to the soul in the other. You cannot be in both these states. Which are you in then? Are you about to be caught up to be forever with Him who loved you, and gave Himself for you, or left to be punished with everlasting destruction at the coming of the Lord, with all His saints? You may succeed for a brief moment in your worldly designs, you may hate and despise the true followers of Christ with little strength; but do you know what awaits them? We will pass on next to the

The Revelation of Jesus Christ: No. 7 Revelation 4

" After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven; and the first voice which I heard [or which I heard at first, chap, 1] was as it were of a trumpet talking with me;.... said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter," or after these. You will remember that the Lord divided the book into three parts: “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be after these." So that " after these," refers to after the close of the " things which are," the whole sevenfold history of Christendom as described in chapters ii. and iii. This is a point of immense importance. If we do not notice this, all that follows must be confusion, as we shall go on supposing the rest of the book to refer to " the things that are," that take place whilst the church of God is on earth; whereas the church is no more seen on earth after chapter iii., until she comes with Christ in chapter xix.

What we get here is this: Christendom having come to its close, the redeemed having been caught up to meet the Lord, as revealed to Paul, (1 Thess. 4, &c.) the voice now calls John from earth, to see what will take place in heaven, when they, the redeemed, have been called away from the earth. And thus he is shown the things ο that will take place in heaven, and then on earth. Surely this becomes intensely interesting. Would you not like to know what will take place when you arrive in heaven in your glorified bodies of incorruptibility? Will you then have to stand before the throne of God, either to be judged, or to be sheltered from judgment? Let us carefully observe what will take place.

Verse 2. " And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne." This is not the present throne of grace, but the future throne of judgment. The one that sits on that throne is revealed in connection with creation glories. "And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald." In the midst of this glory, where and what is the place prepared for the saints of God? Jesus said, " I go to prepare a place for you."' Oh, to pass up in spirit like John, and behold that place. Surely it will be a solemn moment when the redeemed arrive in the very presence of God. Shall we have to be judged before that throne? Have we to wait until that moment before we know what our eternal doom will be? Truly, we shall all be manifested. But what a question, is this to each of us: what will really take place when Christendom, as a witness of God on earth, has come to a close? when Christ has fulfilled His promise, having come to take us to Himself, whether them that sleep, or those that are alive and remain until He comes Caught up to meet Him, and be forever with Him. What then will take place? The next verse is the answer.

Verse 4 " And round about the throne were four and twenty thrones: and upon the thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold." The word translated " seat " is the same as throne." Is not this a marvelous sight? What will it be to be there? What-a glorious contrast to the gloomy thoughts of men that after death the redeemed will have to come into judgment for their sins. And yet every thought in this marvelous verse is in perfect-harmony with all scripture. How near to God: around His very throne. Did not Christ once suffer for sins, "the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God "? (1 Pet. 3:18.) Not-one whom the Father hath given to Him shall be missing there.

But there were thrones around the throne shall any be brought so near as to share in the reign of God, over the creation? " Do ye not know that the saints shall, judge the world?" (1 Cor. 6:2, 3.) This is the place prepared for His saints, " And, upon the thrones, I saw four and twenty elders sitting."

Why four and twenty? This was the number of the order of the worshipping priesthood.. (1 Chron. 24:18.) Are the saints then priests, as well as kings? " Unto him that loved us,, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and. his Father," &c. (Rev. 1:5, 6.) Thus are they seen, in heaven, kings and priests unto God, and His Father. Nothing could satisfy the heart of Christ but our being like Himself. Oh, that word " sitting." Not standing before the throne. Our great High Priest is not standing, " After he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God." By that precious blood we enter heaven, and sit down in perfect rest. Do we believe this revelation God has been pleased to give us, of what will surely be the blessed portion of all the redeemed? Still borrowing from the symbols of priesthood, they are clothed in white raiment, and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

This is not the unclothed state of the departed spirits now, but the state of those clothed in the glorified body, fashioned after His likeness at His coming. " Not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life." (2 Cor. 5:1-6.)

What a place prepared for us. But is it possible "that such hell-deserving sinners as we have been, shall be prepared for that holy place? Yes, when we see Him we shall be like Him. (1 John 3:2.) Can you doubt that He is fit for that place of unsullied purity? Then if we are like Him, shall not we also be fit for the same place? Is it not for this the saints can even now give thanks? Are they not brought into favor in the beloved? (Eph. 1:6.) Oh, to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, " Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." (Col. 1:12.) Lord, awake us to the reality of this heavenly vision, and one so near! Oh, think,; beloved reader, before another year has passed, we may be seated in the unclouded glory of God, in perfect rest and peace. Jesus says, "Surely I come quickly."

This is our immediate future. What a hope!

Can we look to that judgment-throne without one fear? Not unless we know the blood of Jesus cleanseth us from all sin. Oh, poor deceived ones, can your prayers to the blessed Virgin, or to saints, or angels—can your baptism, or other so-called sacraments—can your masses, or your confessions to man—can all your weary works for salvation, enable you to look at that scene of heaven's brightness, with the certainty that you will sit in perfect peace in the unclouded presence of God? You know these things can give you no such certainty—no such place, as that revealed to the saints of God in this precious verse. Why will you wander on in darkness?

Verse 5. Here we have clear evidence that this is not the present throne of grace. No thunderings and lightnings proceed from the throne of grace now. And He, the Spirit, who is. now down here, to make known the grace of God, will then become the divine agent of the judgment of God, in all its intensity. " Seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God." Seven is the symbol of perfection or completeness. The burning judgment of fire will be as complete as the present free favor of God.

It may now be on the mind of some to ask, But will there be no more defilement, no more need of washing to the holy, worshipping, royal priesthood in heaven? No, no more need of a laver filled with water. No more washing of the disciples' feet. "Before the throne was a sea of glass like unto crystal." What a symbol of abiding purity! What a joy to the heart of God, -and what indescribable joy to us, to walk where there is nothing that can ever more defile. Transparent purity. Do not our hearts warm with expectation? How gracious of our God to give us such a revelation of the things that will surely take place in heaven, after u the things that now are " shall have passed away.

We must remember that in this chapter we are in the scenes of the creation-glories of the Lord God Almighty, and what brings us there; other glories we shall see in the next. In verse 7 we "have the heads of creation, as in the symbols of Eze. 1 and x. The word " beast" should be ""living creature." In verse 8, we have the -seraphim action, of Isa. 6 All connected with the throne of God, as the " Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." The student of Scripture will have noticed that the action of the cherubim is judgment, and of the seraphim purification. Both these are combined in our chapter: the action of God's throne towards the earth, will be for judgment and purification.

Verse 9. "And when those living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth forever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, Ο Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created," Not one of these royal priests says, I am worthy: no, " Thou art worthy, Ο Lord, to receive glory and honor and power:" this looks forward to His reign. Not merely over Israel or the earth. " For thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." We see not all things put under Him. Yet all things shall be put under His feet.

This may suggest another reason why twice twelve or twenty-four is the symbolic number of these thrones, and the higher privileged elders who sit on them. Twelve is the number of administration; and will not the joint ad ministration of the heavens and the earth be given to Him as " head over all things, to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all"? When that future administration is revealed, in chapter 21:12-14, we shall find the same twice twelve. As the last Adam, all things will be put under Him conjointly with His bride the church.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ: No. 8 Revelation 5

We have dwelt a little on the creation claims, and glories of the Lord God Almighty in chapter ×iv. Before we pass on to the redemption claims, and glories of chapter v., we would press the importance of remembering the exalted place, or position, of the elders sitting on thrones around the throne of God. We are told, these are the things that must take place after the close of the history of Christendom, as described in the things that are, chapters ii. and. iii.

We know from 1 Thess. 4 and 2 Thess. 2:1.1, that the rapture of the church will take place before the final apostasy, and the manifestation of the wicked one. We have seen how the promises point to such a. place for the redeemed. They are destined to judge the world; yea, to judge angels. This double administration will be committed to the twice twelve royal worshippers, so near the throne. The more we meditate on this amazing revelation, the more our hearts are bowed in worship. No other company are ever seen in such a place of nearness. We shall see that the innumerable, company of chapter vii. " stood before the throne" whilst these ax seated in the innermost circle around the throne. What a contrast!

There has been, and is, a sad effort to make this standing before the throne, the position of the redeemed church. This is but the diluted doctrine presented in a book lately given the writer to examine; in which the author has the boldness to give the Old Testament saints the higher standing of the twenty-four elders, and the church of God has to take the lower standing of being before the throne in chapter vii.! We name this, in order to show the need we have to watch against all suggestions of the enemy through unbelief. More as to this, when we come to chapter vii.

CHAPTER V.

We now come to the taking the inheritance. The book, or roll, of judgment that will usher in the inheritance, is not found buried in Ireland (whence many in the world are now turning their eyes); but in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne. The challenge is given with a loud voice: " Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?" We see in Jer. 32:6-14 what was the custom in Israel, as to the book of inheritance, both sealed and open. "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open," &c. Also it must be a near relation to have the right of inheritance, and the redemption. (Ver. 8; see also Ruth 3:12; 4 l-10)

Verse 3. "And no man in heaven, nor on earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon." How remarkable that John the apostle did not understand this in the least; he could only weep because no man was found worthy to open, and to read the book, neither to look thereon. What kinsman could be found worthy to claim a universe once ruined by sin?

Just here we have a striking contrast between knowing in part as now, and knowing then as we shall be known, when that which is perfect is come. It is not an archangel, or seraphim, but " one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." Yes, the elders in the light and intelligence of God, knew how He who sits on the throne had humbled Himself so low as to become man, the kinsman of the lost and ruined sinner, that He might redeem both the sinner and the inheritance. Root of David, about now to appear in royal majesty of the tribe of Judah.

Do we not thus own Him? Blessed Kinsman, Thou hast done the kinsman's part. May our eyes and hearts be fastened on Thee. Let us read these words, knowing assuredly that these things are about to take place: soon we are about to be in these scenes. John says, "I beheld, and, lo in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb, as it had been slain." What a sight to behold! The once suffering One, now in the midst of the throne, in the midst of the four agents of judgment and purification; and in the midst of the royal priesthood of those whom the Father had given to Him.

Is not this in keeping with His prayer: " Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they, may behold my glory which thou hast given me" Let us not doubt, that the Father will answer this desire of His heart, concerning us who have believed His word. He has all power in heaven and in earth, under the figure of the seven horns and the seven eyes. And He, the glorious Lamb, once slain, has perfect right to the redeemed inheritance. "And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne."

Let us meditate on what takes place in heaven, before He opens the first seal—before those judgments take place by which He will take the inheritance. First, the throne as seen in the living creatures, own His right to take the book. Then the four-and-twenty elders fall down before the Lamb. They are with Him; but oh, how gladly shall we fall before Him! Oh, with what delight shall we adore Him! No jarring notes of discord and strife—no division there! " Every one of them harps." But here appears what, may seem strange, there is deep interest and. sympathy for some saints in distress, who need the sweet odor of prayer before the throne, We shall soon learn who these are; but first let us listen to the song of the redeemed.

Verse 9. " And they sung a new song, saying,. Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open, the seals thereof." Cannot you even now join that, song? perhaps not intelligently—-but you can surely sing the song of your own redemption. But there is something more In the new song of heaven. That He has redeemed us, the church,,, would not be new: and ancient copies of the scriptures make It clear that this song refers also to others; thus, " Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open its seals; because thou hast been slain, and hast redeemed to God, by thy blood,, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, and made them to our God kings and priests; and they shall reign over the earth." Mark, this-song, then, embraces others who shall reign over the earth, redeemed from all nations. We shall learn who these are as we proceed further in the Revelation. We learn how deeply we shall be interested in all that concerns Him.

Now mark in verse 11, when the myriads of the angelic hosts gather around this blessed scene, they do not take the. nearest place, neither do we read that they either sit, or sing, in the immediate presence of God and the Lamb. They are heard " Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." For every one of these things He yet waits, reviled and rejected of men. Angelic words that express His glory over the inheritance. All creation joins in His praise—all shall own the worthiness of the once suffering Lamb. Thus what the elders sing, and what the angels say, has reference to the future glories of the Lamb. And also notice this is not what is taking place now in heaven, but what will take place hereafter, or after the whole history of -Christendom. God has been pleased to give us the revelation of what will take place in heaven, and then on earth, from the time the redeemed are seen in heaven, after the taking of the church, to the time she comes with Him in judgment to the earth in chapter xix.

When the Lamb takes the sealed roll, worthy of all—all His by creation and redemption—then are revealed further redemption purposes of God, and the new song is about that, and those who are thus spoken of: " And has made them unto our God kings and priests: and they shall reign on [or, over] the earth." This gives great joy to the angelic hosts, and they declare the Lamb worthy to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing. If we examine each of these things, we must own,,, every man even from Adam downwards has failed in the use of all these: and thus He who sits 011 The throne is the only worthy One. Judgment we shall find on earth, tribulation such as never was and never shall be again; but we are now fast approaching the time when He who is worthy, He whose right it is, shall reign.

It is most blessed to see the intelligence and harmony of heaven in this unfolding of the coming glories of the Lamb. " The four living-creatures said, Amen." The expression of active power as yet of the throne, said, Amen, as it were, So be the glories of the Lamb. The redeemed, as represented by the elders, can find no words to express their deep approving joy. " And the four-and-twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth forever and ever."

Is this our state? "What effect has this revelation on you? We have heard what those elders-sing, and what the angels say with a loud voice,., yea, what all creation will say when they own the Lamb to be worthy of blessing, and honor, and glory. We have heard cherubim and seraphim say, Amen! Very soon we shall fall down and worship Him that liveth forever and ever. Do we need to turn to this world's politics, to guess what is coming on this earth? All is indeed guesswork there, but all is certain here. Every mouth shall soon be stopped; the scoffer shall scoff no more. Let us, then, turn to this sure word of revelation, and read with certainty the thing that are coming to pass on this earth, when Christianity shall have run its course of failure, and the redeemed be seated in the bright Intelligence of the presence of God.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ: No. 9 Revelation 6

We have now seen what will take place in heaven, immediately after the close of the history of the church on earth, as revealed in chapters ii and iii, In chapter iv., we have seen the creation-glories of God; and in chapter v., the redemption-glories of the Lamb. We now come to what will take place on earth after these things.

The opening of these seals of the book is preparatory to the Lamb taking the inheritance. He alone is worthy to open them. He opens the first seal, and there follows the immediate action of the throne. " And I heard, as it were the voice of thunder, one of the living creatures, saying, Come." This seems to be the correct reading. The throne of God calls for judgments' on the earth. Not a call to John to see, but a conqueror goes forth on a white horse to conquer. Being on a white horse would seem to imply pretensions to righteousness in his course. The first thing, then, that takes place on earth after the church of God is gone, will be the march of some great conqueror.

Verse 3. When the Lamb opens the second seal, He calls for further judgments, and of a different character. A red horse goes forth, " and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword." Surely this is plain. This will evidently be a time of dreadful slaughter on the earth. Can any one doubt that the world is preparing for this? God restrains men until His church be gathered out, and then peace is taken from the earth. Think of the implements and materials of destruction the nations are preparing for that day. And men know it not. God has thus revealed to us what will surely take place.

Verse 5. At the opening of the third seal, the judgments are still more terrible: "lo, a black horse." It is the black famine that follows the terrible state of anarchy, and mutual bloodshed.

Verse 7. At the opening of the fourth seal, a pale horse; and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell (or the grave) followed him. And he had power to kill a fourth part of the earth with the four sore judgments of God, with the sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. This world has refused the mercy of God, and now it must have the judgments. How terrible will be the state of this poor world; and the church may close its history any day on earth, and these judgments will surely come. God has shown us the things that " must shortly come to pass."

Verse 9. The opening of the fifth seal demands very special attention. " And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony that they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, Ο Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were] should be fulfilled."

These are they who are spoken of in chapter v. 10: kings and priests, and they shall reign on the earth. For the present, they are told to wait for a little season, until others are killed like themselves. We shall find both these companies in chapter xx., when the reign begins; they had to wait until then. There are no thrones prepared for them in heaven, as with the elders, but there will be thrones on earth for them. They cry for vengeance, like the remnant in the Psalms: so cries not the church.

It is thus revealed to us that, after the close of Christianity, there will be, even in the midst of these terrible judgments, a remnant saved—· even as there was a remnant saved before the church began at Pentecost. This remnant, however, will be slain, and their souls will have to wait a little season. They will not, as we shall see, be raised from the dead for some time, not, indeed, until the completion of the first resurrection in chapter xx. This is revealed to us, and will surely so take place. If we believe God, all is simple; if we reason about it, all will be in confusion.

Verse 12. At the opening of the sixth seal, we have the most terrible symbols, or figures, of the break up of all social order. When a symbol is given, it is that distinctly: that is, the events plainly cannot possibly be intended to be literal. If these things took place literally, there would be no mountains left for men to hide themselves in. What we have to do, then, is to bear in mind how these symbols are used in scripture. A great earthquake is a terrible break-up of the earth's crust: such a social break-up of society will take place. The sun is the emblem of supreme rule. Government, or supreme rule, will be utterly darkened. And, as the moon is the lesser rule, or that which reflects the rule or light of the sun, so all subordinate rule will become utterly corrupt, like blood. All that are eminent, like the stars, will fall; all government, ail that is considered stable, will be utterly removed and broken up. The more we 'dwell on this, the more assured we may become that everything is tending to this very end. But so terrible will all this be when it comes, that the kings of the earth, and all classes, will believe the great day of the wrath of the Lamb is come. They will, under this mistake, cry to the mountains and rocks to fall on them and hide them. Does not this remind us of Psalm 2: "Be wise now, therefore, Ο ye kings; be instructed, ye judges of the earth &e.?

What a revolution will this be! What a sudden break-up of social order amongst men! How many professing Christians are preparing the elements of destruction, for that day! Already that lawlessness, the growl of discontent, and infidelity, beneath the strata of society, are like the noises heard in the earth before an earth · quake—the terrible forces of human wickedness ready to break forth. The fierce hatred, against all restraint, smoldering beneath, ready to break out the moment the time arrives. So frightful the shock when it comes, that supreme government becomes black as sackcloth. And all that reflects government now will be like blood. Eminent persons will fall like untimely fruit shaken by the wind. Everything that now governs society will be rolled away. Everything tin at has stood for ages immovable will be moved out of its place. " Yet once more, I shake not the earth only, but also heaven." (Heb. 12 read vers. 26 to 29.) This terrible break-up of all order, following the judgments of the opening of the previous seals, will fill all classes: with the utmost confusion and alarm.

All this is about to take place, and again we ask, have not all classes, kings, great men, rich men, mighty men, slaves and free men, an Indescribable foreboding of some terrible cat a-strophe? How oft you hear the remark, Things cannot go on as they are. Think of the diabolical wickedness of so many secret murderers, seeking to kill by cruel deaths the emperors, kings, and rulers of the earth! We solemnly call upon all Christians to be in constant prayer, whilst we are here, for the preservation of our beloved Queen, of kings, and of all who, under God, have-authority over us. But, believing this revelation, we must warn all such that this terrible break-up,, like an earthquake, is at hand; shortly will it come to pass.

Oh that emperors, queens, kings, great men,, rich men, captains, mighty men, bond and free,, would now be warned. It will avail you nothing in that day to flee to the dens and rocks of the mountains. But it will avail you now to be warned, to flee to the only refuge God has set before you. Remember, all classes of men, if you: have not come to Jesus, if you have not accepted Him as your entire and eternal salvation, you are under the very wrath of God. You may be-seeking salvation by works, by the lying sacrifices and ceremonies, and delusions of men crafty to deceive you. Oh, deceived, lost souls! These things will profit you nothing in that day when the Bridegroom shall have come, and the door is shut—forever shut—to you who have refused the grace of God, the free forgiveness of all who believe Him.

We entreat all classes of men to consider: there is but a step between you and the terrible plagues written in this book. Oh, how terrible it would be for you to read this paper after the church is taken, and these fearful judgments have begun. Remember if you refuse, oh ye kings and great and mighty men—if you receive not the love of the truth, that you may be saved, that " For this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thess. 2:10-12.) Oh ye high and lofty ones, who would disdain to hear, believe, and accept the precious glad tidings of eternal salvation through Jesus, we beg you to read these solemn words of revelation, of what is certainly about to take place. Be wise, oh ye kings!

We are aware of the special effort of Satan to make of none effect these warnings of God. Books of human reason are being written, and sent out; but they are the wanderings of the human mind—wandering in darkness, through history, to find what will seem like a past fulfillment, each contradicting one another, until they conclude that not only is all confusion and doubt, "but that God must have designed it to be so! We have no intention of wandering in the darkness of human reason, and the logic of human pride. The evident object of all this is to take away the solemnity of the midnight cry, the coming of the Bridegroom, the receiving of those that are saved,, and the terrible warnings of this book as to what is really coming on this earth. We trust it is in love to the whole church of Christ, yea, in the love and pity of God to the whole world, that we desire to lift the warning voice. We desire,, then, in simple dependence on the Holy Spirit, to write as one who believes assuredly that these things will shortly come to pass. Our object is not to be occupied unduly with the errors of men, but with the sure truth of God; and we count, so far as it shall please God, to have the demonstration of the Spirit.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ: No. 10 Revelation 7

WE might linger over the solemn warnings of the opening of the sixth seal, but we must now pass on to the deeply interesting parenthesis of chapter vii.

You will notice before we come to the opening of the seventh seal, God has been pleased to give us this break, as it were, in the prophetic history. Before He reveals the judgments of the blasts of the seven trumpets, He lets us into a few secrets of His gracious purposes, even in the midst of such terrible judgments.

Verse 1. If we compare Dan. 7:2, the four winds would indicate the strife and conflict of the history and times of the Gentiles. This then is suspended until certain things or purposes of God are revealed to us. And first, the purpose of God as to the elect remnant of Israel. For they are, as to this earth, God's special care. The promises in the Old Testament are almost entirely to them as regards the future kingdom of God on earth. We only need to read the prophets to see that.

God has not forgotten His promise to the fathers. Therefore, before the four winds are let loose, before the further storms of judgment blow upon the four divisions, or where the four empires have been, an elect number of the tribes of Israel are sealed with the seal of the Living God upon their foreheads. This is not historical, it is not as yet earthly distinction or mark, but sealed by an angel. The judgments are stayed until they are sealed. There is great care to show that they are of Israel. The tribes are named by name, and the elect number from each making up the multiple of the number (12) of administration on earth, but a thousand-fold. "And there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand." Let the emperors and kings of the earth beware how they treat those who are yet destined to reign with Christ, their Messiah, on earth.

But this is not all. " For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?" " For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in." (Rom. 11:15, 25.) Thus these two things go together; the elect remnant of Israel to be gathered in; for this they are sealed: and the fullness of the Gentiles.

First, the sealing of the remnant of Israel, whatever may take place, and however terrible the time of their tribulation as foretold by the prophets, and by the Lord. (Compare Daniel with Matt. 24, &c.) True, they are not sealed by the Spirit as Christians are, but by an angel, and it is the seal of the living God. God will keep His promise to Abraham. Then follows the purpose of God as to the Gentiles.

"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, 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 which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." How gracious of our God, before going further into the terrible scenes of human wickedness and judgment, thus to give us the sure outcome from it all, both as to Israel and all nations. This vast multitude then will be clothed in white robes, with palms of victory in their hands; and they ascribe salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

But lest we should mistake them for the church or the royal priest-elders, both they and the angels are contrasted with the elders. The elders, as we have seen, are brought nearest to the throne of God, or nearest to God. They sit on thrones in heaven around the throne of God, Not so this multitude. They stand before the throne. There is a great effort to Judaize and rob the church of this wondrous place. Yea, some give the Old Testament saints the place of sitting around the throne in chapter iv., and would give the church this place of subordination; for mark, this multitude stand before the throne. " Stood before the throne and before the Lamb." We have had a large book lent us, holding these erroneous views of the church.

And further, the angels do stand around the elders, but they do not stand around this robed multitude. Blessed as will be their state even standing before the throne, the angels stand round the elders and the throne, and they fall before the throne on their faces, and worship God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever, Amen. Now examine each word in this angelic ascription of praise, and you will see they have, like chapter v., the future glory and kingdom of Christ before them—the final outcome of the time of tribulation.

But more, a question is raised by one of the same elders—and that is the question we wish to have decided—Who are they? Are they the church, identified with the worshipping elders? " And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?" Now John did not know, so he said, " Sir, thou knowest. And be said to me, These are they who came out of great [or the great] tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Now mark, this blessed vision is given in this book before the great tribulation is come. And it is a scene which is to take place after the tribulation for this complete robed multitude could not have come out of the great tribulation before it took place. But the church of God is taken before the great tribulation. (1 Thess. 4:14-18.) Then the day of the Lord. (1 Thess. 5:1-5; 2 Thess. 2:1; Rey. iii. 10.) They are taken to the place prepared, to SIT in the brightness of the glory of God. (Rev. 4:4.) All this is before the tribulation of the book begins so that they, the church, cannot possibly be the multitude that shall come out of the great tribulation. That multitude cannot therefore possibly be the church of God.

We shall find them again, like and with the 'martyred company of the fifth seal, at the completion of the first resurrection of chapter xx. And thus they are the future earthly saints that shall reign with Christ on earth. (Chap. v. 10; xx. 4.) Nothing could be more clear. And passing on to those scenes of millennial glory beyond the awful judgments that will deluge the earth, we may now examine the remaining verses of our chapter, and inquire, are they heavenly or earthly scenes?

Chapter vii. 15. They have come out, of the, or a great tribulation. As to the great multitude, this is, no doubt, the time of trial spoken of in chapter iii. 10. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. In Matt. 24 we learn that the Lord comes immediately after the Jews' great tribulation. And this introduces the millennial kingdom on earth. " 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." Is that the millennial throne of the Lamb, Messiah on earth? and is that temple on earth Or in heaven during the millennial reign of Christ? One fact stated in chapter xxi. will help us in this inquiry. In the heavenly new Jerusalem there is no temple. " And I saw no temple therein, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it."

This would seem to point to the fact, that the great multitude will have their portion in connection with the temple, and reign on earth—and every word that follows confirms this thought. We could not speak of hunger, and thirst, or the sun's heat in heaven. But all is in keeping with their blissful state on earth. " They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun light on them, 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 waters."

Thus shall they be blest during the clays of the Lamb's millennial kingdom on earth. The last few words in the chapter may indeed reach on beyond the kingdom to the eternal state, as more fully revealed to us in chapter xxi. 3, 4. " And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

The blessedness of the earthly kingdom, as described in Isa. 60, is in perfect keeping with this revelation, only there the difference between the earthly kingdom and the heavenly bride was not made known. " Violence shall no more be heard in THY LAND, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. 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 everlasting light, and thy God thy glory," &c. And notwithstanding the terrible judgments about to be poured out on this earth—the tribulation, such as never was, and never shall be again—yet immediately after the tribulation, " Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Thus will the elect of Israel, and the great multitude be gathered to sit in His kingdom on earth. And whilst the revelation of this chapter vii. is entirely new, so much so that John needed the explanation of the elder, yet is it in perfect harmony with all truth which had been revealed before. This book is the filling up or completing of all prophetic truth.

God has thus been pleased to make known to is by revelation His purpose, both as to Israel and to the nations, after the completion of the church, and before we enter upon the direct and terrible judgments of God upon a guilty world. It is mercy rejoicing against judgment. His mercy endureth forever.

Think how long that mercy has borne with the church's apostasy, and the world's rejection of His grace in Christ Jesus. When This revelation was given, it was then the last time, or hour, of antichrists; for there were _many. Yet His mercy lingereth through all these centuries. But the midnight cry has now gone forth, and the door will soon be shut.

God grant that the reader may not have to stand without and cry in vain, Lord, open unto us. If not saved, oh come, and come now to him who said, " All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

The Revelation of Jesus Christ: No. 11 Revelation 8

HE who is worthy now opens the seventh seal And yet there is delay before the awful blasts o, judgment are sounded. "There was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour." These are angelic judgments. "And I saw the sever angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets." God can use the powers and principalities He has created. The silence in heaven denotes the pause before those judgments begin.

There is another very marked change. The Lord Jesus does not now present Himself as the Lamb during these judgments.

Verses 3-5. These verses are taken by some as giving authority to pray now to angels. But is not this the Lord Jesus in angelic form? " There was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand." It is true the action is not at all as the intercession which He, as our great High Priest, makes for us now before the throne of grace, as we see in the Epistle to the Hebrews. It is that we may find grace and help in time of need.

Here the prayers of the suffering saints are answered in judgments on the earth. "And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake." This reminds us of the man clothed with linen, scattering the fire of judgment from the throne of God over the city. (Eze. 10:2.) It is that man clothed with righteousness to whom all judgment is given, that hears the prayers of the suffering saints, and answers their prayers with file from off the altar. Men have rejected His grace and free forgiveness, they must now have His judgments. Sin must be purged or judged. In Isa. 6 we see, when the seraphim took fire front the altar and laid it on the mouth of the prophet, his iniquity was taken away, and his sin purged. Jesus has passed through the fire of divine judgment. Have you received the testimony of God to the cleansing efficacy of that blood which cleanseth from all sin; or are you still hasting on to that day when angelic judgments, that is, judgments direct from heaven, shall be cast on the earth?

This is no vain speculation to amuse you. These things will shortly come to pass. God is slow to execute wrath. " There was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour." We have seen in chapter vi., that there were those on earth that were slain for the word of God; and they were bidden to wait until their brethren were killed. Here then we have the prayers of their brethren presented with the efficacy of the intercessor as an angel of judgment.

We only know of one Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus. There is, then, not a shadow of authority in the word of God, to pray to angels or saints. These are evidently Jewish figures, borrowed from the temple. The golden censer was a type of Christ Himself. The incense was brought into the most holy, before he blood, pointing to the glory and excellency of His Person, who should make atonement, whose blood should be presented before God. He alone then could offer the prayers of all saints with the sweet savor of His blessed Person, as known only to the Father. Out of His blessed hands, perfumed with His own excellences, those Prayers will ascend to God. But all is changed now not for continued grace, but for judgments.

Is it not then most suited that He who is known to us as the Lamb of God should then assume the character, as in days of old, of the angel of judgment?

" The altar" of incense is the golden altar that stood before the throne in the holy place. The altar from which the fire was taken is the altar of burnt offerings. So that the measure and character of judgment on Christ, as our Substitute, on the altar—the cross—will be the character of the wrath cast on the earth upon the rejecters of forgiveness through the death of the cross.

Verse 6. " And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first angel sounded; and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth; and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up:"

The loftiness of men will be smitten and destroyed; and the green grass, the prosperity of men, will also be utterly destroyed. Thus in these more direct blasts of judgment from God, the circumstances of men are first smitten. What a warning this is!

Man, as a fallen sinner, has no right even to the things of this life: it is all the mammon of unrighteousness. Whilst the men of this world are grasping to possess that which they little think they will have soon to give up, surely it becomes us to take heed to the teachings of the Lord as to worldly goods, and the example of the saints in the beginning of the church's history in Acts 2; 4, This is a very serious matter. Surely this Revelation of Jesus Christ is intended to have a separating power on us as to all present circumstances. Do we really believe that we are about to be taken away from this whole scene, and that then these judgments will follow?

"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," &c. This would set before us some empire that had long been considered as a mountain. The judgment of God falls upon it, and it falls burning into the raging billows of the people, as angry waves, and the result is those waves of men become blood.

The figure seems clearly to imply great destruction of all that appears stable. And this is not limited to the earth, or the seat of the four empires, but extends to the sea; that is the people beyond their limits. With this there is great destruction of trade, the ships and resources of men. Oh, how little men know what is before them! And all along, as we read of these judgments close at hand, the voice so well known to us still says, " Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Do we hear him? Do we believe Him?

In the third trumpet-blast of judgment, it is still the circumstances of men. Some very eminent person falls, as a burning lamp. In hot countries rivers are very expressive of fertility, and earthly blessing. The Christian, receiving, from Christ, becomes a river of water of life to others. (John 7:38.) And there is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God. (See also Rev. 22:1, 2.) Here it is the very reverse " The third part of the waters became wormwood, and many men died of the waters because they were made bitter." Oh the bitterness and death that await the inhabitants of this world!

" And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten," &c. There seems now to be darkness falling on the governing powers of the third part of the earth. That is of the prophetic earth—the seat of the four great empires—it is utter moral, and perhaps also political perplexity or darkness. Men's minds will be terribly affected.

There is now a break and a change, marked by "an angel flying through the midst of heaven; saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth, by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound." The judgments of the first four trumpets have been on the circumstances of men, Now the three deeper woes are about to fall on the persons of men.

Chapter ix. " 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 [or abyss]." This is a person: and it would seem to be Satan permitted to let loose the fallen angels out of their prison, on to the earth. All government is now darkened by diabolical agents. Earthly symbols are used, but they are only figures. To these locusts was given power, " as the scorpions of the earth." Then they are not locusts or scorpions of the earth, but as, or like them. The air is filled with demons let loose, like clouds of locusts; and their torments are like the sudden stroke of a scorpion. Oh, what will it be then to remember the grace and mercy once offered to men?

Mark, their dreadful work will not be to hurt, the grass, that is, the circumstances of men: neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. God will preserve the sealed of Israel from the torment of these demons.

It is evidently the minds of men that will cc smitten with these torments for a given time, as. they have no power to kill. Nay, " In those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them."

Verse 7. Perhaps no words can be found to express the terribleness of these symbols. Their shape: they assume strength and power " like unto horses prepared unto battle." " On their heads as it were crowns like gold." They assume, as it were, divine righteousness. Faces as men-intelligence. Hair as women—they may assume warming gentleness but their teeth are as the teeth of lions. Who can hurt them in return; for they have breastplates, not of (righteousness) gold, but of (destruction) iron? They are swift in the spread of their tormenting poison. " And the sound of their wings was as the sound of, chariots of many horses running to battle." It is the thoughts or doctrines they leave behind them—they have stings in their tails. They have a king over them; and he is the angel of the bottomless pit. And his name is Apollyon, the destroyer.

Oh, ye parents, is it for these scenes you are,so carefully bringing up your children in the fashions and pleasures of Satan's world? Re- member, these things will surely come to pas yea, quickly come to pass. Are there not symptoms of their near approach? From the palace to the cottage is there not distress of with perplexity and fear, for the things; that are coming on the earth? Oh, what will it be when the true church is taken away, and God sends men these strong delusions? Awake, behold the Bridegroom! And will you be forever shut out and left to these terrible judgments on which we have been dwelling? We entreat you not to cast these things aside. God is bringing, out this "book of Revelation in all its explanations with clearness: for the time is short.

May God awaken every reader of this little paper to the fact, that the last days, long foretold; are fast running out their course. Fellow do we believe God? He has given us. this revelation; do we believe it? And these things as -yet are but the beginning of the wrath God about to be poured. out on a Christ-rejecting world.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ: No. 12 Revelation 9-10

VERSE 13. " And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God." He who stands at the golden altar, making intercession for the suffering sealed ones, answers in judgment on the adversaries. The four angels of judgment are loosed from the great river Euphrates for a definite time. This is a frightful, overwhelming destruction, it would seem, from the East. It is still more terrible than the previous blast of judgment, though something like it. These have breastplates, not of iron, but of fire, jacinth, and brimstone, &c. Fire and brimstone are connected with death and hell and the lake of fire. It would seem from all the figures used, to be a fearful, powerful delusion from the East, that destroys (kills) all that remains amongst men of the knowledge of God: an active delusion from the mouth, leaving its dreadful sting, from the tail behind. This may now also extend to the death of the body. As to the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues, they repented not.

Let us not seek to make of none effect these solemn, terrible warnings, by trying to explain them as referring to the past history of the church. There may have been foreshadowings of these coming woes in the Mahomedan invasion of Europe; but nothing as yet has taken place that at all answers to these almost indescribable judgments. Just as the past destruction of Jerusalem may be taken as a terrible picture of the coming time of Israel's great tribulation, yet it is a great mistake to suppose that the past was the entire fulfillment of the prophecy, as the coming tribulation is to be such as never has been, and never shall be again. Just so is it a great mistake to suppose the Mahomedan irruption was the fulfillment of these woes, dreadful as that was, and fearful as have been the spiritual consequences, especially in the East. No; these terrors have yet to come on mankind, on the rejecters of the present grace of God.

This is that time, or hour, of temptation which shall come upon all the world, but from which the faithful followers of Christ will be kept. (Rev. 3:10.) These are the awful judgments of God, which will be poured on this world when the children of God shall have been taken to be forever with the Lord.

CHAPTER 10.

The time is now fast approaching for the Lord to take possession of all nations. "And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a, kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." (Dan. 7:14.) But mark, it is not by the gospel He comes to take possession; but here in angel form. Nor as yet as the Son of man. More angelic judgments have yet to take place. " And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud "—emblem of the divine presence. "And a rainbow was upon his head." His promise as to creation will not be broken. " And his face was as it were the sun "- supreme dominion; " and his feet as pillars of fire." Oh, behold Him! He who once was nailed to the cross! The divine presence come down from heaven, in connection with this lower creation: supreme authority over all, He comes with burning, consuming judgments.

He does not now take the seven-sealed roll, but the little book open. " And he set his right foot upon. the sea "—the nations outside the earth (that is, the Roman empire) as America, India, China, &c. " And his left foot on the earth." All must feel His power. It is now an open book, and a try with a loud noise, as when a lion roareth. Oh, ye peoples and nations of the earth, you may shut your ears to the gracious voice of mercy now; but you will not be able to close them to that cry like the roar of a lion, yea, like the noise of thunder. As surely as you read Thee lines, so surely will these terrible judgments overtake you, unless you repent now. It is not only the voice of thunder, but seven thunders uttered their voices. And so terrible are those seven judgments, that John was not permitted to write them. Peter tells us that the Lord is " lung-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." How long has God delayed His judgments! What has He borne with from this awful thing called Christendom!

But now " the angel which I saw stand upon; the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth forever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be no longer delay;" not that there should be time no longer. Time is not reckoned during this interval of grace. In the history of God's dealings with Israel, Messiah was cut off, the city destroyed, and they scattered, until the time of the end, or last week, or seven years of their history, before the setting up of the kingdom of God on earth, so long foretold to them. (I)an. ix. 25-27.) Jewish time has not yet begun again. But now there shall be no longer delay. This period in which we live is a mystery. Its great transaction is gathering out the church. It was kept hid, also God's dealings with the nations until the kingdom—all this was unrevealed in the prophets.

Verse 7. " But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished [completed], as he bath declared to his servants the prophets." This little open book then will be found to bring before John, and us, God's dealings. It certainly, at first sight, seemed delightful to get to know the future dealings with God's ancient people again, during the long-delayed "time of the end." But when John understood what was about to take place, it turned his thoughts to bitterness.

CHAPTER 11

Up to this point, we must observe, there is nothing peculiarly Jewish in the first ten chapters, except the sealing in chapter vii.: now there is an entire change. It is, indeed, most, important to notice this. It is connected with the loud announcement, that there should be no longer delay. Oh, ye groaning Jews of Russia,, and inquiring Jews of Palestine, how deeply what follows concerns you. Do you think God can forget His promise to your fathers? Never!" and to think that in this Revelation of Jesus Christ, the last seven years, or chiefly the last three and a half years, of your prophet's 400 years are opened up to you. You know well that many things were made known to Daniel that should take place to your Messiah, and your city, your temple, and nation, during those 490 years, commencing from the going forth of the decree to rebuild the city. What did take place in the 490 years from that twenty-eighth year of Artaxerxes? Within that period the great sin was committed by your fathers of rejecting and putting to death Messiah. Yet that very death was the reconciliation for iniquity. He was raised from the dead, and everlasting righteousness was brought in. He whom you rejected was received up to heaven, anointed the most Holy.

Your city was, indeed, restored and rebuilt; but instead of Messiah being anointed over you, as He surely will, according to the prophets, in Mount Zion, on the throne of David, He was, as Gabriel foretold, cut off and had nothing. Is it not so? That as to all the promises to Him and to you, He and you for eighteen centuries and more have had nothing. Now do you notice the last week of this your prophecy has yet to be fulfilled? (Dan. 9:27.) Will you now read Mic. 5:2? Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. He is to be ruler in Israel. He first. goes up to God; and His goings forth are from eternity. Every word is true and clear, the moment you see Jesus, Jehovah-Savior, to be your Messiah. He was cut off, has nothing here, is gone up to God. He will surely come again, and you will see the wounds in His hands. And when the first dominion is given to you, He will be ruler in Israel. And yet He is Jehovah from eternity. Do you now see that during your long dispersion, time has been delayed? But the mighty angel says it shall be delayed no longer. One word more: if Jesus was not your Messiah, then it would be to make your prophets prophesy falsely, which is impossible; for if Jesus was not Messiah, then no Messiah appeared within 490 years; no reconciliation was made for iniquity; Gabriel's prophecy would fall to the ground.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ: No. 13 Revelation 11

As the subject of the temple specially concerns the Jews, we will speak of it as it were to them. And more especially as some are earnestly inquiring about these things. You will notice your temple, the temple of God, is again to be rebuilt. No other temple but that at Jerusalem is ever called the temple of God on earth. We are at once reminded of Ezekiel: " And 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. 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 and two months.' This could not possibly apply to the church, or Christendom. In, the church there are neither Jews nor Gentiles, for all are one in Christ Jesus. But when the Jewish time begins again, there is the same distinction between the highly favored Jews and the Gentiles that there was before, Christianity and the church. (See Isa. 60:3, 5, 11,. &c.; 56:6, &c.)

There are, then, Jewish worshippers in the temple: but the court is still trodden underfoot of the Gentiles, forty-two months: that is, three and a half years of your ancient time reckoned. This, again, is in perfect harmony with your prophet speaking of the last time of the end -the last week, or seven years. "And in the midst of the week he shall [that is the Prince of the Gentiles, the restored Roman empire] cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease," &c. (Dan. 9:27, compare Dan. 12:7, 11.) Jesus has told you to mark this epoch. (Matt. 24:15.) Read all He says about it.

Do not forget that at the end of these three years and a half, the Son of man shall come with the clouds of heaven, and set up His kingdom on earth. (Dan. 7:13, 14; Matt. 24:29, 31.)

What scenes have yet to happen in and around that city Jerusalem!

Verse 3. " And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days, clothed in sackcloth." This shows that God will, during these three and a half years, even day by day, maintain an adequate witness or testimony. Two witnesses, being adequate, sufficient, does not necessarily mean two men. There will be a distinct and sufficient witness for God, even when the world, led on by Satan, is against the Jewish remnant of that terrible period. And men will not be able to kill or destroy this testimony. God gives them power, as he gave to the prophets of old. Almost each particular has a parallel in the Old Testament. They prophesy until the beast rises out of the bottomless pit; we shall read all about him farther on. He puts to death the witnesses at Jerusalem, and after three days and a half they are raised from the Lad, at the very time the nations are rejoicing over their death. Such is man. From the day that Cain slew his brother Abel, the wicked have hated the righteous.

All this is surely not about Christians, but the Jewish remnant, and that city called Sodom and pt. It is getting ready for the winepress of wrath of God.

“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were:eat voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever." (Vers. 15-18.) The sounding of the seventh angel brings the general history down to the close. Then other distinct revelations are given.

Man is a rebel against God; what real right then can he have to the kingdoms of this world? True they were given into his hands for a time, but how has he used the power from Nebuchadnezzar to this very day? These verses look at the transfer of the kingdoms of the world to Messiah, as a then accomplished fact: they " are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever." How blessed to pause and contemplate the happy change that awaits this groaning creation!

Verse 16. The four and twenty elders are still seen seated before God on their thrones, and they fall on their faces and worship God. How calm their thanksgiving and praise in the presence of God! They give a summary to the end; they are wholly occupied with the glory and majesty of God. " We give thee thanks, O Lord God, Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned." How perfect the harmony of e redeemed with the mind and work of God! What is man with all his vain boasting, and daring wickedness, when God puts forth His infinite power? Well may we say, Greater is He that is for us than all they that be against us. The anger of the nations, what is it, when His wrath shall be come?

Here then closes the general, connected prophetic history of the revelation. It is not the revelation of the church, but first of Christ, in His judgments of the churches, or assemblies, right on to the end of their history on earth. It is to him that bath an ear to hear what the Spirit saith unto the assemblies. The words of Christ to such are full of the deepest meaning and instruction, in each of the seven stages of the course of the churches, or of Christendom. After the history of these seven distinct stages of Christendom, the redeemed are seen (having been caught up to heaven), as royal worshipping priests in heaven. Then the judgments that will take place on earth. The first are the providential judgments on the opening of the seals. That hour of temptation that shall come on all the world thus begins.

Then before the more terrible judgments of the trumpets, God reveals His future purposes of grace both to the elect and numbered remnant of Israel, and also to those of the nations.

After this pause, there are the direct judgments from heaven. Angelic blasts of judgment, first on the circumstances, and then on the persons of men. Then time is no longer delayed. The time of the end begins according to Daniel's prophecy, and a short summary brings us, as we have seen, to the end, when the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.

CHAPTERS XII., XIII., XIV.

These chapters form a division of the book. in the last verse of chapter xi. which should be read with what follows, the temple of God is opened in 'heaven: all is safety there—there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament. He will be faithful to His covenant in the midst of all that has yet to be judged, and further judgments have yet to. be revealed. There were lightnings, and 'voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. Thus is connected the covenant of God with His ancient people. Chapter xii. opens: " And there appeared a great wonder in heaven woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." Yes, emperors and kings of the earth may trample and persecute the scattered sons of Israel, but what a destiny according to the covenant of God do these words reveal, and confirm: " Daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem." (Mic. 4:8.) It will be truly marvelous when the purposes of God are fulfilled in giving the supreme dominion of this world to the despised people of Israel. With all subordinate governments at her feet she; is crowned with the perfect administration of the world.

Like many of the psalms the first verse in these chapters gives the leading thought. It is a great mistake to confound this woman with the church. The church is not seen on earth, or even the churches or assemblies, after chapter iii.

It is the woman, Israel, which will travail in birth, and be in pain to be delivered. Read on in Mic. 4:9: "Now why dost thou cry out aloud?... for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail. Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to. Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies."

Notice that in both Micah and Revelation the supreme dominion of Israel is assured, and then is foretold the awful time of her travail and pain. This labor is not at the birth of Christ, the man-child, but her future travail and flight as described by the Lord in Matt. 24

Verse 3. Here we have the source of t:, wicked power of the Roman Empire. This is none other than Satan as the great red dragon, having seven heads and two horns, and seven crowns upon his head. How many mighty ones, stars of heaven, had he cast down! This is a most humiliating discovery. Power was given by Jehovah into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar; but here in the Roman Empire, Satan as a great dragon is using man as his tool! This was clearly seen at the birth of Christ, the man-child. Herod was the instrument, but it was really the dragon seeking to destroy the infant Jesus; yes, as soon as He was born. God thus reveals everything to us in its true colors. We can read the narrative in the Gospels, and know the mover in the scene is Satan, the dragon, or destroyer.

Verse 5 refers to the past, the birth of Jesus, not the future travail of Israel. Indeed there was no travail of Israel at the birth of Messiah: as says the prophet: " Before she travailed she brought forth: before her pain came, she was delivered of a MAN CHILD." And this is shown to be quite distinct from the future travail of Israel, " for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children." (Isa. 66:7, 8.) At the birth of Jesus the man-child, there was no travail in Israel: this was before her travail, When she brings forth her children then will be the time of tribulation such as never was. They man-child she brought forth was " to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God and to his throne." This also was foretold by the prophet Micah: " But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." (Mic. 5:2.) Then after this you read that Israel were to be given up, " until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth."

All this actually took place. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. He was rejected by Israel His people. He was caught up to God. And they have been given up, and will be, until the time of their travail. Yet two things are true of Jesus, Messiah. He is to be ruler in Israel, and He is the everlasting God, whose goings forth have been from of old, from eternity. Who but God could have foretold all this 700 years before the birth of the man-child? Now to pervert these scriptures as if the woman was the church, is either great folly, or a wicked attempt to turn the scriptures into confusion. The whole subject is very simple if we follow scripture, in dependence on the Holy Ghost, and seek to make no intellectual system of our own.

Verse 6. And the woman fled into the wilderness, &c.,—just as we have seen of Israel, in Micah, when the time of her travail arrives. Only here the length of time of her travail is given 1260 days, or the last half-week of years, as foretold in Daniel.

Verse 7. It would seem it is at this crisis that there is war in heaven, &c. This will be an immense change in heaven, and a terrible event for the earth. There can now be no doubt as to who the dragon is, that is cast out of heaven. " That old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Not yet cast out of the earth, but into the earth. God thus begins His mighty conquest by casting him and all his angels out of heaven. At present we wrestle with wicked spirits in the heavenlies. He is now the accuser of the brethren: and we can only overcome him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of the testimony. There will be great joy in heaven, but woe to the inhabiters of earth.

And now mark, when Satan is cast out of heaven he does not persecute Christians. Most assuredly he would have done so if they had not been caught up to heaven. " He persecuted the woman which brought forth the man." It is against her he manifests his hatred. She flies into the wilderness to her place of safety. There will be a remnant that will believe the testimony of Jesus, and keep the commandments of God. Thus we see this chapter is chiefly occupied with the Jews, or Israel, as the earthly people of God. Many of them are feeling assured that the time of their deliverance is near, and God will not forget the ark of the testimony in heaven. Satan may send forth waters like a flood to destroy them, but God can, and will preserve the sealed remnant.

Many speak of this chapter as difficult to understand. It is in perfect harmony with all other parts of scripture, and most strengthening to our faith in the word of God. Only let us not be led away by the fancies of men; and there are those that lie in wait to deceive.

May we be kept in the presence of the Lord, as we meditate on the further marvelous revelations of this book. Yes, the heavens have received Jesus " until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began."

The Revelation of Jesus Christ: No. 14 Revelation 13

We have seen that the prime mover of the Roman Empire is Satan, as the great dragon. In this chapter we learn further that the head of that empire, called the beast, is strangely identified with Satan.

We must remember that the fourth, or Roman empire, as it existed when the man-child was born (Christ), occupied a certain part of the world. This may easily be traced by a map. It was the ordered part of the world, under the government of that empire, called in the Revelation " the earth," in distinction from those nations' and peoples outside of it. The settled government of the empire may be compared to the firm earth, and those nations outside to the troubled sea.

We shall understand it by taking a case. Take England and Ireland. In history, as shown on the map, England was part of the earth, or empire; Ireland was outside the empire. Thus John (verse 1) stands on the sand of the sea, " and saw a beast rise out of the sea." If, then,, the empire is in distinct existence when this beast shall arise, the figure would be fulfilled suppose the beast was to arise out of such a place as 'Ireland, outside the earth or formed empire. But waters also describe the unrest of the nations, even where the great whore or harlot sits', which is doubtless on the site of the empire itself. (See Rev. 17:15.)

It may be in the tumult of the nations that compose the empire that the beast is seen to arise out of the sea, or scene of unrest and tumults. He has the most striking likeness to the devil, the dragon. The only difference in the photograph is that this beast will not merely have seven crowns on the seven heads, but ten crowns upon his ten horns. He also has all the features of the first three empires, or beasts, of Dan. 7: the lion, the leopard, and the bear. These followed each other in the four great empires of the world; only let us bear in nisi that God gave the power and kingdom to these, But now " the dragon gave him his power, anti hi, seat, and great authority," Satan takes the distinct place of God. These are things which shall surely come to pass. No doubt Satan will try to deceive men by giving them fanciful theories, and telling them all this has been fulfilled. Nothing can suit him better.

Verse 3. Men have long rejected the Son of God, to whom all power is given, and in whom all will be yet displayed. Let us see what this same world will do when Satan presents his chief. For a moment there may be tumult and confusion. " And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death." Then, " and his deadly wound was healed." Napoleon may illustrate this. One Napoleonic head of the empire was wounded, laid aside—another took his place. Both have passed away. But when Satan's grand man appears, he will have a kind of death and resurrection, for Satan will seek to imitate the power of God. There he is, and what have the wise of this world to say to him? "All the world wondered after the beast." Oh man! with thy evolution, progress, and pride, is this thy wisdom? And not only wondered: " They worshipped the beast, saying, Who is able to make war with him?" Oh human politics! the progress of man is to deeper shades of darkness! Mark what leads to this worship of the beast is this, "They worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast."

All nations bear witness that man must have an object of worship. And thus we see here that when this infidel Europe has cast off finally all true worship of God, it will be to sink down and worship the devil. Is it not dreadful to contemplate that the nations of Europe will form an empire with all these Satanic attributes? And will continue forty and two months; the beast, or head of this empire, speaking great things and blasphemies against God. The church is gone, so that he can only blaspheme them in heaven, though there will be saints on earth after the church is gone, as there were before it began.

Verse 7. " And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, tongues, and nations." These are the spoken of in chapter vi. " Their fellow-servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled." This is that tribulation long foretold, such as never shall be again. And all the rest shall worship the beast. "And 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." Since these things are at the door, how important the inquiry: Reader, is your name in the book of life of the Lamb? Are you associated with Him? Is He your center, your all—not of the world, but belonging to Christ—or are you a dweller on earth? Are the earth and the things of the world your object? Momentous questions. Is not the world even now filling with violence, as in the days of Noah? What will it be when it is given up to the very violence of the dragon? " If any man have an ear let him hear." Is your ear open or closed to these things? The man that refuses to hear what God speaks as to the things that will soon come to pass, is he not guilty of folly? Can there be greater folly?

All the world are improving their arms, and seeking safety in weapons of terrible destruction. It will be all in vain. " He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword." But, as it were in contrast, " Here is the patience and the faith of the saints." God has never been without a witness on earth, and He will have His saints or holy ones on earth even in these terrible days of Satanic power.

Verse 11. " And I beheld another beast," &c,. Very often these two beasts are confounded, and the first is called " the man of sin." We must call attention to this mistake. The first beast rises out of the sea—the nations in a state of tumult; the other beast cometh up out of the earth—that is, he comes when the empire shall have been formed. Satan makes the first beast the head of the empire. (Ver. 2.) Then the second beast, not the first, answers to all the scriptures that speak of the man of sin, or the lawless one. Let us now note the features of this long-foretold " wicked one "—the Antichrist.

He assumes the appearance of a lamb: " he had two horns like a lamb." Yet when he speaks, his words betray him: "he spake as a dragon." He has influence throughout the Roman empire. " He exerciseth all the power of the first beast." He does not lead men to worship God, far from it; but to worship the first beast. Thus we have an imitation trinity: Satan, the beast, and Antichrist. And mark, Antichrist does the same miracles that the Jewish prophets of old did. He maketh fire come down from heaven as did the prophet Elijah. We have a full description of him and his doings in 2 Thessalonians ii. 3-12. He opposes God, and pretends to be God. He sits in the temple of God, for the Jews will receive him, " showing himself that he is God." Yet he is the wicked one " whose corning is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders," &c.

Such is this other beast that shall arise in the Roman empire. He shall deceive them that dwell on the earth by the means of these false miracles. He shall lead men into idolatry, even to set up an image of the emperor, or head of the empire.

This image seems to be a figure of some active power that will be heard, and cause that, as many refuse to worship the beast shall be killed. Then he causes what is called "boycotting" to be general throughout the empire. No man is allowed to buy or sell who refuseth the mark of the beast in his right hand or in his forehead. Satan is only practicing his servants in boycotting at present; but, terrible as it is, what will it be in that day? How sad the fact that the Jews will receive this Antichrist, as Jesus said: " If another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive." How ready all men are to be led by Satan! The poor deceived world is preparing for these terrible scenes of human wickedness. Is it not almost incredible how lawlessness is being adopted? These things are at the very doors.

Now as to the name, the mark of the beast. When every man, on pain of being boycotted, is compelled to wear that mark, or name, which will count up to 666, there will be no mistake then, or uncertainty, as to what that mark is. The uncertainty now, or our ignorance as to what that mark is, proves that it has not yet been fulfilled. In fact, the man of sin, Antichrist—this second beast clearly does not come during the days of Christianity, or whilst the church of God is here on earth.

It may be objected that many learned men have taught that the pope is Antichrist. We do not doubt that; but is he the Antichrist described here? Did the pope ever compel the nations to worship the emperor or head of the Satanic resurrection Roman empire? Nay; that empire has not even been restored yet. Which of the popes has compelled men to worship the beast by making fire come down from heaven in the sight of men? Has the pope ever boycotted all men who refuse to have the mark of the beast on their right hand or on their forehead? It does no good but great harm to force scripture, yea, to pervert it to such theories. Let us not seek fanciful interpretations. All this is plainly future, as we shall see more clearly when we reach chapter xvii. There we shall learn that as surely as the Roman empire did exist on earth, as related in history, so surely will it exist on earth again, as foretold in this Revelation.

We have seen in chapter xii. how much Satan had to do with the empire at the birth of the man-child, which was Christ, born of the Jewish nation, and how he will persecute her seed, the remnant, in the time of her tribulation.

In chapter xiii. we have the revelation of the rise of this empire again; the dragon giving to it, or its head, his power, and his seat, and great authority. All the world then wonders after the beast, and worships the beast. He continues forty-two months—that is, three years and a half—blaspheming God and them that dwell in heaven. The church of God is then in heaven, and he cannot persecute it any more on earth, so that his wrath is against the seed of the woman, that is, the remnant of the Jewish nation. And power will be given him against all whose names are not written in heaven, in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

This opens the way for the man of sin, as described from verse 11 to the end of the chapter. And no one can deny the rapid tendency of Europe to the principles which will be headed up in this son of perdition. What an end to all human pride and boasting! Yes, such is the end of the leaven of Herod; the end of human politics. And what vast multitudes will be deceived with all deceivableness of unrighteousness.

Oh rejecters of Christ, it is written, " Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved,.... God shall send them strong delusions, that they should believe a lie. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thess. 2:8-12.) " Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." To the believer, at this moment, Jesus says, " Behold, I come quickly."

The Revelation of Jesus Christ: No. 15 Revelation 12-14

These three chapters—12, 13, 14, form a distinct part of the Revelation. And chapter 14, is divided into seven, parts:

First, the purpose of God—the Lamb on Mount Sion. (Vers. 1-5.)

Second, the everlasting gospel. (Vers. 6, 7.)

Third, the fall of Babylon. (Ver. 8.)

Fourth, the doom of those who receive the mark of the beast. (Vers. 9-12.)

Fifth, the blessedness of those who die in the Lord. (Ver. 13.)

Sixth, the harvest of the earth. (Vers. 14-16.)

Seventh, the vintage of the earth. (Vers. 17 to end.)

We have thus, in the first place, the final results of all these judgments and dealings of God with the earth—Mount Sion in the renewed, millennial earth. The promises in all the prophets as to Sion shall then be fulfilled. " Sing, O daughter of Sion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart... Fear not,.. the Lord thy God is in the midst of thee.. He will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing. I will gather them which are sorrowful." (Zeph. iii. 14-18.) This is very largely the theme of the Psalms and Isaiah.

The purpose of God must stand as to those who suffer for Christ. The suffering remnant of Israel will have a very special place in association with the once suffering Lamb. They stand WITH Him on Mount Sion. They are the elect remnant. And being a thousand-fold the multiple of twelve- this would imply perfection of administration. Let us bear in mind, Mount Sion in the prophets is on earth: the city of the great King, the center of grace and kingly rule—but on earth. So hen (vers. 1-3) they are not in heaven with the church or the crowned elders of chapter iv But let us examine each particular.

They have " his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads." Though on Mount Sion, yet this is a most precious privilege- a mark of association with Himself. It may be asked, But is there not at least one text that speaks of Mount Sion as the heavenly Jerusalem? (Heb. 12:22.) A careful examination and correct translation will show this is not the case. " But ye have come to Mount Sion; AND to the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem," &c. Thus ft ere are two separate things named: Mount Sion, or mount of grace, in contrast to Mount Sinai, the mount of law and terrors; then the heavenly city, Jerusalem, before us, in contrast with the city of Canaan.

Then, on this Mount Sion, John says, "I heard a voice from heaven," or " out of heaven." Now, if it had been a Mount Sion in heaven, he would not have heard it from heaven. There was an. immense sound of joy in heaven when the Lamb and the 144,000 stood with Him on Mount Sion, " as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of great thunder. And the voice which I heard was as harp singers harping with their harps; and they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures, and the elders." This is heard on Mount Sion from heaven, And they who sing it are in heaven, but are not the elders or the redeemed, glorified church; but before them, that is, before the elders. And further, the 144,000 neither sing the song in heaven nor compose part of the elders in heaven; but they only can learn the song on earth, on Mount Sion, that they hear from heaven. They are in the earthly glory of the Lamb. The church is the heavenly first-fruits, and they are the earthly first-fruits. " Which were redeemed from the earth." They have not been defiled with all the seducing corruptions of those last terrible days. They have followed the Lamb and shared in His sorrows. " These were bought from among men.' They do not seem to have died, but are the " first-fruits unto God and the Lamb," &c. It is truly blessed to contemplate them, the first-fruits of the new millennial earth. What immense comfort this scripture will give to them passing through the tribulation! Thus we have the sure purpose of God as to the suffering remnant of Israel, as they pass through their last fearful tribulation. Do not confound them with the redeemed church which has been in heaven since chapters iv., v.

Second part, verses 6, 7. Having revealed to us the final blessing of the elect remnant, we now learn how this will be accomplished: and also the then testimony of God to the whole world. As now the glad tidings of the grace of God are preached to every creature; and as many as are ordained to eternal life, believe and become the recipients of heavenly glory; even so, then, the everlasting gospel will be preached to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples. And, though the great mass reject it and are given up to strong delusions, yet there will be those who believe God, and who, like Abraham of old, will be reckoned righteous, and will enjoy the earthly, as we the heavenly, glory. Oh the riches of His grace! Every lost soul in the lake of fire, and every saved soul on earth, or in heaven, will own throughout the eternal ages the righteousness of God. One is saved, the other forever lost; but both according to the righteousness of God. Oh, reader, soon you will have—yea, even now you know, if a believer, that the righteousness of God is your eternal salvation. But, oh, what will it be, if an unbeliever, to know that the righteousness of God is your eternal damnation? To have willfully rejected the forgiveness of sins through the grace of God, at such a cost as the death of the Son of God, in righteousness the wrath of God MUST abide forever on you If you have accepted the salvation of God accomplished at such a cost, God declares that salvation in perfect righteousness to be eternal. Thus the righteousness of God is most terrible, or most blessed.

It is time, however, to notice the character of the everlasting gospel that will then be proclaimed so widely. Jesus said, " And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come." (Matt. 21 v. 14) This angel-announced gospel is also the gospel of the kingdom, or reign and authority of God. It is not the gospel of grace now used in building the church—the gospel of this marvelous parenthesis of the riches of His grace, proclaimed by apostles and evangelists. But an angel proclaims to all nations, with a loud voice, " Fear God and give glory to him: for the hour of his judgment is tome: and worship him that made heaven," &c. During this day of the gospel of the grace of God "his judgment " has not yet come. This gospel will not only be preached to every tribe and tongue and people who have not heard the present gospel and rejected it; but it is everlasting. Every word is suited, and will be the glad tidings of millennial days; yea, throughout eternity when God shall be all. These two verses show how the righteousness of God will shine out in all its brightness, even as this poor world sinks in the gloom of the worship of Satan. Even then man will be left without an excuse.

Third part, verse 8. It might now be asked, In those days of the preaching of the everlasting gospel, what has become of apostate Christendom?' This verse is the solemn answer; oh, thou boasting Christendom, hear it! " And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." Yes, her fatal alliance with the states, or nations, is denounced as wrath of her fornication; she pretends to be the bride, or church of Christ, and is really the harlot of the nations. But this part is so solemn and so important that God has given us two chapters further on, as to her fall and judgment. (Chaps. xvii., xviii.)

Fourth part, verses 9, 10. It may now be, asked, What will be the doom of those who, worship the beast and his image? Read verses; 10, 11 for the answer to that question. On such the wrath of God will be poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation. " And he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever." It may be said, These are only figures. If they are only figures, what then must be the indescribable -torments thus set forth in the most terrible figures that can be found? Ah, rejecters of the Lamb, you will never forget Him whom you have thus despised! Oh remember, your torments will be forever and ever! You may deny this now, but what will your present denial avail you then? Think of those words: " And they have no rest day nor night who worship the beast and his image." Oh awake! behold the Bridegroom! Tomorrow you may be shut out, and left beneath the Satanic influence of that terrible empire.

Verse 12. Here is additional evidence that -there will be a suffering remnant of saints on earth even then, who, in patience, keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. It is strange that any should find a difficulty here. Were there not suffering saints before the day of Pentecost when the church began? Why, then, may there not be again after the church is caught up to be with the Lord, during the dark hour of this world's trial?

Fifth part, verse 13. What will become of those who die, who are put to cruel deaths by the raging beast, and the man of sin, or whom he causeth to be put to death? Very precious the answer: " Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." Yes; truly blessed are those who will at such a time own Jesus Lord. They may be put to death by this infidel, Satanic empire; but they will rise and be the complement of the first resurrection, and reign with Christ. (Chap. xx. 4.)

The Revelation of Jesus Christ: No. 16 Revelation 14-15

The once rejected and crucified Jesus is now seen sitting upon a white cloud, having on His head a golden crown—the righteous One, to whom all judgment is committed; " And in his hand a sharp The harvest of the earth is now ripe. The wheat and tares are both ripe. It is the end of the age. The tares are gathered and burned in the fire. Then shall the righteous' shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear let him hear, (Matt. 13:40-43.) " And the earth was reaped.' There will be no escape from that sharp sickle.

It is not, however, the gathering of the heavenly saints, but the commencement of the kingdom of God on earth—the judgment of the quick; the gathering out of all that do iniquity, and casting them into the furnace of fire. As to judgment, however, there is still another part.

The seventh part, verse 17 to end. It is the great vintage of the earth. An angel comes from heaven with a sharp sickle. Another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire. 'This points to divine judgment; even as the fire of divine judgment consumed the victim on the altar, the divine wrath of God against sin is now to be fully displayed.

The grapes of the vine of the earth are now fully ripe. The wickedness of men of the earth is at its full growth. This vine of the earth is cast into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city. This takes place at the coming of Christ with all the armies of heaven. " He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." (Rev. 19:15.)

And, further, if we compare this with Isa. 61:2, we see it is the long delayed day of vengeance immediately preceding the setting up of the millennial kingdom in Israel: and through them blessing to the Gentiles. Then if we read Isa. 62; 63, the city is Jerusalem. " For Zion's sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake will I not rest until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness," &c. Chapter 62. Read carefully the whole chapter.

Then He comes and treads the winepress alone. " For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and. the year of my redeemed is come." The city then is Jerusalem. The carnage of this day of vengeance will fill Palestine: for 200 miles this terrible destruction extends.

This may seem like exaggeration; but it is in. perfect keeping with all the prophets. See what the prophet Joel says will take place in those days (chap. iii.); all nations are to be gathered there. Then will they turn their implements of husbandry into arms of destruction. Yes, that very Jerusalem, over which Jesus wept, and where He was crucified, is the place where the last grapes of human wickedness will fully ripen. "For the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great." (Ver. 13.) This immediately precedes the day of Israel's blessing. The day when the Lord shall dwell in Zion. So we may read in Zeph. 3, how God has determined to gather the nations, to assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them His indignation and all His fierce anger. And this introduces the kingdom on earth. " For THEN will I turn to the people a pure language," &c. And this is clearly at Jerusalem, as may be seen if we read to the end, of the chapter.

Then Eze. 38; 39 show the gathering of Israel's great enemy, Russia, and all the vast empire of the North of Palestine. He says "Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm; thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou and all thy bands, and many people with thee." But the day of vengeance is now come. " Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee."

Thus ends at last what men call the Eastern Question. So vast is the slaughter that " seven months shall the house of Israel be burying them, that they may cleanse the land." (Chap 29:12.) Be careful, then, ye nations, what ye do to God's chosen, He will surely remember your doings in the day of vengeance. When the vine of the earth is cast into the great winepress of the wrath of God, that awful winepress will be trodden outside Jerusalem. It will not be as the last destruction of the city when surrounded by the Romans, fearful as that was; for it says: "And blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand, and six hundred furlongs.” Thus it is in contrast to the destruction of Jerusalem. That is, it is destruction of the vast multitudes gathered against it, so great that they cover the land like a cloud. We learn from Zech. 14 that great numbers of Jews will have been destroys in Jerusalem, and the Lord comes just in time to deliver the city. " And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives." Then, as in every reference to this time of the winepress of the wrath of God, the kingdom is set up. “And the Lord shall be king over all the earth." (Ver, 9.)

CHAPTER 15.

We must not however suppose that the fierceness of the wrath of God will only be poured out on the multitudes gathered in the land given to Israel. Another distinct revelation is now given: John saw a sign, " great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues: for in them is filled up the wrath of God." As usual God gives us the security of the remnant, who get the victory, by being slain, it would appear, in this tribulation. (This new vision, however, is occupied with the time of the beast, or last diabolical empire). They stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. It is a sea of glass mingled with fire: enduring purity, though they have passed through the fire of tribulation. Their song is the joyful praise suited to saved nations. It is the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb—the triumph of judgment over evil. It is also the triumph of the Lamb, the living Lord who only is holy. Faith sees the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven open. This is also very blessed. Whatever may be the state of Satan's kingdom on earth, the testimony of God is secure in heaven.

Verse 6. The seven angels came out of heaven. The judgments about to be poured out are now direct from God. " One of the four living creatures gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials," full of the wrath of God, who liveth forever and ever." This is more terrible than the judgments of the trumpets. None escape the torments of these vials of divine wrath. Yes, men will then feel the wrath of God against sin.

The first vial is poured out upon the earth upon the ordered empire, the men who had the mark of the beast.

The second is poured upon the sea, the nations outside the ordered empire of the beast. Al becomes putrid corruption; all appearance of life is extinguished.

The third is poured out on the rivers and fountains of waters, and they become blood. Every source of blessing becomes utterly corrupt! The angel of the nations declares the righteousness of God in His judgments. Another answers from the altar. Yes, the wrath of God against sin as felt once by the holy Victim laid on the altar, will be the character of that wrath now poured upon those who have finally rejected the mercy to men, proclaimed through His blood. These are the men who have shed the blood of His saints.

The fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun. The supreme power; that is the beast, will burn men with fire. And there is no repentance, men are then utterly given up to judgment. “They repented not to give him glory."

The fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast, &c. What a termination to all the boast of men! Yet this must be so; God has been rejected; Christ has been rejected, and there is no other true light. And now the very throne of the beast, the empire, is full of darkness.' Men will then be in the deepest distress; " They gnawed their tongues for pain." They blaspheme God, and there is no repentance. And these things must shortly come to pass. Poor, careless souls, awake, ere it be forever too late.

"And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates." This seems to be the breaking up of the eastern boundary of the empire. The way is thus open for the Asiatic nations to come on the scene. The awful character of the imitation trinity of iniquity now comes out—the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet, or Antichrist. From them demons proceed, working miracles to gather the nations to the great battle of the great day of God Almighty, They are gathered together like the kings of Canaan in Judg. 5:19.

"And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air." The most awful figures are used to describe this closing vial of divine wrath on rebellious man; such a break up as never had been known amongst men. " And there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men -were upon earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great." The judgment of God on apostate Christendom is now fully revealed; indeed, occupies the next two chapters. " To give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath." And every island fled away. All separate security, and all that seemed fixed and immovable disappears. Men are smitten with heavy and fierce judgments from heaven. The figure is that of a mighty hail-storm.

This is a brief outline of these seven judgments of the seven angels clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. The wickedness of men will then, be punished according to the purity and righteousness of God. Now impurity and wickedness pervade all classes, and all business, and even all governments of this deeply sunken Europe; yea, of the whole world. The Lord knoweth them that are His, and He will surely take them to Himself. But these judgments, according to the holiness and righteousness of God, will surely come to pass. Not a verse in this Revelation shall fail to be accomplished. There may have been foreshadowings of these future judgments; but to endeavor to interpret these awful revelations, as having received their complete fulfillment in past history, is worse than childishness. It can only be attempted by men asleep, as the Lord foretold they would be. While He tarried they all slumbered and slept. Surely it is high time to awake. The last scenes are developing. All is in readiness. There is only just time to awake. Oh! awake, thou that sleepest. Lord, awake us each one.

We desire to avoid all fanciful interpretation of details, but just to call attention to the undoubted facts in this wondrous book made known to the servants of God.

We now approach the most solemn subject that can be brought before the notice of Christendom- that which calls itself the true church; that which is dreaming at this moment of universal conquest; that which will use any means, however diabolical, to accomplish that conquest. How many, with the Bible in their hands, have been dreaming that the Christianity we see around us would extend until it had converted the world. This dream, however, is fast disappearing. Still the solemn question is, What will be the end of Christendom?

May our God, by the Holy Spirit, enable us to understand His answer to that question in the next two chapters.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ: No. 17 Revelation 17

One of the last seven angels is now commissioned to show the character and end of Christendom, called by its true name, " The great harlot that sitteth upon many waters," BABYLON THE GREAT.

The poor, aged, banished apostle of the Lord Jesus could never possibly have had such thoughts of that which then bore the name of the church. We must remember, this is the revelation God gave to him to show to His servants. How could he ever have had such a thought as that the persecuted church should become the great harlot- murderess? Yet such it has been, and such it is, and such it will be, to its sudden and terrible destruction.

Verse 2. The kings of the earth have committed fornication with this religious system -that which should have been the holy, separated spouse of Christ! Alas, how many pens are there ready to defend and boast of this unholy connection of the church with state, or the spiritual fornication of the kings of the earth with this great harlot! The very senses of the inhabitants of the earth have been taken away, as in drunkenness, with this mixture, or fornication, of the church and the world.

Verse 3. Rome is actually revealed as the seat of this great harlot. " And I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy having seven heads and ten horns." These are the well-known symbols of the fourth empire, Rome. We have seen the source of this empire, and its director to be Satan, the dragon in chapter xii.

Two things then are clearly revealed to us here. The harlot sits at Rome where Satan's throne is. This harlot is gorgeously arrayed -assuming the royal colors, decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations, or idolatries. Could words or figures be found to describe more accurately the harlot of Rome, that assumes to be the mother of all churches, and yet is full of idolatry? Whilst these marks are distinctly seen in her history, yet her future will be still more arrogant, when the Roman empire is restored again. For it is the beast that is full of blasphemies, and there she has her seat.

She is Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots, the corrupter of every stream. At that time every religious system in Europe will bear her likeness, and will embrace her abominations. Everything is rapidly preparing. This will be the result when the whole true redeemed church of God has been taken to be forever with the Lord. The whole of mere professing Christendom will become the Babylon thus described. It may be asked, Can it possibly be that all the dissenting bodies will be swallowed up in Rome or Babylon? Possible! why, are not many of these even now, whilst many true Christians are still. amongst them, doing their utmost to hasten on. Rome rule? What will be the blindness when the true saints of God, which form the church as built of Christ, are taken away?

Let us not be deceived, this is the revealed end of boasting Christendom. Ah, she calls herself the church. John saw her to be " The woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus." This filled him with great astonishment, and well it might. Even to us, with the history of all her wickedness before us, is it not amazing that no cruelty or wickedness is too great, if it can only be thought that it is for the good of the church—that is, this great harlot? Hundreds of thousands of God's saints have been murdered by her. Is she not the instigator of fearful crimes in this day? How little men know that she is still the same!

Verse 7, The angel now proceeds to explain the mystery of this woman, and the beast that carrieth her. There is then a mystery. A person might say, This is all imagination. The Roman empire did exist, but it no longer exists. Exactly so. " The beast that thou sawest was, and is not." Can any man deny this? When John wrote this revelation the Roman empire did exist in all its imperial power. A time is revealed when it shall not exist. Has this come to pass or not? That is certainly true, at this moment, it is broken up and does not exist; but shall it exist again? Read on and see " And shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition; and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder," &c. God said it would cease to be it has done so. God says it will rise again under these terrible conditions: it will; and the harlot called the church will sit on it, and its center and place is the S' even-hilled city of Rome. " The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth." The forms of government of Rome are also given: five had passed away, the sixth, the imperial, then existed; another shall come for a short space; and another, yet of the seventh—the eighth.

Verse 12. This is a very important verse. “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast." These ten kings or kingdoms of the fourth, or Roman, empire, are distinctly foretold in Daniel. We read " And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed.... and it shall stand forever." (Dan. 2:44.) Some have held the strange mistake, that the kingdom meant the gospel or the church! The least attention to Rev. 17:12, would have shown this to be impossible. The church had been formed for some fifty or sixty years, and yet these ten kingdoms had not then appeared, neither have they, as there described, ever appeared since that time.

In Dan. 7 the subject is again more fully dwelt upon. Indeed, the awful character of the fourth, or Roman, empire is taken up in its last ten-kingdom form: and, one like the Son of man is seen coming in, the clouds of heaven, to set up the kingdom of God. " Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise,"

Thus in Daniel we learn that the fourth or Roman empire will be in its most terrible character, divided into, or rather composed of, ten kingdoms, immediately before the coining of the Son of man to set up the everlasting kingdom of God. But the objector might say, Then the prophecy of Daniel has failed, for the Roman empire has actually passed away, and is not, does not exist as such; and yet none of these things—that is, the ten kings or kingdoms have appeared; the Son of man has not come with the clouds of heaven, and the kingdom of God has not been given to the restored Jews and set up on earth. Our chapter in Revelation makes all this clear. The beast, or fourth empire, was and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit. It is then, when in its most terribly destructive character, that the ten kings appear, and they give their power and strength unto the beast. They are all of one mind in this matter.

The ten kingdoms of this restored Roman empire make war with the Lamb. But the time has now come for Him to put forth His power, For remember, that it is in the days of these kings that God will set up His kingdom.

Now the question is, What will these ten kingdoms do, as it regards the great harlot of apostate Christendom? At the time when they arise, or form the above alliance, she is sitting on the blasphemous beast. How great and far her baneful influence; yea, " The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and nations, and tongues." But she has now run her course. " And the ten horns which thou sawest upon [or as it should be and] the beast shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled." This is God's revelation of what the apostasy will become, and of her end. Long has she had her seat at Rome. During this century, especially for fifty years, God has, restored the gospel of His grace. And Satan has put forth his wiles to gather as in a net those who had escaped from the dark slavery of Rome. Christendom has rejected the gospel, shuts its eyes and stops its ears, and rushes blindfold back to Rome. And she, on her part, answers already to verse 18: "And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth."

There are but few kingdoms within the bounds of the old Roman empire that are not nominally under the power of Rome and its darkness; who but God knows how much she rules even England. The felt power of" the woman " becomes greater every year. Every feature of that woman is in strongest contrast to the church of God; which not of this world. Her great aim and desire is to reign over the kings of the earth.

How little are men aware of what is about to take place in these lands. But Jesus speaks to us, to all whom the Father bath given to Him: " Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also." (John 14:1-8.) He will not forget this promise. Let us rest in His word with all our souls. This is the next thing, the next event which He presents to faith, This may take place as you read these lines, nay, as they are being written.

And then, assuredly as God has revealed, the fourth or Roman empire will suddenly re-appear as from hell. The false apostate, the great mother of harlots, will be more glorious and blasphemous than ever. She will have her seat upon the beast inspired by Satan. The nations will bear her pride and tyranny no longer, but the ten kingdoms and the beast will throw of all profession of even this apostate Christianity, and burn her with fire. Can we not perceive that everything political and of the world's religion is tending very fast to this same end?

Oh 'Christians, awake! search the scriptures, and see if these things are so. Is it not high time to awake? Lord Jesus, our eyes are up to Thee. " And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Coins. And let him that is athirst come: and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

But we must next look a little further, at the revealed character and doom of Babylon the Great.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ: No. 18 Revelation 18-19

We come now to the fall and judgment of Babylon the Great—the woman that sitteth the seven mountains: the well-known symbol of Rome. An angel came down from heaven to declare her true character and terrible overthrow. Now has there been, and is there, a vast system of idolatry and wickedness, having its seat at Rome, that answers to these fallen characters—a false system of religion that will be the habitation of demons, and the hold of every unclean, foul spirit? And have all nations been intoxicated with this system of wickedness and sought the favor of this woman? And is she connected with all the worldliness and riches of the world?

If our eyes have been opened to know the holy and heavenly character of the true church of Christ as built by Him—not of this world though in it—" Elect, holy, and beloved," the exponent of Christ on earth, then we must at once perceive that that which pretends to be the mother church of all churches answers, not to that which is built by Christ, but in every particular to the woman as here described. This wickedness may be more fully developed as it will be when the true church is gone to be Lord. For centuries she has been the habitation of demons. Where has there been more cruelty than is found in her, Satan using her to put to death the saints of God? What is she doing and plotting to do at this moment? Ah, England, thou hast shut thine eyes to the gospel of the grace of God, and now thou art blinded. The whole power of Romanism is determined to crush thee, and thou knowest it not! But oh, ye Christians that are in her at this moment, what do you think of her lies and despotism, and murders, and plots, and diabolical cruelty? Can you think the idolatry and luxury that characterizes this great Babylon in which you are found is of God? What does God say to you? " Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins."

If you do not come out of her, then remember that you are partakers of her unparalleled iniquities, which will yet increase more and more. " Tier sins have reached up to heaven." Whose sins? The sins of that woman which calls herself the mother church, whose seat is on the seven hills of Rome. Do you hear the voice from heaven, " Come out of her, my people"?

No doubt she will prosper amazingly during the short period of the power of the dragon and the beast. But her overthrow will be sudden and terrible, like a great millstone cast into the midst of the sea.

"And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth." What is said of Cain may be said of her in every case where she has put to death a saint of God. "And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous." (1 John 3:12.) It is not only that this great, idolatrous system is not Christian, but it hates Christianity and seeks to destroy it. And oh, how sad it is to be blinded by Satan and know it not. How soon she will receive her just reward.

Reader, we are close on the very coming of Christ to take His blood-bought church, and apostate Christendom will ripen fast and get ready for her sudden overthrow in judgment. It is a solemn inquiry, Am I helping on Babylon, or in blessed separation from her?

Yes; the ten kings and the beast will destroy her It will be sudden and terrible. Let us not forget the destruction of Christ-rejecting Jerusalem. And is the Babylon of wickedness to go on forever?

CHAPTER XIX.

ALL heaven is moved at the destruction and judgment of this great harlot. Can we wonder at this when we think how God has borne in patience with her wickedness for so many centuries? Now can there be any mistake as to who this great harlot? We are aware of the effort made to deceive Christendom by assuming that this harlot is literal Babylon restored on the Euphrates. But she is not literal Babylon, but MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT." She sits upon the scarlet beast, having seven heads and ten horns; and that in its last, restored, diabolical state. She is intoxicated with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. Her vast influence is over peoples, and nations, and tongues. She is fallen, and her last state is that she becomes the habitation of demons, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. She is in this state when the ten kingdoms of the Roman empire shall be formed and give their power to the beast or head of the empire; then they and the beast shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire—and thus great Babylon shall come into remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. All this is plain revelation.

Now is there anything on earth that answers to this? Is there any great ecclesiastical system that has its seat at the seven-hilled city? Has it fallen, fallen from what it was? Read the epistle of Paul to the church of God in that city. Read every verse, and compare it with that vast system that calls itself the church now, and can anything be found more opposite in doctrine and practice? Whatever you find in Rome is the opposite of Christianity. And what is most remarkable, every feature of MYSTERY-BABYLON is found at this moment in her; not fully -developed, but developing. Soon her sins will have reached up to heaven, and God will remember her iniquities. We are compelled to admit these things are so. May the Lord's people who may be in her, hear the words of God: "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins."

Now since these things are so, can we wonder at the outburst of joy in heaven at her overthrow and judgment? Hear that mighty " voice of much people in heaven saying, Alleluia, salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God: for true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great harlot," &e. Solemn words! "And her smoke rose up forever and ever." Oh poor, intoxicated England, how art thou also ensnared by the great harlot!

Some may be ready to say, How can these things be? How can Christendom come to such a terrible end? We have been expecting that the church would conquer the whole world. Others will say, We expected the gospel, as now preached, would convert the whole world. Still others will say, These things cannot be, for Christ said to Peter, " Thou art Peter [a stone], and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." How, then, can it become a vast system of worldly power, corrupting the earth, and God destroying it by these ten infidel nations? The answer to all these things is this: it is not that which Christ builds, but that apostate mystery of iniquity which man builds and has built. We will look shortly at that which Christ is building.

But, first, what have been the facts? What had that outward profession of Christianity become even before the apostle John departed? Was it not even then the last time, because there were many antichrists and many false prophets? (1 John 2:18; 4:1.) And see what was the state of the seven assemblies in Rev. 2 and iii. Read again the sure inspired words of Paul. (Acts 20:29, SO.) See the awful state of the professing church described in 2 Tim. 3:1-9. Then, again, 2 Pet. 2, the whole chapter. Then read Jude. If we believe these. scriptures, we must admit that the unscriptural doctrine of the conversion, or conquest of the world by the church, is a strange delusion of: Satan to deceive men.

What is the condition of those nations and districts where the church of Christ was first planted? The Mahommedan religion, with its only hope of a paradise of beastly uncleanness, reigns over those very lands. And is the Romanism of the western empire any better? Has Christ built either of these systems of black iniquity? A thousand times No!

Have the words of Christ failed, then? Let that vast multitude gathered in heaven to celebrate the judgment of the great harlot answer as to that which Christ has built. Will you read what they, with a voice like mighty thunderings, say: " Alleluia; for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife bath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white," &c. Paul, writing of this, said: " Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it: that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself glorious, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing." (Eph. 5:25.) What a contrast to Mystery-Babylon! Reader, to which do you belong?

Now in this supreme moment, when the church as the bride or wife of the Lamb is presented to Him glorious, in the brightness of purity, without a spot, then will it be seen that the gates of hell have not prevailed against her. Ah, many of those who compose the church of Christ, have been dragged from their homes, buried for long in dark and loathsome dungeons; and put to cruel torture and shameful death at the orders of the cruel bishops of Babylon the Great. But have these gates of hell prevailed against a single member of the body of Christ? No! not one has perished!

Death cannot separate from the love of God in Christ. But the dead in Christ will have been raised first, and we who may remain until He comes, shall have been changed in a moment, and taken with them to be with the Lord. The gates of hell have not prevailed, the church—the wife of the Lamb—is presented glorious, amid the high alleluias of the great multitude, called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

The four and twenty elders and the four living creatures worship God when Babylon, the great harlot, is judged. And then the bride, separated from the multitudes in heaven, takes her true place as the wife of the Lamb. Thus judgment has begun at the house of God, and apostate Christendom is the first to be destroyed. Then shall it be said, God "bath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand." The figure of marriage is carried out in the blessedness of those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. The bride will have her own peculiar place, though there may be vast numbers of Old Testament saints, and saints saved after the church has been taken during the time of the judgments on the earth, described in this book.

How solemn to think that all these events are at the very door. The various actors and principles are fast developing themselves. Assuredly, reader, we are hastening on to one of these events, either to form part of that Mystery Babylon, or to form part of the church presented glorious to Him for whom we wait. Now to which do you belong at this moment, for the next may be too late? It is in a moment that the living members of Christ will be changed, and then forever be with their Lord. (See 1 Cot, xv. 51; 1 Thess. 4:15-18.)

Let us next inquire what will take place after the destruction of the apostate harlot, and the marriage of the Lamb.