Throughout the book of Revelation there
are three Antichrist religions spoken of. These are symbolized
by a "dragon," a "beast," and "his
image," or "the false prophet." They are: the
Pagan, symbolized by the "dragon ;" the Papal,
symbolized by "the beast ;" and the Protestant,
symbolized by the "image" or "false
prophet." These religions have always been antagonistic
to the true church of God. "And there appeared a great
wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon
under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars; and
she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to
be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and
behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns,
and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third
part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth:
and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be
delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And
she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations
with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and
to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where
she hath a place prepared of God that they should feed her
there a thousand two hundred and threescore days."—Rev.
12:1-6.
"And there appeared a great wonder
in heaven." By turning to Rev. 4:1, 2 the reader will
observe that John, "in the Spirit," was caught up
into heaven and was shown things that were to transpire upon
the earth. While there, he saw in symbols what would be on the
earth in reality. The woman here described represents the true
church of God—the bride of Christ—in her primitive unity
and purity. She was "clothed with the sun," a
striking emblem of Jesus Christ, the Sun of righteousness, the
light and glory of the church. She was clothed with his light,
purity, and power. The twelve stars in her crown represent the
twelve apostles. Her travail in birth, and pain to be
delivered, represent the earnest labor of the apostolic church
for the salvation of the world. The fruit of matrimony is
offspring. The church sustains the same relation to Christ
that a wife does to her husband: and like a true companion she
joined heart and soul with him in the great cause which drew
him to earth. Thus the whole church is a unit made up of
"workers together with God" in the salvation of lost
souls. Both "the Spirit and the bride say, Come."
"As soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her
children."—Isa. 66:8. She "is the mother of us
all."—Gal. 4:26. It is said that she "brought
forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of
iron." This man child stands for the great and mighty
host of children who were brought forth by the pristine
church, just as the man of sin in 2 Thess. 2 stands for the
great apostasy. This child was to rule all nations with a rod
of iron. This is the fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy
concerning the church, that "the saints of the Most High
shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even
forever and ever."—Dan. 7:18. The Lord himself applies
the foregoing language to his people, in Rev. 2:26,
27—"He that overcometh . . . to him will I give power
over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of
iron." Thank God, they overcame; yea were "more than
conquerors."
But it is said that John saw another
wonder in heaven —a great red dragon, having seven heads and
ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads." This dragon
represents Rome under the Pagan religion. The seven heads
represent the seven supreme forms of government which the
Roman Empire had which were as follows: the regal power, the
dictatorship, the decemvirate, the consular, the triumvirate,
the imperial, and the patriciate. The angel said to John:
"Five are fallen, and one is [The sixth head, or that
which existed in John's time, was the imperial power of the
heathen Caesars.], and the other is not yet come."
—Rev. 17:9, 10. The ten horns of the dragon represent the
ten kingdoms which grew out of the Roman empire. An exposition
of these has been given in the preceding chapter. The
"tail" of the dragon signifies the latter end of his
reign. The casting down of the stars doubtless refers to the
thousands of bright luminaries who were martyred during the
reign of Paganism; for it is said that the dragon stood before
the woman to devour her child as soon as it was born. This
alludes to the bloody persecutions of Pagan Rome, which
terminated near the end of the third century. But as fast as
they were daughtered, the souls of the martyrs ascended to
Paradise, or, as the Revelator saw it, the child was caught up
unto God, and to his throne. Immediately following this, it is
said that "the woman fled into the wilderness." This
'wilderness" signifies the great apostasy into which the
church went. It is a fact that the apostasy rapidly developed
at the end of the Pagan persecutions. The Papacy was
substantially set up about A. D. 270. Every history of the
church records a rapid decline in all the virtues of the same
at that time. The woman, or church, was to remain in this
wilderness "a thousand two hundred and threescore
days." This is not to be understood in a literal sense;
for 1260 natural days would be but three years and a half. In
scripture a day is frequently used to signify a year. In Gen.
29 we read of Jacob serving Laban seven years for Rachel. And
when the time was fulfilled, Laban gave him Leah, Rachel's
older sister, instead. This displeased Jacob; for he loved
Rachel. "And Laban said, It must not be so done in our
country, to give the younger before the first-born. Fulfill
her week, and we will give this also for the service which
thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. And Jacob did
so, and fulfilled her week; and he gave him Rachel his
daughter to wife also."—Verses 26-28. Here the reader
will observe that seven years are called "a week."
"After the number of the days in which ye searched the
land, even forty days, each day for a year, . . . even forty
years."—Num. 14 :34.
I have appointed thee each day for a
year."—Ezek. 4:6. Applying this rule, the 1260 days
represent 1260 years. As before stated the Papacy was
substantially set up about A. D. 270. Counting forward 1260
years brings us to A. D. 1530, when the first Protestant creed
was formed—the Augsburgh Contession—in Germany. It is also
a fact that about that time the Reformation was rapidly
spreading, and thousands of people dropped the doctrines of
the Papacy for the truths advocated by the reformers. Thus
after twelve hundred and sixty long years in the dark
wilderness of Popery, the church comes out into clearer light.
This is one description. Again we are taken over the same
ground.
"And there was war in heaven:
Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the
dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was
their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was
cast out, 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. And I heard a loud voice
saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the
kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the
accuser of our brethren is cast down which accused them before
our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of
the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved
not their lives unto the death.... And when the dragon saw
that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which
brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two
wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the
wilderness, unto her place, where she is nourished for a time,
and times, and half a time, from the face of the
serpent."—Verses 7-14. Some teachers assert that his
war took place in the eternal heavens, the place of God's
throne. They say this is the true origin of Beelzebub. Such is
preposterous in the extreme. The "war in heaven" is
to be understood the same way as the wonders which appeared in
heaven. Verses 1 and 3, namely, John while in the Spirit (Rev.
4:1, 2) saw in vision and symbols what took place on the earth
in reality.
But who is Michael ? "Yet Michael
the archangel, when contending with the devil, he disputed
about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing
accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee."—Jude 9.
Jude calls him the archangel—chief or head of the angelic
host. This in a sense is true of Christ. See Heb. 1 3-6; 1
Pet. 3:22. But Jude further states that Michael, when
contending with the devil, said, "The Lord rebuke
thee." This contention is recorded in Zech. 3 1, 2. We
will give it as rendered in the Septuagint Version. "And
the Lord showed me Jesus the High Priest standing before the
angel the Lord, and the devil stood on his right hand to
resist him. And the Lord said to the devil, The Lord rebuke
thee, O devil." This is clear. Michael is Jesus—the
Lord. Daniel calls Michael "the great prince which
standeth for the children of thy people."—Dan. 12:1.
Hear the fulfillment of this prophecy:
"The God of our fathers hath raised up Jesus, whom ye
slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right
hand l to be a prince and a Savior for to give repentance to
Israel, and forgiveness of sins."—Acts 5:30, 31.
Further proof is not necessary. Michael is the Lord Jesus
Christ. As before proved, the dragon represents Paganism, or
Rome under the Pagan religion. Now, if by the dragon be meant
Beelzebub himself, then we are led to the conclusion that the
great apostate Spirit is a monster having seven heads and ten
horns, and also that he has a tail, with which he drags after
him the third part of the stars of heaven. God never created
such an angel, nor can it be proved that Satan now has such an
appearance. The appelations "old serpent,"
"devil," and "Satan" must, therefore, l
understood figuratively. Paganism is called "the
devil," because its religion was purely of devilish
origin. Paul says that "the things which the Gentiles
[heathen nations] sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils.... and
I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye can
not drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of
devils."—1 Cor. 10:20, l 1. It is called
"Satan," which is a Hebrew word signifying n
adversary, from its great opposition to and persecution of the
Christian church. It is also called "that old serpent
which deceiveth the whole world, from its subtlety against the
Christians, and its causing the whole Roman world, as far as
it was in its power, to embrace the absurdities of Pagnism. At
the ushering in of this gospel dispensation, Paganism was the
universal religion. Even the Jews as a nation had accepted it;
forsaking the God of their fathers, they were worshiping
idols. Rome held universal sway. Paganism held the highest
position on earth when Christ appeared to save the world. But
he who is called Michael, because he is like God, he and his
angels (messengers—ministry) waged war against this dragon
in his high places. Being victorious he proved to the world
that Pag anism had no right to such a high seat. Therefore
Christ cast him down, and set up his kingdom instead.
It is said that "the dragon fought
[opposed Christianity] and his angels [Paganism's adherents,
messengers or advocates], and prevailed not [were not able to
conquer that kingdom which 'broke in pieces' and 'consumed all
others ]; neither was their place found any more in heaven
[Paganism no longer held the highest throne of honor.]: and
the great dragon was cast out [Christianity prevailed.] ...
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven Now is come
salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the
power of his Christ." This represents the glorious
triumph of the gospel over heathen darkness in the beginning
of the Christian era, the victory Christianity obtained over
Paganism, a song Or triumph of the church of God over heathen
idolatry. "And they overcame him by the blood of the
Lamb; ... and they loved not their lives unto death."
Here is given the reason why the followers of Christ prevailed
at this time against all their adversaries. It was because
they fought against the dragon in the armor of God. "They
overcame him by the blood of the Lamb," by proclaiming
salvation to sinners through Christ crucified, and by their
continual inter cessions at the throne of grace for the
conversion of the heathen world. All this they did at the
peril of their lives.
It is further said that when the dragon
saw he we, cast down, "he persecuted the woman which
brought forth the man child." This refers to the Pagan
persecutions against the church. When Rome saw her religion
crumbling and falling before the increasing light of the
gospel which was rapidly filling the earth, she tried to save
herself by slaughtering the Christians; but this only
increased the work of God, and watchfires were kindled in
every land. The then known world was being rapidly girdled
with salvation, which caused heathen Rome finally to totter
and fall. Next the woman fled into the wilderness "for a
time, and times, and half a time." This wilderness is the
same as that spoken of in Ver. 6, which was before proved to
signify the great apostasy. In Ver, 6 it is said that the
woman remained in the wilderness "a thousand two hundred
and threescore days," which, as before proved, signifies
1260 years. Here it is said she remained for "a time, and
times, and half a time," or three and one-half times. A
time signifies a year. See Dan. 4:23, 25. Three and one-half
times, then, equal three and one-half years, or forty-two
months: and counting thirty days to the month according to the
Jewish calendar we have 1260 days, or years. It is further
said that "the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went
to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the
commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus
Christ." —Ver. 17. "The remnant of her seed"
refers to the few who faithfully stood for the truth down
through the dark ages. The dragon, being conquered (cast down)
and his power broken by Christianity, became wroth at the
woman, or church, and through his son—the
"beast"—made war against the remnant of her seed.
"And I stood upon the sand of the
sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven
heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon
his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was
like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear,
and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him
his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of
his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound
was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And
they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast:
and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the
beast? Who is able to make war with him? And there was given
unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and
power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And
he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his
name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And
it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to
overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and
tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall
worship him, whose nanes are not written in the book of life
of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the
world."—Rev. 13:1-8. This beast represents the Papacy.
It will be seen that the beast resembles the old dragon in
some respects. The dragon had ten horns, so had the beast.
These horns are the same. As before observed, they represent
the ten kingdoms that grew out of he Roman empire. But how
could the ten kingdoms of Pagan Rome serve as the horns of
Papal Rome? Answer: These gave their "power and strength
to the beast." See Rev. 17 :12, 13, 17. Thus the dragon
gave to the beast his power. By the removal of the seat of
Pagan government from Rome to Constantinople, leaving Rome in
the hands of Popery, the dragon gave the beast his seat, and
great authority.
It is said that all the world wondered
after the beast. This refers to the universality of the domain
of the Papacy. "And they worshipped the dragon which gave
power unto the beast." Papal Rome has many rites which
she borrowed from Pagan Rome. Among others, doing penance, use
of holy water, so prominent in Papal worship, worshipping
images, etc. Roman Catholics in observing these things simply
worship the old dragon—Paganism. The prophecy that there was
given him a mouth speaking great things was fulfilled in the
uttering of the following great blasphemies by the mouth of
the Pope of Rome: "I am King of kings, and Lord of lords;
holy father; vicegerent of the Son of God. I am infallible. I
have power to forgive sins; to release from purgatory; to damn
and to save." "And it was given unto him to make war
with the saints, and to overcome them." This was
fulfilled in the great persecutions of the "dark
ages."
The forty-two months that the beast was
to reign, counting thirty days to the month, are equal to 1260
days. This, counting a day for a year (Ezek. 4:6), equals 1260
years. As before observed, the 1260 years extend to 1530, when
the first Protestant creed was formed. "And I beheld
another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns
like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all
the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth
and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast whose
deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that
he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight
of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the
means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight
l of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that
they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by
the sword and did live. And he had power to give life unto the
image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both
speak and cause that as many as would not worship the image of
the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and
great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in
their right hand, or in their forehead: and that no man might
buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the
beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that
hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is
the number of a man; and his number is six hundred threescore
and six."—Rev. 13:11-18.
This second beast which arose and
exercised all the power of the first beast (Popery) before
him, represents Protestantism. Just as Popery exercised
universal authority, so does Protestantism today. This is in
reality a Protestant world. The two horns of this beast, like
the ten horns of the first beast, must be two temporal powers
which have stood back of Protestantism. These are Egland and
Germany. Their being lamb-like signifies tolerance of these
nations. This beast came up out the earth. All Protestant
sects are earth-born. Not one of them is of divine origin.
"And he spake as a dragon." Some of the dregs of
Paganism can even be traced into Protestantism. The causing
the people to worship the first beast (Popery) is fulfilled by
the Protestant sects adopting in their creeds many rites and
doctrines of the Papacy. By observing these, Protestant people
worship Popery. Among other things that Protestants have
brought out of Catholicism are: Sprinkling for baptism; infant
damnation unless baptized; water baptism for the forgiveness
of past sins; all outside the pales of the church ( ?) are
lost. The coming down of fire from heaven has been fulfilled
in the different spiritual reformations that took place during
the reign of Protestantism, when torrents of Holy Spirit fire
fell upon the people. After the fire it is said that the
people became deceived, and made "an image to the beast
[Papacy], which had the wound by the sword [Note.—This wound
was inflicted by the Reformation when the temporal power of
the Pope was broken.] and did live."
Beloved, here is the truth of the
foregoing. The Reformation under Luther was spiritual.
Watch-fires were kindled throughout Germany and other European
countries until thousands who had been bound in Papal darkness
were made free in Christ. The blessings of God rested upon the
labors of those early reformers. But in time many of them
became exalted because God was favoring and prospering them;
so they came together and organized a sect, which was simply
an image to the old Papal beast. The result was an immediate
decline in spirituality. Thus it was in the Wesleyan
reformation. For almost fifty years the world shook under
their labors. Torrents of the Holy Spirit fire fell in their
meetings. But after a while they organized and made an image
to the beast. As soon as they did this their power and
spirituality began to decline. The various branches of
Methodism today are spiritually dead. When the pure word is
presented to them, showing that in order to be clear they must
separate from formality and confusion and stand complete in
Christ, they begin to argue in favor of their religion on the
grounds that God did in the past work among them. As one
writer states it, "Why don't they boast of what
Protestantism is today? Alas! They are ashamed of it. Or at
least they ought to be." So it has been clear down
through the ages of Protestantism. Time and again men would
receive an increase of light upon some point of scripture and
start a spiritual reformation. But as soon as they would
receive a following, instead of abiding alone in Christ, they
would organize a sect—an image to the beast. This was always
followed by spiritual dearth. History records the fact that
some of these Protestant sects became persecuting powers and
even put to death those who would not submit to their
doctrines.
It might be asked, How can the second
beast apply to Protestantism and the image be made to apply to
the same thing? In Rev. 13:1-8 Papal Rome is symbolized by a
beast having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads the
names of blasphemy. In Rev. 17:3 we have the same beast, but
this time a woman upon it. What is said of the beast is said
of the woman. Rev. 13 :7, 17:6 18:24. The woman represents the
Roman Catholic sect while the beast represents the power of
Roman Catholicism, or the Papacy. So with the second beast and
the "image" to the first beast. The second beast
represents Protestantism as a whole, or the religion of
Protestantism, while the "image" represents the sect
institution.
The mark in the forehead signifies the
sectarian education and teaching which inculcates the
doctrines of the various sects in the minds of their
adherents. The mark in the right hand may signify the
receiving of members into the sect. The number 666 applies to
the number of sects that were to make up Protestantism. This
is not to be understood strictly in a literal sense, but
symbolically. Protestantism is elsewhere called "the
false prophet." Compare Rev. 19:20 with Rev. 13:14. We
have been as brief as possible on this chapter.
