˜e Revelation - Present Truth Publishers - Home · 2014. 7. 8. · "Behold come quickly" (22: 12)....

�e RevelationChronologically

Arranged

With Chart

Second EditionRevised

Arthur C. Brown

Present Truth Publishers825 Harmony Road • Jackson NJ 08527 • USA

www.presenttruthpublishers.com

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"Behold come q~icklylt (3: 1U.IIBehold come quickly" (22: 7)."Behold come quickly" (22: 12).IIBehold I come quickly" (22:201.

"Come, Lord Jesus. II

Lamb of Cod! Thy faithful promiseSays, "Behold; I quickly come;"

And our hearts, to Thine responsive,Cry, "Come, Lord, and take us home. II

Oh! the rapture that awaits usWhen we meet Thee in the air.

And with Thee ascend in triumph,All Thy deepest joys 10 share.

- J. G. D.

May the Lord be pleased to use this as a helplor clarilication and blessing to His own.

pT':p ~P:',;re~s...en;,;;t,,=1i;;,;ru~th......P,;;;,ub;;;,;l;,;;;is;;;,ho,;;e,;,;rs....'1. j 825 Harmony Road· Jackson NJ 08527 • USA

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INTRODUCTIONThere is no book in the whole Sible which is so

highly commended for our special consideration asthe book 01 Revelation. "Blessed is he that readelh" and "Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings 01the prophecy of this book." (1:3;22:6-20) It is theonly New Teslamenl book of prophecy and judgment.II is the most comprehensive book 01 all the sixtysix. Should we then neglect ii, be unconcerned?Slighling it is the too common tendency 01 our day.Lack 01 heart, lukewarmness is the sure result ofsettling down in the very world on which Cod'sjudgmenls are just about 10 fall. lilt is high time 10awake out of sleep." "How long wilt thou sleep, asluggard? When will thou arise out 01 thy sleep?"

tlprophecy; whereunto ye do well Ihat ye takeheed. as unlo a light Ihal shineth in a dark place.tt

Vain excuses are made to justify this negligencewhile not neglecling our own selfish interests; "lorall seek their own, not the things 01 Jesus Christ."Such is Laodicea. Objections are made to the manyslrange symbols, and Ihe disconnected arrangementof the book; also that these fulure events are concerning others. The lacl is it is addressed to thechurch, lito Ihe seven churches" (verse 41, "to theseven churches ll (verse 11), and lar more 01 it concerns the church than most realize. The Revelationis God's gifl to Christ (1: 11, to shew to us, thechurch, not to hide it Irom us. IlShall I hide IromAbraham the Ihing that I do?" It is also true thai inthe perfect wisdom of God "It is the glory 01 God toconceal a thing; but· the honour 01 kings is 10 searchoul a matter." The diligent searcher will discoverrich treasures. get insight as to jusl what lies aheadaccording to CadIs certainties and be weaned Iromthe world. So Ihis book is 01 great importance to

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the Christian. In the lirst three chapters the churchis on earth; in the next two and until 19: 11 in heaven. The false church is seen and judged in chapters 17 and 18, lollowed by the marriage of thetrue, and then she is displayed with Christ in heavenly glory in chapter 21. Besides all this theworld IS most terrible judgments will be poured outupon Christendom and the Jews and the nations inthe briel space 01 seven years, prior to our Lord'sreign with the church lor one thousand years, chapter 20. So, to dismiss this book as though it is notlor us, displays a sad state 01 soul.

TO SEE CLEARLY THE ORDER

OF EVENTS IS AN IMMENSEHELP TO UNDERSTAND THIS BOOK

In the last half 01' chapter one is presented "the Sonof man" in an entirely new character as a judgewith affections restrained by a golden girdle t engaging Himself with the seven churches and their responsible representatives (the angel cannot mean aclergyman) .

THE SEVEN CHURCHES

In chapters two and three He appraises, warnsand counsels these seven churches, which are alsotypical of the succeeding seven stages of the professing church in its entire course throughout this churchage. II Judgment must begin at the house of God."He tells them at Ephesus how He misses their former love and zeal such as was seen in Acts 4: 32 ,33. The church had fallen. Next, to the Smyrnans,Christ gives strong encouragement in view of theterrible persecutions and death many would soonhave to endure. He then stoutly rebukes Pergamosfor being seduced into alliance with the world whereSatan reigns. Like Balaam's snare of old, Constantine lured the church into settling down in easewith the pagan world! This is followed by Thyatira

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REMARKABLE SEQUENCEFROM CHAPTERS 17 TO 21:8

There is a continual sequence Irom chapter 17to 21: 8 which has been seldom noticed. The harlotrides the beast during the lirst three and a hallyears and then is destroyed in the middle of theweek. Heaven rejoices (18:20) and then again reJOices that the way is clear lor the marriage of theLamb (19:7). The Lord then, at the very end,comes out 01 heaven with His company on whitehorses and deals with the antichrist and the beastwith his armies. He casts Satan into the pit lorone thousand years, after which the martyrs':' areraised (20: 3,4) to reign with the heavenly saints.Alter the thousand years Satan is loosed and rallies his hosts. They are consumed and he is castinto the lake 01 fire. The wicked dead are raisedto be judged at the great white throne and cast intothe lake of lire. The eternal scene of the new heavenand the new earth is briefly described, and this endsthe consecutive order of these four-and-a-third chapters, 17 to 21:8.

Chapter 21: 9 to 22: 5 is a parenthetical enlargement describing the bride the Lamb's wife as theheavenly city having the glory 01 God. It is her administrative reign with Christ for one thousand years.Twelve is the perfect number of administration andis used here twelve times.

':' Martyrs are relerred to in: Lev. 23: 22; Psa. 79:2,3,10; Dan.7:21; Rev.S:9,10 N.T.; 6:9-11; 11:3-12; 12:11; 13:7,15; 14:2; 15:2; 17:8; 18:24;19:2; 20:4 N.T.

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the harvest is ripe; come get you down for thepress is full."

This llharvest of the earth" has nothing to do withthe heavenly harvest of "the first resurrection, ""Gather the wheat into My barn" (Matt.13:30) whichtakes place at the rapture (1 Thes. 4: 17), and laterthe martyred saints of the seventieth week will jointhis heavenly company ( Lev. 23: 22; Rev. 20: 4).Three parties are found in this very importantverse (see N.T.)

[n Matthew 13 "the Son of Man" is the Sower,but in our chapter under consideration He is theReaper with the golden crown. which speaks of Hisreigning and judging in righteousness. "The harvestof the earth is dried" (verse 15 N. T .), "Dried up"(Matt.13:6 N.T.),· "Dried up" (Mark 11: 20),"Dried up" (Luke 8:6 N.T.), liThe dry" (Luke23:30, "Dried up" (John 15:6 N.T.) The heavenly wheat had previously been taken; the tareswere left to be burned. In principle "all things thatoffend" must be removed, "shall be taken" in judgment. "Sever the wicked from among the just.""The wicked shall be cut off from the land" (Prov.2: 22 N. T .) in order that "His throne be establishedin righteousness" (Prov. 25: 5) . This is true bothof the wicked Jews of the vintage as well as theseleft-overs of Christendom in the dried harvest. Instead of having had a heart for Christ as their heavenly portion (2 Thes. 2: 10-12), they minded earthlythings (PhiI.2:21; 3:18,19), "dwell on the earth"(Rev.3:10; 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8,12,14; 14:6;17: 2,8). Here they are overtaken in judgment. Instead of being with "them that dwell in heaven" (13:6)they "shall dwell with everlasting burnings" (Jsa.33:14). Oh! what a solemn truth!

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suffering that lewd woman Jezebel to teach and corrupt by idolatry and illicit intercourse with the world!Here it is not difficult to recognize this monstrousreligious system which has grown out of "the depthsof Satan." Next, Protestant Sardis appears withits vast but dead profession and receives His solemnwarning that He will come upon it as a thief, thesame as He will come in judgment upon the world!Unpretentious Philadelphia receives only the Lordlscommendation because He was their sole delight andblessed hope. His name, His Word and His lovewere precious, filling them with brotherly love. Allthey possessed was devoted to Him and making Himknown. Nevertheless they were warned to "holdfast" to all this their precious portion. Have themost highly privileged with Philadelphian truth doneso?

At the last Christ is outside the door of heartless Laodicea. They had become full of themselves.yet blind to their poverty and end. This is the laststate of the professing church on earth after thePhiladelphian grace and truth had been so richlyenjoyed. Laodicea is Christendom become wholelyleavened and about to be rejected. At this point itis important to see what Laodicea becomes! PapalRomels domineering overtures to gullible lifelessProtestantism are already finding increasing responseto join the great ecumenical union which will become"Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots" (17: 5)."Come out of her, My people" (18:4). Self-pleasing,worldliness. prosperity and ecumenical appeals arethe great snares of our day.

In chapter 4 we see in heaven Godls judicialthrone, His attributes, agents and rights as Creatorabout to judge. Around the throne are seated thechurch with Old Testament saints, where they continue until chapter 19: 11 .

In chapter 5 none save One IS found worthy to

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open the seven-sealed book of judgment. John 5: 22and 27 with 1: 29 refer to this future work of Christ.The elders sing praises to the Lamb that had beenslain, who bought a suffering praying remnant whichwas about to be slain and afterward share in Hisreign. The more faithful translation by Mr. Darbymakes this clear. Verse 13 looks beyond the intervening judgments to Christ's glorious reign.

THE FIRST HALF OF THE WEEK

SIX SEALS

In chapter 6 we have the opening of the six sealsduring the first three and one half years, called "thebeginning of sorrows" in Matt. 24: 8.

First seal. It now appears that Papal Rome,with all her surpassing diplomatic proficiency, willpolitically subjugate, unite, "sit" (17: 3) and controlthe ten powers for the first half of the week, (chap.17: 3 , 7 , 18). "White" suits her pretentions to Christlike motives for peace. A "bow" gives power toher aim. The "crown" is her reward (Greek

,'stephanos ' and not 'diadem' for kingly royalty.) Theabsence of III saw" in the next seal and the term"another" indicate that the first two seals are connected. This is further shown by peace being takenfrom the earth. The crown being not a royal diadem eliminates the thought of describing the RomanBeast or the Antichrist.

Second seal,- Civil warfare provoked by the Roman Beast (Matt. 24: 6 ) •

Third seal, Famine follows.

Fourth seal, Sword, hunger, death and beastsravage.

Fifth seal, Martyrs that have been slain by 8abylon the Great (17: 6; 18: 24; 19: 2), during these first

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of this apostate power will be when the Lord comes asgiven in Rev. 19."

P . W. has held and taught the same for manyyears-that religious Babylon will be destroyed inthe middle of the week and imperial Babylon willlater be destroyed at the end of the week, endingthe "times of the Gentiles" (Oan.2:44,45).

"Two 'Babylons' are to be distinguished inthe Revelation: ecclesiastical Babylon, whichis apostate Christendom, headed up underthe Papacy; and political Babylon, which isthe beast's confederated empire, the lastform of Gentile world-dominion. Ecclesiastical Babylon is Ithe great whore' and isdestroyed by political Babylon (Rev.17: 1518), that the beast may be the alone objectof worship (Rev. 13: 15) . The power ofpolitical Babylon is destroyed by the returnof the Lord in glory. I' (Scofield Bible).

We fully Amen this true statement.

For years it has been observed that those whoare most at home in the Book of Revelation and whohave given the closest attention to solving this difficultproblem of interpretation, have arrived at this sameconclusion.

THE HARVEST AND THE VINTAGEOF CHAPTER 14

At this juncture in connection with "the fiercenessof His wrath" (16:19 and 19:15), we would noticealso 14:19, God's judging the apostate Jews, "thevine of the earth."

In verses 14-16 this same "sharp sickle" is seento be in the hand of "the S on of Man" to reap "theharvest of the earth." The language as to both theharvest and the vine-reaping of the sickle is unmistakably that of Joel 3: 13, "Put ye in the sickle, for

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tiles." E. D. quotes these very words in his "Dan_iel,11 p. 76, and then adds, "The moral feature whichmarked Belshazzar's sovereignty will appear in thet'uture Babylon ... the ruler whose throne was derivedIrom Satan ... he opened his mouth in blasphemyagainst God. II

In William Kelly's Lectures on Isaiah, chapter 14,pp.190-197,357, he says: "The past Babylon issimply a type of the lall of the greater power, itsfinal heir ... The king of Babylon sets forth no otherthan the last head of the beast .•. a type of him whowill wield imperial power against the glory of Godin the last days . .. the strong language that is usedin verses 9-14 (chapter 14) will be fully verified inthe last days and not belore ... Babylon will be smitten in the last holder 01 the beast's power. Babylon,being the beginning 01 the great image 01 Daniel, becomes also the type 01 the last representative 01 imperial power ... Babylon is awaiting its reorganization belore it is dissolved forever. II

Mr. Kelly also clearly shows that this refers toimperial Babylon when he says,. "the judgment 01'Babylon sets t'orth the judgment 01' the world-power in itslast shape. . •• It is under the seventh vial that Babylonis linally judged." (Lectures on Ezra, p. 8)So this is not new 'eaching, and we believe it is the onlyBiblical solution to 'he problem.

H. E. Hayhoe also taught the same that" ReligiousBabylon wiII be destroyed in the middle 01 the week."He writes, "the first prophetic event that will lollowthe rapture 01 the saints, is the woman riding thebeast. Rev. 17: 1-18 ... the martyrs of Rev. 6: 9 ...,11are those martyred under the reign 01 the lalsechurch. The next outstanding prophetic event willbe the 'beast'-the civil power of Rome rising upand destroying this religious power, Rev. 17:16. The beastthen continues 42 months, Rev. 13:5.••. The judgement

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three and one half years, must wait until others areslain lor not worshipping the beast in the last threeand o'ne half years, (13: 15, agreeing with 20: 4 N. T . ':')

Six.h seal, The political chaos and collapse 01civilization cause utter despair as described also inLuke 21:25,26, IIDistress 01 nations with perplexity.... Men's hearts lailing them lor lear, and lor looking alter those things which are coming on the earth."

THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK

In chap'er 7 we have come to the middle 01 theweek when many great changes take place. In thelirst place lithe living God ll in mercy selects out ofall Israel His special servants whom He will preserve alive to be His testimony through the awlul ensuing three and one half years 01 lithe great tribulation " and then enter salely into the kingdom whichthey' have been heralding. (T hen there in the kingdom they will lind the Iruit 01 their preaching, a host01 Gentiles celebrating their deliverance in the newtemple on the earth.)

It is in the middle of the week that Satan will becast out of heaven onto the earth (12; 9). Realizingthat his time is short he will give lull energy to histwo chief instruments. The antichrist will be unmasked (2 Thes. 2: 8), and then employ those whowere lormerly 01 Christendom to make an image 01the Roman Beast and cause all who will not worship the image and the beast and Satan to be killed(13: 14,15 and verse 4.) The other, The Romanbeast, immediately throws off and destroys the re-

ligious woman that had been controlling it during thefirst three and one half years (chapter 17, and especially verse 16). She had become an intoler~ble

encumbrance. Now, with the ten horns lor the first

J . N. Darby's New Translation.

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time crowned (13: 1), the beast. the world IS invinciblewonder I and Satan I become the objects of worshipthroughout the last three and one half years I "fortyand two months" (13: 4 ,5). It is unmistakably evidenttherefore that the woman can no longer be riding thebeast during this black period I the great apostasy ofuniversal blasphemy against God, (verse 6, also 16:9,11,21.)

At this very time Judaism is abolished by the Roman beast breaking his covenant with the Jews andputting an end to their sacrifice. Antichrist cooperates by enforcing the worship of the image, "the abomination of desolation" set up in the temple in Jerusalem (Dan. 9: 27; 12: 11; Matt. 24: 15,) Here inMatthew verse 21 shows that "the great tribulation"(lasting three and one half years) follows.

In this middle of the week we get heaven's threerejoicings: First I that Satan is cast out I (12: 12) ;Second I that the harlot has been judged, (18: 20) ;Third I that the marriage supper of the Lamb commenees, (19: 7) •

THE LAST HALF OF THE WEEK

During this period of "the great tribulation" thereare a number of parenthetic chapters as well astrumpet and vial chapters that will be fulfilled.

The parenthetic chapters are 7 I 10 to 11: 14 and11: 19 to 14: 13. Chapter 7 has been spoken of a-bove.

Chapter 10 (coming between the sixth and seventh trumpets) gives warning that the end is verynear I that there should be "no longer delay" (N.T.)Seven thunders threaten. The Creator as judgestands at the door declaring His universal rightsto reign according to the little book of known prophecy (see Ezek.21:26 , 27). His coming is sweet to

6

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16:19" (???) (p.378).Such was his early view I but this requires religiousBabylon to be destroyed twice! (17:16 and 16:19!)(Mr. Darby's charts are on pages 396-399.)TWENTY -NINE YEARS LATER (1868) he ownshis previous mistakes. (Coli. Writ., Vol. 8, p. 193,footnote. Morrish ed.)

'" have supposed that there were twodestructions of Babylon in the Revelation. But theexamination of the question ... has convinced mcthat if cannot be sustained. . •• The destruction ofBabylon is her destruction. She is u..erly burned,chapter 17:16 and chapter 18:8. The judgmentis identical" (Coil. Writ., Vo1.8, p.410).

To this we say Amen.

In the Synopsis J.N.D. says:liThe ten horns •.. with the beast .•. burn herwith fire ... destroy her ... the actual execution of judgment according to chapter 17: 16.The horns or kingdoms connected with thebeast have destroyed her. II

"The horns and beast ... destroy the woman I orBabylon. This leaves the beast unchecked. . .. Hemust reign without rival ... all must bow down andworship the beast .•• and his image. II. "The humanrise of the beast must be carefully distinguished from itssatanic revival in the midst of the scvcnticth prophetic wcekat the epoch of Satan 's expulsion from heaven." W • S .This is a very profitable obsel.'"vation which has beenrarely seen.

The term "Great Babylon" (used 7 times) is firstfound in Dan.4: 30 I referring to the world empire inconnection with its king Belshazzar vaunting himselfin the next chapter. J . N. D. in Coil. Writ., Vol. 5p. 207 I says: " .. will be the same with the king ofBabylon at the end - open blasphcmy." Also in theSynopsis I "This narrative gives us the last character or the iniquity of the sovereign power of the Gen-

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(Call. Writ., VoI.8, p.28 and p.193 lootnote.)

The only question left is, How about lIBabylon" in16: 19 which is to be destroyed at the end of theweek in connection with the 7th vial? If religious"Babylon" was destroyed in the middle of the weekby the ten-horned beast, she would not exist at theend of the week. This therefore demands our mostcareful consideration.

In 1839 J. N .0. endeavoured to solve but part ofthis problem in Vol. 2 of the Collected Writings. Hesays,

"Satan cast down .•. This is clearly beforethe last three and a half years" (p. 296) •"The abomination of desolation is set up inthe midst of the last week" (p. 296) ."The fall of Babylon ... getting its place in thecourse of events is of great moment, whichis given here ..• for the warning is next given, if any man worship him" (i. e. the beast)(p.349)."The interpretation of this chapter is clearlyof the greatest possible importance" (p. 363)."These ten horns or kings hated her and destroyed all its fulness and power (p.376)."the beast supplanting the woman. The kingslay her waste" (p.371)."power was given him over all kindreds, tonguesand nations ••• the dominant power on the earth"p. 336. "The beast was to continue •.• forty twomonths" "the lasl half of the week" p. 334. (13:5).

With all of this we are agreed, but not with the nextthree statements.

"involving her moral degradation, not destruction" (???) (p.372)."We have the fall of 8abylon distinguished,I think, Irom the destruction of Babylon"(???) (p.377)."Her final judgment we find in .•. chapter

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faith, however bitter the awful judgments.

Chapter 11:1-14. Here at the commencementGod declares His ultimate purpose to have worshippers in Jerusalem where our Lord was crucilied.For three and one half years, "a thousand two hundred and threescore days," He will maintain Histwo special witnesses in the midst of Jerusalem inthe very face of the antichrist, Satan and the wickedJews; alter which they will be killed by the Romanbeast, raised and taken up to heaven in the sight oftheir terrified enemies. (W ill speak of the balanceof the chapter later.)

Chapter 12. Once again, according to God'spurpose, Israel's future glory is anticipated and stated at the outset. Then her luture travail is declaredas coming (Isa. 66: 6,7) , alter Satan's oppositionwhich occurred when Christ was born; then is notedHis ascension. Satan is cast out 01 heaven onto theearth and immediately persecutes Israel. God defeats these efforts, but permits Satan to war againstHis witnessing remnant of the Psalms.

Chapter 13. It is of utmost importance to seethat this chapter actually takes place alter chapters17 and 18. The more this statement is weighed themore certain it becomes evident. The "forty andtwo months" of verse 5 proves that Satan's programof enforced worship of himsell and the Roman beast,backed by the antichrist, will brook no rival. Hehad already made short work of Christendomls harlot and Judaism in the middle of the week.

Chapter 14 contains seven religious subjects. Thefirst gives prominence to Godls purpose concerningthe remnant of Judah, by showing them as blessedwith the Lamb in the coming day in His kingdom onearth. There they sinq in accord with the raisedmartyred remnant then in heaven. T he second proclaims judgment as imminent I that God alone is the

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one to be worshipped. The third shows that thedestruction of religious Babylon preccdes the thrce andonc halt' years of bcast worship. The fourth showsthe eternal punishment of these beast worshippers.The fifth declares the blessedness of the spirits ofthose whose bodies have been killed as the resultof not worshipping the beast. The sixth and seventh are connected with the Lordls coming in judgment and will be considered later in connection withHis coming in wrath.

SIX TRUMPETS

In Chapters 8 and 9 we have six trumpets. (8: 3-5records the Lordls first consideration, the careof His suffering godly remnant of the Psalms intheir darkest hour.) The "third part" (mentioned 12times) is the sphere of the Roman earth.

The First trumpet describes devastation on greatand small, which suggests "fail-out" ruinous effects.

The Second trumpet describes a great power consuming masses of mankind.

The Third trumpet shows us extreme despair asthe result of a great authority depriving the peopleof their usual sources of livelihood. Suicide maybe intimated.

In the Fourth trumpet we see all authorities smitten with Satanic darkness. Three woe-trumpets follow.

The Fifth trumpet differs from the preceding fouras it is limited to the unsealed apostate Jews (in contrast to the godly ones who are sealed in chapter 7)who will be tormented five months by demons andSatanic delusions from the infernal pit.

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must be destroyed before the beast's supremacy canbe asserted. The great tribulation will then followfor all who will not worship the beast."

J . H. McNairn says, "The beast casts off the woman ... before the ... forty and two months." (p.193)

The Word clearly teaches that 17: 8, "shall wonder" anticipates 13: 3, "wondered after the beast."

In Rev .17: 3,7,12,16 the Iiten horns ll are not yetcrowned, but in 13: 1 the ten horns are "crowned."

In 17: 15 the woman has complete control, but in13: 7 ,8 the beast has taken over complete control.

In chapter 17 there is not yet the worship of thebeast nor yet his image made.

In chapter 13 there is no woman riding the beastas there had been in 17: 7 ,18, for the beast destroyed her in verse 16.

In 16: 20 "no mountains were found" (kingdoms),such as existed in 17: 16, to destroy the woman.

In keeping with all this, heavenls three rejoicings,as stated before I occur in the' middle of the week,(12:12;18:20; 19:7.)

The beast martyrs the saints during the last threeand a half years (13: 7 ,15) I whereas the womanmartyrs the saints during the first three· and a halfyears (17:6; 18:24; 20:4 N.T.)

Chapter 14 verse 8 precedes verses 9-11, theworship of the beast during the last forty and twomonths (13: 5).

"Chapter 17 I we are told I is earlier than chapter 13" shows that this was seen as early as 1844,

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It is likewise certain that the beast will have uni...,versal dominion over all during the last half of theweek (ch. 13: 5,7), the harlot no longer existing.

This makes it evident that the harlot's dominionover the beast with its uncrowned horns is duringthe first half of the week (17: 15) .

All our best expositions on the Revelation agreethat the beast of ten horns will throw off its riderand destroy her (17: 16, ending this great religioussystem and its profession of Christianity.) Thismust be to make way for the universal worship ofthe beast (13: 7b supplanting 17: 15,) during the lastIIforty-two months" (13: 5) .

C.S. says, "False Christendom will be destroyedto make way for the still worse thing, the worshipof the beast. II

E . D. says, "With the advent of the antichrist,the 'beast ' is elevated into the supreme object of worship and the Iwoman' ••• will no longer be tolerated. II

H. H. S. says, "This confederacy will ..• eat herup, to advance the kingdom of the beast. II

W. K. says, liThe overthrow of the ecclesiasticalpower is necessary to leave a field unimpeded forthe imperial power to develop itself in its final formof apostasy, blasphemy and rebellion against theLord."

T •B. B. says, liThe fall of Babylon ..• is firstannounced and then the awful doom of those who ••.worship the beast and his image ••. to continue fortytwo months ..• also a new religion has sprung up,the worship of a man and all trace of Christianitymust be obliterated. 11 (pp. 199 and 228)

E. J .T. says, liThe woman who rides the beast

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The Sixth trumpet. Fl'om still further east theAssyrians invade, molest and torment the Romancivilized earth. Here we see the end of modernprogress, "Christianized Gentiles" as washed sowsrolling in the mire. Nothing will rer.:ain to live forbut lusts, witchcraft, murder and worship of demons!In our day we see masses of lifeless church members blind to these Scriptures which so graphicallydescribe their future vile end on earth.

Will mention the seventh trumpet later.

SEVEN VIALS

In Chapter 15:1,5·8 is declared that God's holi-ness must be vindicated by pouring out the sevenvials of His wrath. The area affected is not confined to the Roman earth as it is with the trumpets(except in the case of the fifth.) This is a noticeable dillerence between the trumpets and vials whichin the main run parallel and are somewhat similar.

In Chapter 16 the first vial shows extended subjugation to the Roman beast and the sore anguish ofhis worshippers.

The Second vial extends apostasy over the foreignmasses of mankind.

The Third vial. AU the former sources of satisfaction become God's retribution upon those who hadshed the blood of His saints.

The Fourth vial. Extreme despotic oppression scorches unrepentant men who in turn blaspheme God.

The Fifth vial. Here it is the Roman beast's kingdom so darkened that unrepentant men gnaw theirtongues that blaspheme God, as a foretaste of theblackness of darkness for ever!

The Sixth vial. Here, preparing for the end, we

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see Satanic hosts gathering together the Assyriansand kings of the world with their armies for the waragainst God at Armageddon (19: 11-21) .

Verse 15, "I come as a thief, II is warning inview of the seventh and last vial-the finality of thisseries of judgments. ''It is done," (verse 17) accordswith "should be completed" (10:7); (see 11:15;) "inthem the wrath of God is completed" (15: 1) ; and "theseven plagues ..• completed" (15: 8 N. T . )

Note THESE DISTINCTIONS: the seventhtrumpet includes both the displacement of kingdomsand wrath on the rebellious nations. The seventhvial is the demolition of all civil and imperial governments, whereas Armageddon was open warfare.

WRATH AT CHRIST'S COMING

liThe great day" of "the wrath of the Lamb" sodreaded at the end of chapter 6 is now due, "thatthere should be no longer delay" (10: 6 N. T • ) •

The Seventh bumpet. Going back to chapter 11, vs.15-18, the seventh trumpet presents the last woe asGod's great wrath against His enemies, not only atChrist's coming (19: 15 , 19), but also at the close ofthe thousand years (20: 7-10), and then finally in thegreat-white-throne judgment of the wicked dead onwhom His wrath will abide eternally (20:11-15 andJohn 3: 36) •

The Selenth vial_ brings us to the end of Daniel'sseventieth week, the end of the times of the Gentiles,the end of Gentile world dominion, the end of man'sday. This last seventh vial has to do with the civilworld empire. Verse 19 requires special consideration.

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THE MOST PERPLEXING PROBLEM OF THE BOOK

At this point it is our sincere desire to help ourbeloved brethren on th~ most difficult problem in thebook of Revelation, and that is the term "Babylon" inverse 19. To do so we must give God's Word itssupreme place above the teachings of the best 01men. The best are never wiser than Scripture.May the Lord grant each of our souls to ever welcome faithful correction by the right use of His Wordand to look to Him for help, guidance and understanding. It is good to ever remember that the understanding of " no prophecy of Scripture is had from itsown" isolated statement, but must comport with allelse of God's Word.

WHICH BABYLONTHEN IS REFERRED TO iN REVELATION 16:19'!

The traditional view found in virtually all of ourfinest expositions of the book of Revelation takes itfor granted that "Babylon" in Rev.16:19 refers toreligious "Babylon" of chapter 17, as it seems inconceivable that the Holy Spirit would use the sameidentical term to apply to two entirely different objects. Therefore they see no difficulty to face or tosolve. Nor is it easy for any who have long heldthis view, and who rightly fear being mislead, tolisten to anything else. Others, however, havefound that this view which delays religious Babylon'sdestruction until the end of the week, definitely conflicts with some of the clearest truths of this book.

All agree that Satan is to be cast out onto th~

earth in the middle of the week (chap. 12 ) .

All agree that Judaism will be set aside when thecovenant is broken, sacrifices discontinued and theimage is set up in the middle of the week (Dan.9:27;12:11) .

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