ALONE WITH GOD     

  This exaltation was the work of darkness, He "exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped. " This certainly was fulfilled in popery. The pope, it is said, claimed power to remit the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost—something that neither Christ nor the Father claimed to do. The pope was exalted above every object of adoration; God and Christ were secondary. The pope became the source whence emanated every institution relative to divine worship, all the doctrines of religion, and all rites and ceremonies. He held the highest authority and place in the church, setting himself up as the universal head of the church. He acted as God, taking upon himself God's titles and attributes, and arrogating to himself the authority that belongs to the Most High. The pope claimed infallibility; power to damn and to save. Such titles were conferred upon him as "Vicegerent of the Son of God " "Most Holy Pope," etc. 2 Thess. 2:9, 10 describes this awful reign of deception and darkness, which continued over one thousand years.

  Popery was foretold in the prophecy of Daniel. "Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. And behold another beast, a second, like to a hear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. After this I beheld, and lo, another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. " Dan. 7: 2-8.

  This vision troubled Daniel, so he asked an angel its meaning. The reply was, " These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth." Verse 17. These were the Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Grecian, and Roman kingdoms. The first—the one like a lion—represented Babylon. At first the lion had eagle's wings, denoting the rapidity with which Babylon extended its conquests under Nebuchadnezzar. After a time the wings were plucked, and a man's heart was given to it. It no longer flew like an eagle upon its prey. The boldness and spirit of the lion was gone; a man's heart, weak, timorous, and faint, had taken its place. This was the case during the closing years of its history, when it became enfeebled and effeminate through wealth and luxury.

  The second beast—the one like a bear represented the Medo-Persian kingdom—a kingdom composed of two nationalities. The beast raised itself on one side. This was fulfilled in the Persian division, which came up last and attained the higher eminence, for it   became the controlling power in the kingdom. The three ribs in its mouth may signify the three provinces Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt, which were especially ground down and oppressed by this power. By the overthrow of these provinces, a stimulus was given the Medes and Persians to undertake further conquests. Thus they said, "Arise, devour much flesh."

  The third beast—the one like a leopard—signified the Grecian empire. The four wings upon its back, like the two wings of the first beast, denote rapidity of conquest. The conquests of Grecia under Alexander have no parallel in historic annals for suddenness and rapidity. The four heads of this beast represent the four divisions into which Grecia was split. The Grecian empire maintained its unity little longer than the life of Alexander. Within fifteen years after his brilliant career ended, the kingdom was divided among his four leading generals.

  Concerning the fourth kingdom, Daniel wanted a more explicit explanation. "Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; and of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows." Dan. 7:19, 20. "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 the kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. " Dan. 7: 23, 24.

  This was Rome. She was the fourth universal kingdom which reigned over the world. She devoured, broke in pieces, and crushed the nations with her iron rule. The ten horns are ten kings. These were the ten divided kingdoms which grew out of the Roman empire. Next came up a " little horn. " This was popery. Popery grew out of heathen Rome. Three of the ten were plucked up by this one. These were Heruli, Ostrogoths, and Lombards.

  "And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. " Dan. 7: 25. All this was fulfilled under the reign of popery. Speaking words against the Most High was fulfilled in the great assumptions of the pope. Wearing out the saints was fulfilled in the long period of martyrdom, when millions were slaughtered because they would not accept the doctrines of the papacy. Changing times and laws had a fulfillment when the papists discarded the LXX, the old apostolic Bible, and substituted in its stead the Hebrew version. The original Septuagint Bible makes the world almost two thousand years older than does the modern version.

  This horn—power grew out of paganism. Though clothed in a Christian garb, it was the same persecuting power. Where heathen Rome slaughtered her thousands, Christian ( ?) Rome slaughtered her millions. The reign of this power is limited to "a time and times and the dividing of time. ' This is the exact time the woman was to continue in the wilderness (Rev.12: 14). These must be the same. This time prophecy will be considered in a later chapter.

  "And 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." Rev. 12:17. The dragon, being conquered, cast down, and bound by Christianity, was wroth at the woman, or church. Hence he made war with the remnant of her seed. But this he could not do himself, for his power was broken. He accomplished his purpose, however, through his son " the beast. " A son was born unto this dragon, and he was called "the beast." Through this beast, war was made against the remnant of the seed of the woman—the few who stood true to God during the Dark Ages.

  "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." Rev. 13: 1, 2. It will be seen that the beast resembles his parent, the dragon. The dragon had seven heads (12: 3), so had the beast. The dragon had ten horns, so had the beast. But there was a difference. The dragon had his crowns upon his heads, while the beast had his crowns upon his horns. This beast is popery. Popery is a child of pagan Rome, the dragon. During the reign of the empire the seven heads, or forms of government, were the ruling powers; hence the crowns were upon his heads: but when popery arose, the ten kingdoms were the ruling power—the crowns were upon his horns.

  This beast is identical with that of Rev. 17: 3 and the little horn of Daniel 7. This beast was "like a leopard." A leopard is a spotted animal, a type of sin. This shows that this power was very sinful, and such was popery. His feet were as the feet of a bear. This signifies its crushing power. Its mouth as the mouth of a lion, signifies the devouring nature of the papacy. But where did popery get her power? "And the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority." The ten kingdoms of Rome gave " their power and strength unto the beast" (Rev. 17:13).  lnstead of popery receiving her power from above, she received it from paganism. The seat of pagan government—Rome—became the seat of papal rule.

  "So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. " Verse 3. The solution of this will be given in our exegesis of Rev. 17: 10, 11. The Roman empire had seven heads, or forms of government. The sixth of these was the imperial. This was the form of government under the heathen Caesars. The time came when the hordes of savages from the North swept over the empire and overthrew the imperial government (A. D. 425). It was wounded to death. This lasted about fifty one years, during which time the patriciate ruled the empire. After this the imperial power revived in the form of popery. The wound was healed. Imperial Rome was the same under priestcraft and popery that it was under the Caesars. Under the Caesars it was clothed in heathen garb; under priestcraft, in Christian garb. Thus the beast (popery) constituted the eighth head of Rome and yet was one of the seven. All the world wondered after the beast. Popery swayed universal dominion.

  "And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him ?" Verse 4. This was fulfilled by the continuance of the pagan worship in the papal age. The high priest of the Roman pagans was called their pontiff. It was customary among the pagan Romans to deify their great men after their death and to make images to them and worship them. So also was it customary among the papists to make saints of their great men after their death by canonizing them, and their saints are the same to them as the gods of the pagans were to them. Papists pray to their saints, make images to them, and bow to them as the pagans did to their gods. Papists sprinkle their holy water as the pagans sprinkled their holy water. Papists advocate celibacy as did the pagans. In many other ways Roman Catholics have practised the heathen worship. Thus they have caused the people to worship the dragon.

  "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. " Verses 5, 6. This was fulfilled in popery by the blasphemous claims of the pope, who claims various prerogatives of God. These we have already considered.

  "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 names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. " Rev. 13: 7, 8. This was fulfilled in the great persecutions of the Christians under the reign of popery. Papal Rome glutted herself on the blood that heathen Rome only tasted. It is hardly necessary to refer to the bloody reign of the Dark Ages, for nearly all are well acquainted with the facts. I would simply refer the reader to such histories as Fox's Book of Martyrs, Christian Heroes and Martyrs, Martyr's Mirror, etc. All people worshiped popery except those whose names were in the hook of life. These latter were the ones who suffered martyrdom at her e cruel hands.

  "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. Rut 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. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth." Rev. 11:1-4. This temple, as clearly seen in previous chapters, is the church of God. Those who worship in this temple are God's people. The altar is Christ ( (Heb. 13: 10). The measuring reed is tile Word of God. The holy city also signifies tile church. Almost the same language is found in Luke 21: 24, where the literal city of Jerusalem is meant. It is said that " Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. " Here in Rev. 11: 2 it is said, "And the holy city shall they [the Gentiles] tread under foot forty and two months." The former was to have a literal fulfillment; the latter, a spiritual fulfillment.

  Jerusalem was a type of the church. Its desolating and treading down by the Gentile nations was, and is, a clear type of the great apostasy, which has defiled and trodden under foot the spiritual Jerusalem, the sanctuary of God. The time-limit of this downtrodden condition of the church is " forty and two months." This is the same period already considered in the many time-prophecies that measure the reign of popery. During this same period God says that his two witnesses shall prophesy, clothed in sackcloth. In verse 4 these are called the two candlesticks and two olive trees, standing before the God of the earth. This gives us the key to the prophecy. Zechariah speaks of these in the following words:

  " And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, and said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked and behold a candlestick all of gold with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: and two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of tile bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? T hen the angel that talked with me answered and s aid unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." "Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive-trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive-branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth." Zech. 4:1-6, 11-14.

  Zechariah was one of the prophets who prophesied unto Zerubbabel and the Jews at Jerusalem to build the house of God. These two olive trees, he informs us, " are the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth"; and they are interpreted by the angel to be the Word of the Lord, by the Spirit of the Lord, unto Zerubbabel (verse 6). From this we clearly see that these two witnesses, two anointed ones, two olive trees, signify tire Word and the Spirit of God. The Word of God and the Spirit of God are the special witnesses of the Lord here on the earth. "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in al] the world for a witness unto all nations." Matt. 24: 14. "Search the Scriptures . . . they are they which testify of me." John 6:39. "The Holy Ghost also is a witness." Heb. 10: 15. See also Rom. 8:16; 1 John 5:6. These are the two prophets that have been given unto the church as the vicars of Christ in the world, and through them God has governed tire church in all ages. They governed victoriously before A. D. 270, which is properly termed the morning light age.

  "Then came up the beast, with a man at the head of it claiming to be the vicar of Christ. A contest between the true vicars, the Word and the Spirit, and the false vicar, the pope, followed, which continued 1,260 days. These 1,260 days signify the same 1,260 years of the papal age which lie between 270 and 1530. In this age the Word and Spirit of God never surrendered their vicarship, but there were always found true witnesses of Christ, who were determined to be governed by the Word and Spirit of God, like the saints in the morning light. These the pope was constantly causing to be put to death. This is doubtless what is signified by the sackcloth with which these two prophets were dressed during that age, sackcloth being an emblem of melancholy, distress, and mourning."

  Turning back to Rev. 13: l0 we read: "He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints." Ah! the patience and faith of the saints during that long, bloody night of papal darkness, was that tile very beast power which was leading them into captivity and killing them with the sword would sometime itself go into captivity and suffer death from the sword. Thank God, their prayers were answered and their hopes realized. In the sixteenth century, God began to raise up reformers, such as Huss, MeIanchthon, and Luther, who hurled the awful thunderbolts of heaven against the beast power of popery. Truth, so long crushed, began to arise and triumph in the earth. The Reformation spread rapidly in every direction. Watch fires were kindled throughout all Germany and almost all Europe. Thousands threw off the galling yoke of popery and came out into clearer light. God's kingdom, which was to conquer every opposing power, conquered popery.

  The Reformation spread so rapidly and its power became so great that it east its influence upon the rulers of nations, who turned Protestant. The very rulers and kings that had so long upheld the Catholic sect now turned against her and gave their support to Protestantism. The sword was turned against the beast. There were thirty years of bloody war in Germany. Finally the papal power was broken and the beast sheared of its temporal power. That beast which had ruled the earth for 1,260 long years was left bleeding and wounded, and it has been growing weaker ever since. Thus the prayers of those millions who were slain during its long reign were answered; and the words of God in Rev. 17: 16 were fulfilled, where he says that the very kings and rulers who supported the great harlot "shall hate her, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire."