ALONE WITH GOD     

  It has been thought by some that this great conflict took place in the eternal heavens between Beelzebub and Christ; but such a view is very erroneous. To say that the eternal heavens, where purity and holiness reign, was once the scene of war, is preposterous in the extreme. This is to be understood the same as the wonders in heaven. John while in the Spirit saw in vision what took place upon the earth in reality. This great conflict took place in the early morning of the Christian era.

  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 here calls him the archangel—chief or head of the angelic host. We have but to inquire who this is to have the solution. 1 Pet. 3: 21, 22—"Jesus Christ, who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him." "Again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him." Heb. 1:6. Christ then is the archangel, whom Jude terms Michael. Daniel calls Michael " the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people', (Dan. 12: 1). This is a clear prophecy of Christ, whom "God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." Acts 5: 30, 31. We deem the foregoing sufficient to convince any one that Michael is the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, when Michael conquered the dragon, the host of heaven sent up a shout to God, because "the power of his Christ" was manifest (verse 10).

  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 necessarily 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 appellations " old serpent, " " Devil, " and "Satan" must therefore be understood figuratively. The heathen power was called "that old serpent which deceiveth the whole world," from its subtlety against the Christians, and its causing almost the whole then known world as far as was in its power to embrace the absurdities of paganism. From its great opposition to the Christian church, it was called Satan, which is a Hebrew word signifying an adversary. It was also 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, 21. It is a fact that the early Christians called the pagan power the devil; and they rightly named it, for it was the principal agent through which the old fiend deceived the world, and opposed the church of God in primitive days.

  At the ushering in of this gospel dispensation, paganism was the universal religion, with the exception of the Jews—a mere handful of Roman subjects. 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, and his angels (messengers— holy ministry) waged war against this dragon in his high places. Being victorious, Michael proved to the world that heathenism had no right to such a high seat. Christ cast the devil down, and set his own kingdom up instead.

  It is said that "the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not." This refers to the bitter opposition heathen Rome waged against Christianity. "His angels" refer to the advocates and adherents of paganism. Heathenism and Christianity stood in direct opposition. But, thank God, "the great dragon was east out"; Christianity prevailed.

  "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. " 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 intercessions at the throne of grace for the conversion of the heathen world. All this they did at the peril of their lives. Never before in the history of the world was a kingdom established with such conquering power. Never did an army go forth with such weapons of warfare. Rome fought with the sword, cross, fagot, and wild beasts of the earth. The Christians' only weapons were the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. They testified the gospel of Christ wherever they went. The Roman hosts fought with swords of steel, while the Christians fought with the sword of the Spirit. Thank God! "they overcame." When the pagans took a Christian to the stake, and the flames were taking his life away, he testified that the blood of Jesus saved him. The Christians never lifted their hands in rebellion, but submitted calmly to death, testifying to salvation through the blood. The dying testimony of one Christian would often convert a large number of pagans. Thus the blood of the Lamb set forth in testimony slaughtered pagans faster than it was possible to slaughter Christians. The time came when the Christians far outnumbered the pagans, and tile latter threw down their arms and desired admittance into the church. Had not an apostasy taken place, the world would have been swept to God.

  Christianity prevailed. That stone smote the image and broke it to pieces. Rome tottered and finally fell, A. D. 476. When Christianity thus prevailed, the hosts of heaven and of earth were heard to shout, "Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ." This is a song of triumph of the Christian church over heathen idolatry, and is very expressive of the great joy of the Christians upon this most stupendous event. John heard this in heaven, but in reality it took place upon earth.

  This great rejoicing of the early church was because the "accuser of the brethren" was cast down, who accused them day and night. Whenever famine, pestilence, or any other calamity befell the pagans, they blamed the Christians. If a fire broke out in their city, the responsibility was laid on the Christians, and they were slaughtered by the thousand. No wonder there was a shout of joy when that power was broken.

  I quote from Buller's Ecclesiastical History, page 40: " The final victory of Christianity over heathenism and Judaism and the mixed empire of the ancient world, a victory gained without physical force by the marvelous power of faith and the perseverance of faith and love, is one of the sublimes" spectacles of history and one of the strongest evidences of the divinity and tile indestructible life of our holy religion. "

  Tertullian, who wrote about the end of the second century, says in his Apology: "We are a people of yesterday, and yet we have filled every place belonging to you [the pagans]— cities, islands, castles, towns, assemblies, your very camp, your tribes, companies, palace, senate, forum. We leave to you your temples alone. We can count your armies: our numbers in a single province will be greater. We have it in our power, without arms and without rebellion, to fight against you with the weapon of a simple divorce. We can leave you to wage your wars alone. If such a multitude should draw into some remote corner of the world, you doubtless would tremble at your own solitude and ask, 'Of whom are we the govenors?' Your cruelty avails you nothing. . . The faster you mow us down, the more in numbers we grow. The blood of Christians is seed. What you call our obstinacy is an instructor. For who that sees it does not inquire for what we suffer? Who that inquires does not embrace our doctrine? Who that embraces it is not ready to give his blood for the fullness of God's grace ? "

  It is further said that when the dragon found himself east out " he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child." This refers to the pagan persecutions. When Rome saw her religion crumbling under the increasing light of Christianity, she tried to save herself by slaughtering the Christians; but where one saint sealed his testimony with his blood, ten took his place. Watch fires were kindled in every land, and finally Rome went to pieces.

  "And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent." Rev. 12:14. This wilderness is the same as that of verse 6, which refers to the great apostasy of the church.

  This same great conflict and victory of the church over paganism is brought to view in Revelation 20: "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. " Verses 1-3. This scripture, no doubt, has been more speculated upon than any other in the Bible. It is used as a foundation for all the multiplied absurdities and diversities of false doctrines respecting a fancied millennium future.

  In order to prop up a corrupt theory, many men and women will, in their blind zeal, set aside the plain testimony of New Testament scripture and literalize this text. But no such thing is hinted at as a future literal reign upon earth. If the reader will closely compare Rev. 20:1-3 with Rev. 12:7,11, he will observe that the same event is referred to in both passages. The angel is a symbol of the host of Christians, especially the ministers. They possess the keys of the kingdom and have power to bind and loose, to lock and unlock. At most, this angel's having the keys of the pit symbolize its power and authority. As the ministers stand for the whole church, this angel that came down from heaven is Christianity in her virgin purity. Christianity came from heaven; paganism came from hell. So in this symbol we have these two powers brought face to face in awful conflict.

  The language of this text is highly figurative. The dragon here referred to is the same as that in Revelation 12; namely, pagan Rome. There is but one dragon brought to view in the hook of Revelation—the dragon with seven heads and ten horns (12: 3). That dragon represents Rome under tile pagan religion. The appellations "Devil" and "Satan" are applied to this hellish power both in Revelation 12 and 20. We have before observed why these terms were applied to paganism—because its religion was purely of devilish origin, and because it was the chief instrument through which the devil deceived the whole then known world. When this power ruled the earth, and its religion was universal, Christianity, like an angel of mercy from heaven, came to earth and established a kingdom of righteousness and peace in direct opposition to the dragon power of paganism. With the great chain of gospel truth Christianity bound the dragon and hurled it from its lofty position to the great abyss from which it emanated. After paganism under the Roman power had been cast down by Christianity, it no longer deceived the nations. During the dark days that followed the morning light age of the church, the nations were deceived by another power— a corrupt and hellish religion labeled Christian, symbolized by a beast.

  The one thousand years signify the long period of time when paganism as a religion was largely extinct.

  "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them. " Rev. 20: 4. John saw this after the angel came down and while he was binding the dragon. Like Rev. 12:10, this refers to the triumph of the early church over heathen darkness; the glory of Christ's kingdom before the apostasy. Through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit multitudes were raised up from a dead state in sin to life in Christ. This great host tells quickened into life in the clear morning of the Christian era composed the first great spiritual resurrection. Through full salvation they were made kings and priests unto God; and, sitting upon thrones of love, they reigned " in life" over sin, Satan, and disease. Judgment was given to them. This refers to the righteous judgments of God which filled the early church.

  Thus, in brief, we trace the church through her first great conflict with ecclesiastical powers, and behold her sweep onward with triumph over all her foes. As we follow her to the end of the world, we give a his cry of events which should awaken a deep interest in the minds and hearts of all.

  "No one takes much interest in the history of the world before the coming of Christ. The old dynasties of Babylon, Media, Assyria, are but dim specters lost in the remoteness of the long forgotten past. Though the Christian lingers with solemn pleasure over the faintly revealed scenes of patriarchal life, still he feels but little personal interest in the gorgeous empires which rise and disappear before him in those remote times, in spectral visions, like the genii of an Arabian tale. Thebes, Palmyra; Nineveh—palatial mansions once dined their streets, and pride and opulence thronged their dwellings: but their ruins have faded away, their rocky sepulchers are swept clean by the winds of centuries: and none but a few antiquarians now care to know of their property and adversity, of their pristine grandeur and their present decay.

  " All this is changed since the coming of Christ. Nineteen centuries ago a babe was born in the stable of an inn, in the Roman province of Judea. The life of that babe has stamped a new impress upon the history of the world. When the child Jesus was born, all the then known nations of the earth were in subjection to one government—that of Rome. The Atlantic Ocean was an unexplored sea, whose depths no mariner ever ventured to penetrate. The Indias had but a shadowy and almost fabulous existence. Rumor said, that over the wild, unexplored wastes of interior Asia, fierce tribes wandered, sweeping to and fro, like demons of darkness; and marvelous stories were told of their monstrous aspect and fiend like ferocity. The Mediterranean Sea, then the largest body of water really known upon the globe, was but a Roman lake. It was the central portion of the Roman empire. Around its shores were clustered the thronged provinces and the majestic cities which gave Rome celebrity above all previous dynasties, and which invested the empire of the Caesars with fame that no modern kingdom, empire, or republic, has been able to eclipse.

  " A few years before the birth of Christ, Julius Caesar perished in the senate chamber at Rome, pierced by the daggers of Brutus and other assassins. At the great victory of Pharsalia, Caesar had struck down his only rival, Pompey, and had concentrated the power of the world in his single hand. His nephew, Octavius, the second Caesar, surnamed Augustus, or the August, was, at the time Jesus was born, the monarch of the world. Notwithstanding a few nominal restraints, he was an absolute sovereign, without any constitutional checks. It is not too much to say that his power was unlimited. He could do what he pleased with the property, liberty, and the life of every man, woman, and child of more than three hundred millions, composing the Roman empire. Such power no mortal had ever swayed before. Little did this Roman emperor imagine, as he sat enthroned in his gorgeous palace upon the Capitoline Hill, that a babe slumbering in a manger at Bethlehem, an obscure hamlet in the remote province of Syria, and whose infant wailings perhaps blended the bleating of the goats or the lowing of the kine, was to establish an empire, before which all the power of the Caesars was to dwindle into insignificance.

  " But so it was, Jesus the babe of Bethlehem, has become, beyond all others, whether philosophers, warriors, or kings, the most conspicuous being who ever trod this globe. Before the name of Jesus of Nazareth all others fade away. Uneducated, he has introduced principles which have overthrown the proudest system of ancient philosophy. By the utterance of a few words, all of which can be written on half a dozen pages, he has demolished all the pagan systems which, pride and passion and power had then enthroned. The Roman gods and goddesses—Jupiter, Juno, Venus, Bacchus, Diana—have fled before the approach of the religion of Jesus, as fabled specters vanish before the dawn. Jesus, the 'Son of man' and 'Son of God,' has introduced a system of religion so comprehensive, that it is adapted to every conceivable situation in life; so simple, that the most unlearned, and even children, can comprehend it. This babe of Bethlehem, whose words were so few, whose brief life was so soon ended, and whose sacrificial death upon the cross was so wonderful, though dead, still lives and reigns in this world—a monarch more influential than any other, or all other sovereigns upon the globe. His empire has advanced majestically, with ever increasing power, down the path of eighteen centuries.

  "The Caesars have perished, and their palaces are in ruins. The empire of Charlemagne has risen, like one of those gorgeous clouds we often admire, brilliant with the radiance of the setting sun; and like that cloud, it has vanished forever. Charles V has marshaled the armies of Europe around his throne, and has almost rivaled the Caesars in the majesty of his sway; and, like a dream, the vision of his universal empire has fled. But the kingdom of Jesus has survived all these wrecks of empires. Without a palace or a court; without a bayonet or a saber; without any emoluments of rank or wealth or power offered by Jesus to his subjects, his kingdom has advanced steadily, resistlessly, increasing in strength every hour, crushing all opposition, triumphing over all time's changes; so that, at the present moment, the kingdom of Jesus is a stronger kingdom, more potent in all the elements of influence over the human heart, than all other governments of earth.

  " There is not a man upon this globe who would now lay down his life from love for any one of the numerous monarchs of Rome; but there are thousands who would go joyfully to the dungeon or the stake from love for that Jesus who commenced his earthly career in the manger of a country inn, whose whole life was but a scene of poverty and suffering, and who finally perished upon the cross in the endurance of a cruel death with malefactors.

  "As this child, from the period of whose birth time itself is now dated, was passing through the season of infancy and childhood, naval fleets swept the Mediterranean Sea, and Roman legions trampled bloodily over subjugated provinces. There were conflagrations of cities, ravages of fields, fierce battles slaughter, misery, and death. Nearly all these events are now forgotten; but the name of Jesus of Nazareth grows more lustrous as the ages roll on. "— Abbott's History of Christianity.