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I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. # 
 
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 SPIRITUAL PALACE. 
 
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 BY DAVID MITCHELJ.. 
 
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 COLUMBUS: 
 
 JOHN GEARY, SON & CO. 
 PRINTERS. 
 
 1855: 
 
...... 
 
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INTRODUCTION. 
 
 An apology may be thought necessary by some for presum- 
 ing to obtrude a book on the notice of the reading public, and at 
 an age and time, when multitudes of authors are laboring in 
 every department of literature ; and the press is teeming, not 
 only with the productions of thi3 age, but literary caterers are 
 busy in dressing up those of past ages of every description, in 
 every variety of form, endeavoring to adapt them to the capri- 
 cious tastes of the moderns. 
 
 With regard to the following dialogue between myself and 
 son, and the motives which have induced me to publish it, I 
 would beg leave to say, that I am the father of a large family, and 
 have long been an inhabitant of the State of Ohio. Indeed 
 my recollection goes back to the time when this goodly State 
 was only a territory and containing but a few thousand inhabi- 
 tants, and of course I suffered all the privations incident to a 
 border life, and among them and not one of the least was the 
 want of an opportunity for obtaining an education. None but 
 those who lived in those early times and were actors in those 
 scenes, and sufferers by the then existing state of things, can re- 
 alize, what those hardships were which were then endured, and 
 none but an interested spectator, situated as I have been, during 
 a long course of years, can appreciate the changes which have 
 taken place, not only as to facilities for acquiring an education 
 but means for intellectual improvement in all respects. None 
 but such can fully realize the entire change which society has 
 undergone during the time above mentioned, by the employ- 
 ment of steam, and the telegraph and other agents, in com- 
 merce, in manufacture, and in the dispensation of daily intelli- 
 gence over the land. It is distinctly within my recollection when 
 it was considered more of an enterprise to go to Philadelphia, 
 and return in the bridle paths across the mountains, than it is 
 now to make the journey and voyage to San Francisco. Of 
 course, within my recollection, canals, turnpikes and M'Adam- 
 ized roads, have been a novelty, and have now become nearly an 
 absolute idea. 
 
 ■j 
 
 I have also with great satisfaction witnessed remarkable 
 ehanges in the religious world. It was after my arriving at the 
 age of manhood that the first missionaries sailed from this 
 country, and who had made such a remarkable impression on 
 
the heathen world, particularly in the islands of the Pacific, and 
 in connection with missionaries of other countries have accom- 
 plished the same in Hindoostan and China. 
 
 This small volume may be said to embrace two prominent 
 subjects, namely: Spiritual Manifestations, and the prophecies 
 of the bible, particularly those of Daniel, and the book of Reve- 
 lations of St. John, with regard to each of which, I would here 
 offer a few remarks : 
 
 With respect to spiritual manifestations, I will just say in the 
 outset that I have no sympathy with what is called spirit rappings, 
 or those performances got up on the exhibition principle by itin- 
 erate lecturers for money, and as a matter of amusement often 
 for the irreligious and the profane, and who profess to call the 
 spirits of the departed back to this world, often to answer the 
 most trifling questions, and at the same time perhaps holding 
 up the religion of the bible to ridicule. To all such doings I 
 must here enter my hearty dissent, but my views on the subject 
 are that spiritual communications are received in the exercise 
 of faith, and in answer to prayer in such a manner as is agree- 
 able to the will of God, in short, in such communications as the 
 people of God have received in all ages, and many examples of 
 this are to be found in the bible. 
 
 A large portion of this work is devoted to the prophecies. I 
 have for many years endeavored to be a careful reader of the 
 Bible. In this book I have found many prophecies which have 
 been written by different men in different ages, and countries ; 
 and marked with peculiar characteristics, for it is remarkable to 
 what degree they agree upon the same general figures. This is 
 not strange, however, when we take into consideration in what 
 manner the prophecies as well as historical preception, and other 
 portions of the Bible have been written, for we learn from the 
 sacred text "that all scripture is given by the inspiration of God," 
 and the Bible writers were therefore employed only as amanuen- 
 sis by the Holy Spirit, regardless of the age in which they lived, 
 or the language in which they wrote. I have lived to see prophe- 
 cies fulfilled, which were written several thousand years ago ; 
 such particularly as relate to the spread of the gospel, and the 
 present moment is full of promise; for nations, as such, are being 
 converted to Christ, and systems of Paganism heavy with age, 
 are falling before the power of divine truth. Such things 
 strengthen the faith of believers. 
 
 Study and reflection on these subjects have furnished me with 
 a pleasant and profitable employment, during the intervals of 
 business, for many weary hours during past years. I ought per- 
 haps, in justice to myself, to say that what I have written on 
 the subject of prophecy, are my own original views, for I have 
 consulted no commentaries. Not but that we should avail our- 
 selves of all the aids within our reach when studying the word 
 
5 
 
 of God, but it would seem to me in reasoning from the divine 
 goodness, that God in giving a revelation of his mind and will 
 to his creatures, should give it in a form and in substance that 
 will render it intelligible to them, without note or comment, and 
 what is true with regard to revelation as a whole, is equally 
 true with regard to it in all its important parts, the prophecies 
 for instance. I think there can be but little doubt but that any 
 common mind, under the influence of prayer and faith can un- 
 derstand all that is needful to know, with regard even to prophe- 
 cy, though this is generally supposed to be one of the most dif- 
 ficult subjects in the word of God. Their is nothing superfluous 
 in the Bible, not a prophecy in it, but will be litterally fulfilled. 
 Neither law, gospel nor prophecy shall fail in their design, or of 
 a full and perfect accomplishment in their own proper time and 
 places. 
 
 I may perhaps repeat the remark I have made, that I am the 
 father of a family. Several of my children have arrived at ma- 
 ture years, and they, and my friends and acquaintances know 
 that the principles I here profess, of reverence to the Bible, in 
 all its teachings, my duties to God and my fellow men, have ac- 
 tuated me during my life, and I know and fully believe, that all 
 their hopes of eternal life, as well as mine, are based on the 
 word of God, which contains the threatenings of the law, the 
 promises of the gospel and the prophecies respecting the future 
 glories of the church; and I would fain leave my children and 
 friends my views on some of these all important subjects as a 
 legacy, but one that is not subject to the changes, and reverses 
 which often attend the gold and silver, or lands bequeathed to 
 surviving friends. Should my expectations in these respects not 
 be disappointed I shall consider that the labors I have devoted 
 to these subjects have not been in vain. 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
# 
 
A KEY TO THE 
 
 SPIRITUAL PALACE. 
 
 1. Son. Having read and heard much for some time past on 
 the subject of spiritual manifestations in different forms, is it 
 your opinion, father, that spirits can communicate with human 
 beings in this life ? 
 
 Father. I think they can, and for the following reasons : God 
 created mankind with sufficient capacity to accomplish all and 
 every thing which he intended should be their duty, both to him- 
 self and their fellow beings, they being ministering spirits sent 
 forth to minister to the heirs of salvation. It is necessary, there- 
 fore, that they should be endowed with power to fulfil that mis- 
 sion. 
 
 2. Son. Is there any proof in God's word, to show that spirits 
 can communicate with men in this life ? 
 
 Father. We find many accounts in the historical parts of the 
 bible, favoring such a belief. In First Kings, 22d chapter, from 
 the 19th to the 23d verse, inclusive, we find : 
 
 19. And he said, hear thou, therefore* the word of the Lord : I saw the Lord 
 sitting on the throne and all the host of Heaven standing by him on his right 
 hand and on his left. 
 
 20. And the Lord said, Who shall pursuade Ahab that he may go up and fall at 
 Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner and another said on that manner. 
 
 21. And then came forth a spirit and stood before the Lord and said I will per- 
 suade him. 
 
 22. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and 
 1 will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou 
 shall persuade nim and prevail also ; go forth, and do so, 
 
 23. Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lyimg spirit in the mouth of all 
 these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee. 
 
 Again in first Samuel 28th chapter, from the 7th to the 16th 
 verse inclusive : 
 
 7. Then said Saul unto his servants, seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit 
 that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, 
 there is a waman that hath a familiar spirit at En-dor. 
 
 8. And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two 
 men with him, and they came to the woman by night, and he said, I pray thee,, 
 divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name 
 unto thee. 
 
 9. And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, 
 how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards out of the 
 land : wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me te die ? 
 
 10. And Saul sware to her by the Lord, saying. As the Lord liveth, there shall 
 no punishment happen to thee for this thing. 
 
 11. Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, 
 Bring me up Samuel. 
 
 12. And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice ; and the wo- 
 man spake to Saul, saying, Why hj!- 4ved me ? for thou art Saul. 
 
8 
 
 13. And the king said unto her, Be not afraid : for what sawest thou ? And the 
 Woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. 
 
 14. And he said unto her, What form is he of ? And she said, An old man 
 eometh up ; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was 
 Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself, 
 
 15. And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up t 
 And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philestines make war against 
 me, and God is departed from me and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, 
 nor by dreams ; therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto 
 me what I shall no. 
 
 16. Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is 
 departed from thee, and become thine enemy ? 
 
 Then again in the 8th chapter of Daniel, 13th verse : 
 
 13. Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain 
 saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, 
 and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be 
 trodden under foot? 
 
 And in the 10th chapter of Daniel, 16, 17, 18 and 19th verses : 
 
 16. And, behold one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips; then 
 I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, my lord 
 by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. 
 
 "17. For bow can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord ? for as for 
 me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in 
 me. 
 
 18. Then there came agaia and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and 
 he strengthened me. 
 
 19. And said, man greatly beloved, fear not : peace be unto thee, be strong, 
 yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthed, and said, 
 Let my lord speak ; for thou hast strengthened me. 
 
 All these passages speak of information being given of future 
 things, and which had not been revealed until suitable periods of 
 time had elapsed for their revelation, and they are still obscure, 
 but will be more fully revealed as the people of God shall be- 
 come more prepared by general light on these subjects. And 
 it has always been a given fact, that angels have been appoint- 
 ed messengers to make known particular events, and we have 
 the same proof that the spirits of just men have also been em- 
 ployed at different periods in the same employment of making 
 known to men God's mind and will in some particular cases, and 
 we have no reason to doubt but that such events will be more 
 fully made known to mankind by the same agents if properly 
 applied to in the right way. 
 
 3. Son. But why did not God reveal to us in his word the 
 power which he intended to confer on these spirits, and that he 
 would send them on some occasions to communicate with man? 
 
 Father. It was no part of God's intention to reveal this. His 
 plan of revelation was confined to a few facts, and first, he re- 
 vealed to us his own character and power, and how that power 
 had, and would be generally exercised, and that it was unlimited 
 and uncontrollable, both on mind and matter, and that he had 
 brought both into existence by his power ; also, that he had 
 given suitable laws to govern both; also, that his power, and 
 the perfections of his attributes, were meted out to his created 
 beings, in strict justice, according to the relation they bear to 
 
9 
 
 him, he revealed to man his creation in God's image and like- 
 ness ; that is, he was made capable of obeying God and delight- 
 ing therein. And it pleased God to make a covenant with man 
 and to test his obedience, and this with the Fall. God has re- 
 vealed to man, and as God was just and merciful, it was right 
 and proper that he should make known to hi m the way he might 
 still be happy, and the danger he would be in, in case he dis- 
 obeyed or neglected to do the will of his Creator. He was 
 pleased to make a covenant with man, for it had all the elements 
 of a covenant, condition, reward or punishment, and it pleased 
 God to reveal all this to man. And it pleased God to reveal a 
 plan of redemption which would raise man to the highest eleva- 
 tion to which he was capable, and would bring a revenue of glory 
 to God from all intelligent beings, and this God has revealed to 
 man, and given them assurance of their triumph through the 
 seed of the woman, which is Christ. He has made known the way 
 through which man should be raised to this elevated position, 
 through another covenant, of which his son Jesus Christ is the 
 head and the party with whom the fulfilment belonged. He also 
 revealed to man his dut} r to God and his fellow beings, and that 
 this duty should consist in implicit confidence in him, and should 
 be performed with a congenial feeling to his will, as he lias re- 
 vealed it in his word, and that victory over sin and its conse- 
 quences should be achieved through Christ, the head of the cove- 
 nant. This work of grace is carried on principally by his word 
 and spirit, and God says : "His word shall not return unto him 
 void, but shall accomplish that vvhereunto he has sent it," and he 
 employs every dispensation of his providence, to assist in carry- 
 ing forward his grand scheme of benevolence, of free grace, to 
 his people, and he will have it redound to his own glory, and if 
 men will rebel against God they will not be suffered to annoy 
 the righteous, but will be sent to where they will be rewarded 
 according to the demerit of their crime of disobedience. But all 
 men should be employed on God's side in carrying out the great 
 contest which is going on between sin and holiness, and w T ill be 
 on one side or the other. The tenor of these things has been 
 revealed, but God was not under any obligation to make known 
 to man the exact way in which he would employ all his agents 
 in this contest, but merely says of angels and spirits, that they 
 "should be ministering spirits sent forth to minister to the heirs 
 of salvation," and as evil spirits, have in all ages of the world 
 been permitted to be employed in opposition to God, and man's 
 good ; we cannot have a reasonable doubt that good spirits are 
 employed on God's side, and for man's good, and this warfare 
 has aways existed when any great good was to be accomplished. 
 
 4. Son. Why should it become necessary for departed spirits 
 to be employed in communicating with men in this life ? 
 
 Father. In order to answer this question, I must make known 
 
to you something of the nature of God's government. He gov- 
 erns by suitable laws, and by the influence of his spirit. These 
 laws, although not written in Heaven, are nevertheless binding 
 on them, and in place of written law, they are supplied by the 
 influence of his spirit operating on them, as they are spirits of 
 the same nature of God ; but with limited power, such power as 
 God has given and intended should be exercised in carrying out 
 his purposes of grace and benevolence, and in showing forth his 
 glory to intelligent beings. These spirits are necessarily em- 
 ployed in God's service, and he has given them any necessary 
 power to carry out any of his plans of mercy which he may think 
 proper, to have them perform as ministering spirits. Thus you 
 can see that it is most natural and proper that spirits as well as 
 angels should be employed to take part, it being the great con- 
 test, between light and darkness, and is the only question of im- 
 portance compared with ail others ; to it almost all other events 
 are of minor importance. 
 
 5. Son* Where do evil spirits get their power to carry on this 
 opposition ? 
 
 Father. In as much as men are rational beings, God permits 
 evil men and evil spirits to act out their nature in operating on 
 men, influencing them in order to have them choose the good or 
 the evil as they may feel inclined at the time, but always restrain- 
 ing their power so as to leave men to the freedom of choice. 
 
 6. Son. Does God ever make use of bad men and evil spirits 
 to do good ? 
 
 Father. He often makes use of them in doing good to his peo- 
 ple and in advancing his cause But this will not be their mo- 
 tive, for they will always have another object in view, which will 
 be agreeable to their nature, they do not desire the glory of their 
 Creator, yet he will turn it into such a train as to glorify himself, 
 and bring about the good. This was the case in the transaction 
 of the sale of Joseph into Egypt by his brethren ; they did it 
 through envy and evil, intending to put him aut of the way ; but 
 God meant it for good, and in the wickedness of the act of Poti- 
 phar's wife in having Joseph cast into prison, when he was inno- 
 cent, is no less to the point, for had he not been put in prison, he 
 in all probability would not have had the opportunity of inter- 
 preting to the chief baker and the chief butler their dreams . This 
 interpretation was the means to bring him before King Pharoah, 
 and of his advancement to a place in which he could be the in- 
 strument of great good. And in the account of the temptation 
 of Job, we see good brought out of the action of an evil spirit, 
 represented as Satan appearing among the sons of God. 
 
 7. Son. Does God make use of good men and good spirits in 
 a way of permission to do evil ? 
 
 Father. He does make use or permit them to do evil, for good 
 men do not always do right, and if the action is not right it may 
 
11 
 
 do evil, it must neeessarily be by permission ; but it is done 
 either from weakness, ignorance or temptation, and is never 
 done from choice, and when they see or feel the evil they will 
 repent, for the nature of a Christian is not to do evil but good, 
 for he desires to please God in all his actions, and if a good spirit 
 does evil, it must be by permission, and is intended of God for 
 good, and when men do not desire the truth, God suffers the spirit 
 to operate so as to have the prophets prophesy smooth things, 
 so that men may have such prophesy as they wish, but most 
 generally evil spirits are employed in falsehood, as good spirits 
 do not incline to dissemble from the truth, and if they do, it is 
 permitted of God, so that he may bring on just punishment, and 
 thereby bring about a great good. 
 
 8. Son. But how do departed spirits make known their mind, 
 or answer questions put by a third person ? 
 
 Father. They answer by a delighted power, for if they had this 
 power of themselves, they would be doing that which God alone 
 claims to do ; this power comes from God either by permission 
 or by command, the same power being necessary in both cases. 
 
 9. Son. But how do the "mediums" get the answer? 
 
 Father. The influence of the spirit of God operates on the de- 
 parted spirit, and also that of the medium, so as to give the 
 answer either in writing or some other way by the medium. 
 
 10. Son. Are they good spirits that answer ? 
 
 Father. Not always ; there are evil spirits as well as good. 
 
 1 1 . Son. In what way can there be a correct answer obtained? 
 Father. By obtaining from God some good spirits by prayer, 
 
 which he may send, and not one of our own choosing; for if we 
 choose one ourselves, we do not trust to God, but to ourselves, and 
 the spirit of our choice, and if God chooses to permit a spirit to 
 come, he may also permit the spirit to answer incorrectly and 
 with no certainty. 
 
 12. Son. Why do you say there are evil spirits, and that they 
 have liberty to communicate with the living ? 
 
 Father. God in all ages of the world dealt with the human 
 race as rational beings, and by his providence so arranged that 
 good and evil should be set before them, and in carrying out this 
 great scheme of mercy in the plan of redemption through Christ, 
 He permitted the opposition party to act as he did when He per- 
 mitted Satan to appear in the form of a serpent, and tempt our 
 first parents, and as He did the magicians in Pharoah's day, and 
 in many ages of the world, and as He will do until the plan of 
 redemption is fully completed in the final triumph of God's 
 people, and as evil spirits are opposers of the good cause, they 
 must have permission to act as well as good ones. 
 
 13. Son, Is it right to ask a good spirit obtained by prayer any 
 question we chose to ask ? 
 
 Father. No ; it is not right to ?sk any question of a worldly 
 
12 
 
 nature, if we do the spirit will not be permitted to answer us 
 correctly. We should confine ourselves to the rule God himself 
 observed in giving inspiration ; but anything which we desire to 
 know in order to be made better or wiser in relation to our duty 
 to God or to mankind ; or anything in explanation of his word 
 which would be of practical use to us. I suppose we might in- 
 quire of the Lord by a spirit, anything of a moral nature, or any- 
 thing which would be right to ask in prayer; you will observe 
 that God revealed spiritual instruction, only always avoiding 
 worldly matters, unless so connected with the tenor of the matter 
 to be revealed, as to make it necessary, and he left such matters 
 as the way he meant to act in particular cases, such as the de- 
 struction of the old world by water, saving Noah and his house- 
 hold. Such matters he chose to have revealed by spiritual com- 
 munication ; and by the same means was Moses called to be a 
 redeemer of Israel from Egyptian bondage ; and by spiritual di- 
 rection was the Israelites directed in all their journe}dngs from 
 first to last ; and this has been the guide of the people of God in 
 all ages, in particular cases, and in great events. They almost 
 always trusted to the spirit and direction which w r as given them, 
 and when properly sought for and relied on, was a safe guide. 
 We may expect the same spiritual direction in almost all the 
 great events and changes which are yet to take place, and this 
 will be done either by God himself or some of his servants, which 
 are undoubtedly employed by him in the great contest going on 
 between Christ, the head of the church, and Satan, the opposer 
 and enemy of the church. 
 
 14. Son. Do you think it possible to obtain the truth from an 
 evil spirit, if applied for in a proper manner? 
 
 Father. I do think there might be a correct answer obtained, 
 as God might have the true answer given, if our desires were 
 correct, and we did not make choice of a particular spirit. 
 
 15. Son. But suppose we did name the spirit, were it to be a 
 good one, knowing the person before death, could we obtain a 
 correct answer ? 
 
 Father* In as much as God often bears with our infirmities, if 
 our desire is to obtain an answer, w r hieh would be for our im- 
 provement, as to moral duty to man, or our allegiance to God, 
 I think the answer would be given correctly, but it should be 
 submitted to God's pleasure in order to have the true answer 
 given. 
 
 16. Son. If we should inquire of an evil spirit, one whom we 
 supposed to be so before death, could we expect to obtain a cor- 
 rect answer, it being an evil spirit indeed ? 
 
 Father. In such a case we could not rely on obtaining a correct 
 answer for two reasons ; first, because we appeal to the wrong 
 source, and secondly, because our desires could not be right in 
 such a case, even if we wanted the true answer. 
 
13 
 
 17. Son. What frame of feeling is necessary for a medium to 
 be in to give the answer of the spirit ? 
 
 Father. The medium should be willing to receive the impres- 
 sion and await in a passive state, and hold themselves ready, and 
 if to write, put themselves in that position, and allow the hand 
 to be moved at the will of the spirit. 
 
 18. Son. What is necessary in* relation to the person who puts 
 the questions to the spirit ? 
 
 Father. He must be in a calm mood, desiring the truth as he 
 would desire an answer to prayer. If he would obtain a correct 
 answer, he must also apply for a spirit which God may choose to 
 send, and he must ask in faith and with submission to God. 
 
 19. Son. Do you think all persons are mediums, and able to 
 get the correct answer on moral or spiritual matters ? 
 
 Father. I do not think they are, for they have not all got the 
 qualifications necessary to obtain the truth or a correct answer. 
 
 20. Son. What are the qualifications necessary for a medium 
 to possess in order to obtain a true and correct answer. 
 
 Father. It is necessary that the, medium should be a believer 
 in the existence of the Supreme Being, and also that he has given 
 his word by inspiration to be a rule of life, to which we are under 
 obligation to be conformed, or at least to feel their accountability 
 to God. or such as will feel so when they come to years of dis- 
 cretion. 
 
 21. Son. Why do you believe that a medium who does not 
 .believe in the Supreme Being, nor in the inspiration of the Scrip- 
 tures, cannot be a medium, by whom to obtain the truth ? 
 
 Father. Because they are not such a person as would be suit- 
 able to be employed in a good, cause, and certainly one that a 
 good spirit would not wish to communicate by, and far less would 
 God be willing to employ in a good cause, an unbeliever in him- 
 self and in the revelation by the spirit. It would be doing vio- 
 lence to his liberty of conscience to compel him to exercise faith 
 in, and submission to God, whom he believed not to exist. 
 
 22. Son. Do you think a medium who does believe in the in- 
 spiration of the Scriptures, and the Supreme Being, yet hates 
 the principles they teach, can be relied on, to communicate the 
 truth ? 
 
 Father. 1 think they cannot, for it is not the cause which the}' 
 would like to advocate, neither would they be proper mediums 
 to any cause to which they were opposed, yet God might make 
 use of them in making known the truth, as he did some wicked 
 men of old prophecy the truth, and as he had a good purpose to 
 accomplish. 
 
 23. Son. Are wicked men mediums by whom evil spirits can 
 communicate ? 
 
 Father. Some are, and all might be, if they were believers in 
 spiritual existence after death, but unless they are, they cannot 
 
14 
 
 be mediums even for wicked spirits, but they must be employed 
 in something else to carry on Satan's cause in the world, as every 
 human being, and I may say every spiritual being of our grade 
 of spirits, that is of our race, and many angels will be employed 
 on one side or the other, of the great contest going on in the 
 world between the followers of God and the followers of the 
 wicked one. This is undoubtedly the case, for Christ said "they 
 that are not for me are against me, and they that gathereth not 
 with me scattereth abroad. 
 
 24. Son. But why should angels and spirits be employed 
 in the great contest going on in the world between the God of 
 truth and the father of lies ? 
 
 Failwr. Because it is the greatest matter and involves the 
 greatest consequences to mankind, and also to the glory of God, 
 of which we can conceive, and probably nothing could be more 
 terrifying than to have God's plans fail, but of the triumph of 
 truth and righteousness. We have no doubt, for God has as- 
 sured us that this shall be the case, and as angels, and we pre- 
 sume spirits are very greatly interested in this matter, and are 
 God's servants, why should they not be employed helping to 
 carry it forward as God may direct. 
 
 25. $07i. But God has made his promise to our first parents, 
 and he has renewed it again to Abraham and to others, in later 
 times, and has actually fulfilled the ^condition in the death and 
 sufferings of his Son, and has taken to happiness a multitude 
 which no man can number already, and why should he employ 
 angels and good spirits to assist in carrying forward a cause so 
 triumphant ? 
 
 Father. God always arranges his matters to the best advan- 
 tage to accomplish his designs, and as his spirit operates on the 
 departed spirits as well after death as it does on the living, and 
 without this influence no means would become effectual in the 
 accomplishment of the designs intended, and as spirit operates 
 on its fellow spirit, and this is known by the operation of mes- 
 merism, what would be more appropriate than to employ con- 
 genial spirits which is able to accomplish what he wishes to have 
 them perform, and especially as this is their delight, and as God 
 does employ means which he has not seen proper to make known 
 to us in his word, then it is not strange that he has not fully ex- 
 plained how he employs spirits, but he has informed us that 
 they are ministering spirits sent forth to minister to the heirs of 
 salvation, this fully establishes the fact, but the manner of their 
 operation God has withheld ; and as he has spoken of many great 
 matters yet to be accomplished, it would not be strange if he 
 would bring to bear on this contest a more combined influence 
 than he has in the former ages of the world, and if we look out 
 on the improvements of the present day, which God is evidently 
 making for the spread of his gospel, and for the enlightning 
 
, n 
 
 of the nations, we cannot doubt but what there are more means 
 brought to bear on this great contest than was formerly, and 
 recollect that God employs appropriate and not arbitrary means 
 to accomplish all his purposes, and all act from motives, and 
 thus arises the necessity of liberty of action both for and against 
 the good cause. 
 
 26. Son. When will this intercourse between spirits and men 
 be fully introduced ? 
 
 Father. I think it will be gradually brought to bear more and 
 more on the people of God as the church is cleansed, and will 
 be one means not the least in accomplishing this object, and 
 ivhen the church is fully cleansed the intercourse will be fully 
 introduced. 
 
 27. Son. How long a time will that be, do you suppose? 
 Father. I suppose it will be about the end of the present two 
 
 thousand years, commencing at the birth of Christ, to have it fully 
 accomplished. We find that at the end of every two thousand 
 years a very great event and change took place. At the end of 
 the first two thousand years the people as well as all living 
 creatures, except a very small remnent, was swept off with a 
 universal Flood ; and at the end of the second two thousand 
 years was the great event of the birth and coming of Christ, the 
 promised Savior of the world, and at that time a very great 
 change took place as a very great flood of light was thrown in 
 upon the mind of men ; and by the influence of the spirit was 
 put on record which fully explained the types and shadows 
 which had faintly shadowed forth that glorious dispensation ; at 
 that time the gospel was introduced with all its blessings, and 
 the Holy Spirit descended in a more copious manner than it had 
 ever before done, and produced glorious results in the conversion 
 of a large number of the people and particularly on the day of 
 penticost and at that time most of the forms of worship were 
 changed. The visible offering of animals was taken away and 
 the offering of spiritual worship was introduced, and men were 
 called upon to worship God in spirit and in truth, for at that 
 time the Messiah, the great prince and head of his church had 
 appeared and miracles were wrought by him fulfy proving his di- 
 vinity, and many miracles were performed by the gift of the 
 spirit, given to many persons, and many wonders and signs and 
 cures were performed by the spirits influence, and at that time 
 evil spirits were at work, such as the then called devils were per- 
 mitted to operate to a greater extent than probably ever before, 
 and as there is a greater triumph of the church promised, and 
 its victory over its enemies, and its cleansing, and its unity, its 
 seeing eye to eye by its watchmen ; we may expect a greater 
 addition of light shed on God's word, for it is still his hand that 
 wields the sword, and this light will be given by the spirit of God, 
 and those willing agents. Angels and spirits always delighted 
 
16 
 
 in doing hi* will, and who are qualified for this mission and will 
 certainly be employed still more fully as the great contest shall 
 be drawing to a close. Then will men understand God's w^ord, 
 and will be willing to be governed by its principles. 
 
 28. Son. Can you name any particulars in which the Angels 
 and spirits may be employed to give light to men ? 
 
 Father. It is from the revelation of God's word which he has 
 given to us that the principal light must arise for it is the rule 
 of right, but men differ in opinion as to the true meaning of it, 
 as it is revealed and in consequence of this difference of opinion, 
 almost every division of the visible church has adopted a different 
 form of government, and also different positions in worship. 
 This difference although not essential to true worship , yet many 
 of God's people think so, and this keeps them apart and destroys 
 that harmony and good feeling of brotherly love, which should 
 always exist among brethren, and still of more consequence is 
 the different mode of baptisms, one mode deprives the children 
 of believing parents of a right which they have of being intro- 
 duced into the covenant, by this very significant sign of the need 
 of cleansing, and 1 think we have conclusive proof of their right 
 to this ordinance. In the 7th chapter of first Corinthians, there 
 is this instruction given — "For the unbelieving husband is sancti- 
 fied by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the 
 husband, else were your children unclean, but now are they holy." 
 This must be a covenant- of holiness; -now these things must be 
 seen by all, and will be more and more as the church is cleansed. 
 This will be a proper matter of inquiry, and will be understood 
 as soon as men choose to apply, and if angels or spirits are ap- 
 plied to in the proper way, and men really want to know they 
 will be informed, and as God has not made these matters plain 
 in his word, there will be means to eive that information and 
 from a like source will the Jews, the ancient people of God, be 
 convinced of the already coming of the Savior, and the change 
 which will be necessary in the worship of God, that people of 
 old always looked to God for special direction in matters of re- 
 ligion; and it is to this will they again look before they w T ill 
 finally be subject to God's will, and return to their own land, 
 and to the true worship of God, and when they do return, they 
 will be enlightened, and will set up the true worship of God : 
 both as to form, principle and action, and from them will the 
 gentile churches take the true christian position, and will be en- 
 lightened in all matters of faith and practice ; at present there 
 is much darkness in the world, and many errors in the churches 
 in comparison to the light which will be shown to his ancient peo- 
 ple! 
 
 Hear what God says on this subject by Isaiah, the inspired 
 prophet, 60th chapter, from the first to 5th verses inclusive : 
 

 17 
 
 1. Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upoa 
 thee. 
 
 2. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peo- 
 ple ; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 
 
 3. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and the kings to the brightness of 
 thy rising, 
 
 4. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see ; all they gather themselves together, 
 they come to thee, thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nurs- 
 ed at thy side. 
 
 5. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear and be en- 
 larged ; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces 
 of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. 
 
 Soon through the same chapter of Isaiah, the same predic- 
 tion continues as well as in many parts of God's word ; and we 
 find from the revelation which God has given on the subject, that 
 probably the whole church as well as many strong nations will 
 be engaged in this great matter of cleansing of the church, and 
 why should the Philistines be mentioned in the prophecy of the 
 return of Israel ; if strong nations will not be employed in bring- 
 ing back the Jews to their own land, and favoring the cleansing 
 of the church ; and do you not suppose that wicked nations and 
 evil spirits, and the wicked one himself will not do all they can 
 to oppose and hinder this great achievement ; and why should 
 angels and good spirits be deprived, or not have the pleasure of 
 serving in this glorious cause, which the great God intends ac- 
 complishing A cause that the earth itself opened its mouth to 
 avenge the wrong on the one side and witness for the truth and 
 righteousness on the other side. 
 
 29. Son. But God has promised the ingathering of the Jews, 
 and at the proper time will not God accomplish this, as well as 
 the full triumph of his church, and also the overthrow of the 
 wicked who still presist in rebeling against him as well as all 
 his pleasure ? 
 
 Father. Yes, God will do all that He has promised; but He will 
 do it by appropriate means. He first devised the plan of the 
 second covenant with his Son and by uniting the divine with the 
 human nature, had the condition of that covenant fulfilled. The 
 divine nature gave efficacy and strength to the human ; and 
 made it a divine act, for it was in the human nature that the ex- 
 piatory sacrifice by the sufferings of Christ, had to be accom- 
 plished; but human nature could not have done this if it had 
 not been united with the divine. This was the means which 
 God devised to open up the plan of salvation, and as it was for 
 man's benefit this covenant was made, a condition must be 
 complied with by man; and it pleased God to reveal to man this 
 condition and all the duty growing out of the relation which he 
 bore to God, and the preparation for happiness, and by the in- 
 fluence of his spirit make effectual, all the means of grace 
 which man should enjoy ; but God does not either by means, or 
 by the influence of his spirit operate so as to control the free 
 agency of men. The influence is moral and persuasive, and mea 
 
 2 i" 
 
18 
 
 are as accountable for their actions, as much as if that action 
 produced the final result; and if God overrules all things for the 
 good of his people it is an act of his mercy, and were it not for 
 the overruling of God's providence, disappointment and misery 
 would have been the result. But God is possessed of every per- 
 fection necessary to enable him to accomplish his great designs 
 of mercy in the final redemption of his people, and will bring 
 about a revenue of glory to himself; but he will do this hj 
 means of his written word, and what other means he may choose 
 to employ from time to time, during the great contest ; and as 
 God does really act by his spirit, both upon mind and matter, it 
 is perfectly in accordance with truth to suppose that spirits made 
 in his likeness will be employed to act on fellow spirits, w T hen it 
 is God's pleasure to have them thus employed, and God makes 
 use of nations, both righteous and otherwise, and every agency 
 which may be suitable ; and He controls the opposition in such 
 a way as not to interfere with their liberty of action ; and what 
 makes their sin i3, they aim to do wrong, while the righteous 
 aims to do right. 
 
 30. Son. Is there anything of a general nature which it will 
 become necessary to have explained? 
 
 Father. There are many things of which men have thought 
 but little about, and the first I will mention is that the prophe- 
 cies are figurative, general and positive ; as to the figures used 
 in prophecy,, it is not always understood until after or about the 
 time of the fulfillment, but when it is understood by some, it is 
 dark to the most of minds; as to their being general, I mean they 
 comprehend the general features of the whole subject. If the 
 subject in relation to which the prophecy is spoken, is one 
 kingdom, the emblem of their flag is generally mentioned ; al- 
 most all through the prophecies figures are made use of which 
 are obscure to the most of men, and often promises accompany 
 prophecies ; one of these was made to our first parents when it 
 was said the women's seed should bruise the serpent's head, and 
 his head should only bruise his heel, this prophecied the tri- 
 umph of the church, and coming of Christ and was general in 
 its application ; the prophecy as to the rise of the beast and its 
 general features and the time of its reign, and what power it 
 would claim, and its destruction or fall ; and what should be the 
 means to accomplish this, and that all the world should, or would 
 wander after the beast was a general prophecy. The cleansing 
 of the church, its triumph over its enemies, and its peaceable 
 reign, and that all men should become christians or at least be 
 peaceable subjects under its reign, and that kings and queens 
 should be nursing fathers and nursing mothers to the church, 
 that is, they should support, cherish, protect, and love its laws, 
 and practice its precepts, this is a general prophecy. The bind- 
 ing of Satan a thousand years, and that he should be let loose a 
 
Ill 
 
 Httle season, plainly saying that he was not bound before, is a 
 general prophecy; and the spread of the gospel among all na- 
 tions before the end of the vision should come is a general pre- 
 diction, and there is many other prophecies not so general, such 
 as the return of the Israelites to their own land, their being 
 truly christianised, and their setting up the true standard of 
 Christianity, and all nations flowing unto them, that is, they will 
 be influenced by their standard of christian worship, and prac- 
 tice, and other predictions of the rise and fall of kingdoms and 
 their connection with each other, and what support and strength 
 they will give to the beast or false church, and how God makes 
 use of them to chastise each other for their wickedness and re- 
 bellion against himself, and for their worship of idols, and these 
 predictions will be positively fulfilled according to the prediction. 
 This is a matter of which there can be no doubt, for they were 
 given to us by inspiration of God, that is, they were spoken as 
 the Holy Spirit dictated or operated on the mind of the writer, 
 and they will come to pass in exact accordance with the prophe- 
 cy, and the appropriate means will be employed to bring about 
 the grand result which God intends to have accomplished for his 
 own glory, and the triumph and happiness of his people ; all 
 these grand events will be known more and more as the day of 
 their accomplishment draws near, and spiritual operations will 
 be no small means to this end ; and the more men know of these 
 matters the better they will be prepared for their duty as it may 
 devolve on them in their sphere of action. 
 
 31. Son. If all the prophecies and promises of God will be 
 brought about by appropriate means and will be positively ac- 
 complished, what is the duty of God's people, and what sphere 
 should thev act in, and what motive should they be governed 
 by? 
 
 Father. Men should understand their relation to God, and es- 
 pecially should his people understand that they were created te 
 glorify him and that their best happiness depended on this, his 
 glory. They should be directed by his written word, and what- 
 ever helps they may obtain for its explanation, and especially, 
 should they rely on the influence of the Holy Spirit to enlighten 
 their minds and sanctify their nature, so as to enable them with 
 right views and feelings to perform good works, which always 
 are the evident fruits of faith. Christians should always act in 
 reliance on God's wisdom, to carry out the grand object which 
 he may have in view. They have a right to desire their own 
 welfare as well as others, striving lawfully for this, and especial- 
 ly for his own and others spiritual welfare; this is well pleasing 
 to God, and is what He will approve, it being a congenial feel- 
 ing to his own. They should always act in the sphere, situation 
 or place in which God in his providence has placed them, and 
 they «houid by precept and example, teach other* the samt 
 
no 
 
 thing, they should always be on the side of truth and righteous- 
 ness, and strive to advance the kingdom of Christ, and encour- 
 age others to do the same lawfully. 
 
 32. Son. What special acts of duty are binding on christians 
 as private individuals in the advancement of truth ? 
 
 Father . They should strive to enlighten the minds of men, by 
 sending the revealed word of God to all nations that will receive 
 it, and help to support missionaries to preach to them, as they 
 may have it in their power to do so. If they should at any time 
 in the providence of God, be thrown in among nations or people 
 who are not christians, they should show that they were govern- 
 ed by the gospel principle. They should obey all law that did 
 not hinder them from allegiance to God, and does not hinder them 
 from worshiping Him, be it good or bad, they should do all they 
 can lawfully to have righteous rulers and good laws, but if they 
 cannot do that, they must submit to such as they have. Christ 
 said, "render to Caesar the things that are Cesar's, and to God 
 the things that are God's.''" 
 
 33. Son. But what should christians do in relation to the 
 prophecies, and what should they not do ? 
 
 Father. They should in the use of such means as they have 
 at their cammand, and such as are lawful and right, and accord 
 with other duties, aw r ait the leadings of God's providence for the 
 fulfillment of the prediction. They .should not lay violent hands 
 on any man, nor on any nation. For example, the triumph of 
 God's people, the true church is predicted and will take place, 
 and in connection with this the overthrow of the wicked but 
 christians are not at liberty to go to work and kill and destroy 
 them in order to bring about this so much desired object. Again, 
 what is equally true in prophecy is the ingathering of the Jews 
 and that they will be brought back on the shoulders of the Phil 
 istines, meaning a strong nation; but christians would be very 
 much out of the line of their duty, to go or send to the excellent 
 queen of England, and say to her Majesty, "we think your na- 
 tion is the Philistines of our day, and we want you to have the 
 Jews brought to their own land and especially as England is most 
 christian of any of the strong nations, and we will turn out our- 
 selves and help to raise force enough to accomplish the fulfill- 
 ment of this prophecy, it will probably take two hundre thou- 
 sand well disciplined troops to bring them back ; as I suppose 
 many of the nations will not let them go as long as they can 
 help it ; but do not let your Majesty fear as to the result of this 
 good object for the prophecy is sure, and God will hear prayers 
 and favor his own work, but what would Her Majesty say to 
 them, why my dear sirs, you had better wait until the Jews are 
 all found and are willingHo return of themselves, and especially 
 as I do not incline to let my subjects undertake such a job as that 
 would be, for the Sultan of Turkey would be very slow to give up 
 
21 
 
 claim to Palestine — we would have a rough job of it I really 
 think, and if they should apply to any of the other powers a 
 like conclusion would be come to ; and suppose again, as there 
 is a promise of the church being cleansed, that christians were 
 to undertake to cleanse it at present, when so much division ex- 
 ists, what would be the consequence of such a move ? It is 
 easy to imagine that the disaster would be dreadful in the ex- 
 treme, and if christians were to undertake to destroy the beast 
 with the brightness of his coming, as this has not come, they 
 would fail ; and suppose again, that christians were to under- 
 take to bring about the grand prediction of the time when Christ 
 shall become king of nations as he is now king of saints ; they 
 would have still a harder job than they wanted Her Majesty, the 
 queen of England, to undertake. They would have nearly all 
 the nations of the earth to put down, and 1 am not so sure that 
 Her Majesty herself would not object to the undertaking of this 
 premature step of rashness This, however, I believe to be a 
 spiritual reign, but the task will be no easier on that account; 
 and again, it is promised that a time shall come when the cap- 
 tive shall go free, when there shall be no more opposition, when 
 the chains shall be loosed from off them and they shall go free. 
 But now see the leading of the providence of God in this matter 
 of slavery. He no doubt has a threefold object in view, and 
 first for their wickedness in their own land, He suffered them to 
 be carried off into bondage, and there suffer the infliction justly 
 due to them for their sins and neglect of the worship of the true 
 Oxod. And second, to give them the light and knowledge of the 
 gospel which was necessary for their final salvation and happi- 
 nsss in Heaven, and what is a little affliction and a whole life 
 of toil compared to endless happiness in the world to come. 
 This change was for their advantage, even if ther-- was no other 
 higher consideration yet ahead, and if they do not improve under 
 their affliction it is not God's fault, nor the means which He in 
 his providence made use of for their benefit. Now for the third 
 design, which may easily be seen by the leading of His provi- 
 dence, was that when they did go out free, they should be the 
 bearers of the glorious gospel to their ancient brethren of Africa, 
 and from them should that precious seed of the kingdom be 
 planted and shall grow until the whole of Africa's sons and 
 daughters shall be brought under its benign influence. What a 
 result when the millions which now inhabit that vast continent 
 shall be both civilized and christianized. What an array of 
 strength thrown into the moral battle field, and what a grand 
 result brought, about by the providence of God. And can you 
 make the comparison ? then you can compare a mote to the 
 world, but why marvel at God's providence in this. Has it not 
 commenced in the third design? Seethe christian colony al- 
 ready planted, and how it nourishes, and have we no examples 
 
-it 
 
 of God's dealings with men in the same or a similar manner? 
 Take a glance of the history of the Israelites, the ancient peo- 
 ple of God. Did they not go through the furnace of affliction in 
 Egypt, and their journey in the wilderness, and all this that their 
 children might -have the land of Canaan, the possession which 
 was promised to Abraham hundreds of years before ? This 
 Canaan was a type of the heavenly Canaan, and by such provi- 
 dence and such affliction will the nations be brought to submit 
 to the laws of Christ, and be prepared for the delightful employ- 
 ment of the Heavenly rest; and christians should learn to 
 conform to the good providence of God in things which they can- 
 not control, and should co-operate with them, and had they lived 
 in the time of the Egyptian bondage, their business would not 
 have been to kill off Pharoah and his host before the time, until 
 God in his providence had put other matter in a train suitabe to 
 the accomplishment of their deliverance, neither should chris- 
 tians act "in a way which will make difficulty or division between 
 the master and the slave, but on the contrary, strive to have the 
 minds of both enlightened in relation to their duty to God, and 
 also that which grows out of the relation they bear to each other. 
 This was the rule of Christ's teaching, and was continued to be 
 taught by His Apostles as we see by the following examples: 
 
 Ephesians, 6th chapter, from the 5tb to the 9th verse inclu- 
 sive : 
 
 5. Servants be obedient to them that are your masters, according io the flesh with 
 fear and trembling in singleness of your heart as ante Christ. 
 
 6. Not with eye service as man pleases, but as the servants of Christ doing the 
 will of God from the heart. 
 
 7. "With good well doing service as to the Lord and not to men. 
 
 8. Knowing that whatsoever gGod thing any man doeth, the same shall he re- 
 ceive of the Lord whether he be bound or free. 
 
 9. And ye masters do the same thing unto them for bearing threatening, know- 
 ing that your master also is in Heaven; neither is there respect of persona with 
 him. 
 
 And in the 6th chapter of first Timothy, from 1st to the 4th 
 verse inclusive. 
 
 1 . Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy 
 of all honor that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. 
 
 2. And they that have believing masters, let them not discipline them, because 
 they are brethren ; but rather do them service, because they are faitiul and beloved 
 partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. 
 
 3. If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words, even the 
 words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godliness. 
 
 4. He is proud knowing nothing but doting about questions and strifes of worda 
 ■whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings. 
 
 Again, Titus, 2d chapter, 9th and 10th verses : 
 
 9. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please theoa 
 well in all things ; not answering again ; 
 
 10. Nor purloining, but showing all good fidelity ; that they may adorn the doc- 
 trine of God our Savior in all things. 
 
 And in first Peter, 2d chapter, from the 18th to the 21st versea 
 inclusive : 
 
 28. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear ; not only to the good aod 
 gentle, but also to the forward- 
 
23 
 
 19. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscious toward God endure gfiei, 
 suffering wrongfully. 
 
 20. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it 
 patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is 
 acceptable with God. 
 
 21. For even hereunto were ye called ; because Christ also suffered for us, tear- 
 ing us an example, that ye should follow his steps : 
 
 You see in all this direction a rule laid down for both the 
 master and slave to be guided by, and the spirit was certainly 
 a proper judge in the matter ; but you may say these were He- 
 brew servants and not slaves ; granted, but that made no differ- 
 ance in relation to their duty to their masters nor of the master 
 to them. The direction applies alike to the Hebrew and to 
 slaves in our day, and the masters were under no more obliga- 
 tion then to their servants than no v. ; but God will let the oppres- 
 sed go free when he has accomplished the greater good which 
 he intends to bring about by their captivity and affliction, com- 
 bined with other appropriate means suited to the end intended, 
 and it is for the christian to act right under all circumstances, 
 and see to it that he does not do evil, that good may come ; and 
 anything either said or done which will have a tendency to gen- 
 der strile, or stir up jealousy between the master and slave is 
 very wrong, and no man, and far less a christian, should ever 
 allow himself for one moment to harbor the thought of enticing 
 away slaves from their masters unlawfully, but should wait un- 
 til God, by his providence, seems to open the way, and then 
 christians may act their part, and should do so always in a law- 
 ful manner. 
 
 34. Son. How should the Church act in its official capacity in 
 relation to the prophecies, and what should they teach by their 
 ministers ? 
 
 Father. The prophecies being so extensive and so combined 
 with each other, they can do nothing better than to labor to have 
 the revealed word of God difFused among the nations of the 
 earth as much as possible, and qualify and send the ministry to 
 explain the word and teach men the duty arising out of their 
 relation to God. Teach them their dependance on Him for all 
 they enjoy ; what God requires of them in order to make them 
 happy in heaven, and how God does justify sinners particularly, 
 point out and make plain the plan of salvation as it is through 
 the merits of Christ, not neglecting to warn the nations as well 
 as individuals against prevailing sins, showing them their con- 
 sequences and what course they should take to avoid the evils. 
 But they have no right to use violence, or to punish, or assist in 
 punishing the nations or make any attempt to shove forward the 
 prophecies by any means except what God has authorized in his 
 word ; as to the final result, that must be lett to the Supreme 
 Ruler of all things. But as to the people of God, they are more 
 immediately under the care of the church, and should be watch- 
 
24 
 
 ed with a vigilent eye. The church has the spiritual government 
 of their people, but no more. They should use this power with 
 great caution, and should be guided by the rule which Christ 
 himself has established, and any general evil which cannot at 
 once be remedied, should be born with. Such an evil should not 
 be made a term of communion, nor should it be proper or suf- 
 ficient ground of division, but it should be testified against in a 
 christian like manner, and the people of God should be advised 
 to act always right according to the relation they sustain to each 
 other, the master should be taught to use the slave right, re- 
 quiring nothing more of him than he is able to perform. He 
 should teach him the knowledge of God, and his duty to his 
 master according to the rules of Christ, while he is a servant he 
 should not attempt to leave his master without his liberty, and 
 no man is doing God's service who would advise him to do so. 
 The servant should be taught to act in view of a higher destiny 
 than to run away from his master. He cannot run away from 
 his God, and if he will serve him, he must do according to his 
 direction, and his being a servant is no excuse why he should 
 not be a christian. If he is compelled to do what he did not ap- 
 prove, that is not his sin. And again, if the servant does wrong 
 contrary to the master's will it is the servant's sin. 
 
 God will hold each accountable for their own act and this is 
 as it should be. Each has their place and must account to God 
 for their improvement or misimprovement of their situation, 
 and ministers should alwa}^s teach men to do their duty in the 
 station in which God in his providence has placed them. It is 
 God's province to so overrule the general and particular trans- 
 actions of men and other agencies, as to bring about the par- 
 ticular results and have them accomplished at the proper time, 
 to combind with each other in such a way as to harmonize all 
 the means which he intended to bring to bear on the final tri- 
 umph of his people, and the establishment of Christ's kingdom, 
 which shall be universal and glorious. This is a result worth 
 laboring for, and will be the wonder of all intelligent beings, it 
 will then be seen that all things work together for good to them 
 that love God, who are the called according to his purpose. God 
 will make the separation, and it will be according to quality and 
 not altogether according to appearance, as we see things in this 
 world. 
 
 35. Son. As the church and people of God are to triumph 
 over their enemies, they being the light of the world, what 
 prominent marks have they to distinguish them from other as- 
 sociations? 
 
 Father. The church and people of God acknowledge and wor- 
 ship a Supreme being, and that he has unlimited powers, and 
 perfections and confide in him, and acknowledge allegiance to 
 nim ; they believe he exists in three persons : the Father, the 
 
25 
 
 Son and the Holy Spirit. They acknowledge Christ the Re- 
 deemer and head of the church, and that he is both God and 
 man, and that this combination or union of divine and human 
 nature was a necessary qualification of a successful mediator. 
 They take the word of God as it is revealed, as the rule of faith 
 and practice. They believe that the influence of the Holy 
 Spirit is necessary in regeneration and sanctification. They be- 
 lieve in good works, and that they are the fruits of faith, they 
 believe and do observe the ordinances of Christ the head of the 
 church ; they believe in the perseverence of the saints ; they be- 
 lieve in a future state of existence, and that the preparation 
 must be made in this life. They do not believe in repentance 
 after death. They believe in spiritual worship, and a change of 
 heart, and that all the feelings and affections of the heart or in- 
 ner man must be in accordance to God's will, as He has reveal- 
 ed it in His word. They believe that the church should not have 
 any power over the state or government, except moral influence. 
 They also believe that the church has a right to the liberty of 
 conscience and to be protected from lawless violence, and also 
 the right to make their own by-laws to govern themselves, but 
 not inconsistant with the laws or constitution of the general 
 government. They believe no government has a right to deprive 
 any person or church of the liberty of conscience. They be- 
 lieve the church is designed to be the light of the world, and that 
 they are under obligation to let their light shine by a christian 
 deportment, and by all lawful means should spread its influence. 
 They believe or should believe that all the means which they 
 can use are connected with other more general movements, 
 such as the controlling of nations, their rise and fall, and such 
 grand movements should be left to the general providence of 
 God, and that they should at all times hold themselves in readi- 
 ness to co-operate therewith whenever the opportunity or favor- 
 able time should come for such action. There, are many promi- 
 nent marks of the true church, but these may suffice to lead the 
 inquiring mind to her fold ; at present, however, there are many 
 things to mar her beauty, such as divisions in consequence of 
 forms of government and other minor and unessential mat- 
 ters which never should have divided the church of Christ. 
 
 36. Son. What prominent marks are there to designate the 
 beast or false church spoken of in scripture, and what is meant 
 by the term beast in scripture ? 
 
 Father. The term beast mentioned in scripture means a cor- 
 rupt church, one which no longer deserves the name of christian 
 because they have departed from the worship of the true God. 
 Their first mark is that their leader sets himself up, as the scrip- 
 tures says, in the temple of God showing himself that he is God; 
 they claim power which God alone has the right to exercise in- 
 stead of aeknwledging Christ to be the head of the church. 
 
2G 
 
 They claim that their leader is the head of what they call their 
 church. They take the traditions of their church for the rule of 
 faith and practice. Thejr worship images in place of the true 
 God. Their ordinances are not administered as Christ the head 
 of the true church has directed. They keep their people igno- 
 rant of the revelation which God has given to enlighten man- 
 kind. They deny the right of liberty of conscience. They 
 claim the power both of church and state, and control all 
 government when they can grasp the power, and when they 
 gain this ascendency they persecute all other churches, even to 
 the death. Their leaders fleece their people of their hard earn- 
 ings by every stratagem which they can invent, by pretending to 
 forgive sins, and grant indulgencies when that is wanted. There 
 are other marks of which I might speak but these may suffice. 
 
 37. Son. Is there any other false or corrupt churches besides 
 the beast which prevent the truth and lead men estray ? 
 
 Father. Mahomet the false prophet may be properly termed 
 a limb of the beast, he has enacted laws for his followers, laws 
 that have very few features of the law of God ? and his forms of 
 worship as he has established them, are very little like the forms 
 of true worship. The Mahomatans are in no sense christians, 
 but anti-christians in every sense of the word, and there are 
 others who are acting with the beast or false church who pre- 
 vent the truth, and many people have been and will be ruined 
 by their error and superstition, held and taught by them, and 
 every church or people who do not take the word of God for the 
 rule of faith and practice, and Christ for the head of the church, 
 are anti-christians, and are on the side of the false church ; but 
 all these as well as infidelity must, and will give way, as the 
 light increases to shine, and as the church shall be cleansed. 
 
 38. Son. Inasmuch as the Supreme Ruler of the nations 
 brings to bear and makes efficient all means and agents to carry 
 on, and fully accomplish his grand purposes, what sphere of ac- 
 tion is becoming and proper for females as such ? 
 
 Father. The female part of our fallen race have been ap- 
 pointed to fill a very high station in the arrangement of God's 
 providence, she was made one of the actors in the great trial 
 test of the first covenant of works which involved more extend- 
 ed consequences than any other except the covenant of grace 
 made with Jesus Christ ; and God has given her no small part 
 in the cultivation of the moral principle which He intended 
 should characterize his people. To her is the young and tender 
 mind entrusted to mould, with her femenine soothing qualities 
 to give that impress which none but a female can give. It was 
 her that was the favored medium of the introduction of Christ's 
 human nature with the divine into the world, and it was to wo- 
 man that the honor of being the first witness of Christ's resur- 
 rection was conferred, and her place in the sphere of action has 
 
27 
 
 always been honorable when she enjoyed her rights, and she 
 should always feel herself highly honered to be a woman, and 
 act in co-operation with the other sex in carrying out moral 
 principles, and especially those religious principles, without 
 which no one can please God and be prepared for happiness in 
 Heaven. This can be done the best by being guided by God's 
 word which teaches reasonable submission in domestic as well 
 as social life. Her happiness is always the most perfect in her 
 own family circle and under the protection of her husband and 
 representative. This is her proper sphere in this world, but she 
 should always do all in her power to ad\ance the kingdom of 
 Christ by all the means in her power as well as be subject to it 
 herself, for this at last is the one thing needful compared to all 
 others, and to be found on the side of truth and in the practice 
 of righteousness is more noble to either women or men, than to 
 be allowed to govern a nation or lead an army to battle, es- 
 pecially for women who are not inclined to these things, 
 
 39. Son. What sphere should the male part of the fallen race 
 of men act in, and what part has God given them in the great 
 movements of his providence ? 
 
 Father. One of the purposes of God has been to make man a 
 leader and representative of great events. A man was the first 
 made of our race, he was the head of the covenant of works. 
 He was the chosen associate of the Savior's spiritual nature. 
 It was by him the spirit gave the revelation of the scriptures, 
 giving us the mind and will of God for our direction in life. It 
 was by man united with the divine that fulfilled the conditions 
 of the second covenent of grace. It was men that Christ chose 
 for his apostles, and it was men which was sent out into the 
 world and commanded to preach the gospel to all nations, bap- 
 tising them in the name of the Father, £on, and Holy Ghost; 
 and it has been by the labors of men that the gospel has been 
 preached through successive ages, and it is by man principally 
 that this work must be continued in order to enlighten mankind, 
 and to unite with other more general means which God may use to 
 fulfil his purposes of mercy to his people ; and it is to men gen- 
 erally that the reins of governmeet have been entrusted ; and it 
 is by men one class of agents in God's hands that the triumph 
 of the gospel, and the cleansing of the church will be accom- 
 plished: and as men are but agents, they should always act in 
 the proper sphere that God in his providence has placed them : 
 always aiming to glorify God in doing right in all their actions. 
 He should exert himself to the extent of his ability in spread- 
 ing and sustaining the gospel, and inculcating it by his example 
 in private life. He should be gentle and calm, but decided in 
 the dometic circle. He should be courteous and obliging, and 
 should act like a man, and not like a tyrant. His wife should 
 be his earthly treasure, companion, and confident. His children 
 
•28 
 
 his care, he should always lead them to virtue and Christianity 
 by precept and example. He should have God for his judge, 
 and take Him for his portion, and whatsoever he find to do, do 
 it with his might. This is part of the duty of men. 
 
 40, Son. What are the signs of the times to show the fulfilling 
 the prophecies, or in other words, the cleansing of the sanctu- 
 ary? 
 
 Father. The first sign which I will mention is the rapid spread 
 of the gospel ot Christ. This is the light which will lighten the 
 dark places of the earth, and give them the knowledge of the 
 true God, and the enterprising and persevering missionary spirit 
 and their success. This together with the opening which is 
 made for the introdution of the gospel to almost every civilized 
 nation, is not one of the least of the signs of the times ; 
 and again, the extensive and rapidly increasing improvements 
 of the present day, giving facility to intercourse and commerce, 
 uniting together the interests of nations, and by their acquaint- 
 ance with each other, cherishing a friendly feeling, making it 
 easier to diffuse the light too and fro : "yea, many shall run too 
 and fro, and knowledge shall increase." Thi3 prophecy is now 
 fulfilling literally, and we can easily see it, and it will have a 
 favorable effect on the advancement of Christ's kingdom. A- 
 gain, the spirit of improvement in science and education, which 
 are so prevalent in almost all nations, gives a bright and cheer- 
 ing prospect of this so much desired object. And again, the 
 rapid increase of the church and its extending influence is seen 
 and felt in almost all quarters of the globe, and is giving an 
 impulse to the furtherance of the glorious end to be accomplish- 
 ed; and again, the press, both religious and secular, is working- 
 its mighty engine of power to facilitate the grand sunshine of 
 the latter day glory; and again, the combined influence brought 
 to bear on men and nations has, and will still continue to mod- 
 ify and mould the feelings of nations, and will bring them more 
 and more together and will produce a congenial feeling to the 
 more mild and peaceful reign of Christ. These feelings are al- 
 ready manifest in the tone of politics already seen to exist in 
 the United States and in England, and also in many other well 
 regulated governments. Liberty of conscience is one of their 
 main principles. Persecution for religious opinions not toler- 
 ated, and there will soon be a total separation of church and 
 state. Thus you see the prophecy of the destruction of the 
 beast by the brightness of his coming has commenced. Again 
 look at the liberty enjoyed by the Jews, the ancient people of 
 God, compared with ancient times. Their rights are more re- 
 garded, both in the United States, England, and in all Europe. 
 They have liberty far exceeding that of former ages or times ; 
 they have in some cases taken part in matters of government. 
 And again, it is evident that the revolutionary movements going 
 
29 
 
 on upon the earth are tending to the grand fulfillment of th« 
 predictions of the prophecies. This warfare will be carried on 
 in no small degree by the nations of the earth. The figurative 
 expression of the Israelites flying on the shoulders of the Phil- 
 istines is a predition of the controversy which will be between 
 the true church of Christ and the false or anti-christian Church, 
 and all men and nations will be on one or the other side of this 
 great contest; and the favorite principles of the opposing parties 
 will be contended for , on the one side will be the principles 
 of God's law adhered to and observed, and on the other they 
 will be neglected, and their overthrow will be contended for. 
 This question is now being agitated in the shape of liberty of 
 conscience, and privilege of self government, and these must 
 prevail. 
 
 41. Son. Will Christ reign a temporal prince, and will He 
 reign by force of arms when He shall appear the second time 
 when it is said that the saints shall possess the kingdom. 
 
 Father. Christ will not reign a temporal prince. The prophe- 
 cy is in a familiar figure and means, He shall be prince and 
 head of his church and people, and that his reign will be with- 
 out any formidable opposition, neither will He conquer with the 
 church by warfare, but the weapons of conquest will be his 
 word and spirit controlling all those unjust wars and overruling 
 them so as to make them tributary to the grand object in view, 
 and when Christ's kingdom is fully established the rulers of the 
 governments will all be righteous, and the laws of the land will 
 be founded on the principles of the laws of God; but the church 
 and state will still be separate. Here I will mention the predic- 
 tion of the binding of Satan a thousand years ; it is highly fig- 
 urative and means his comparative influence at that time com- 
 pared with other periods of time; and here I would remark that 
 the return of the Jews, the cleansing of the sanctuary, and the 
 binding of Satan, the destruction of the beast, and the fall blaze 
 of the gospel kingdom, and Christ's universal reign will be 
 brought about at or about the same time, and is now in rapid 
 progress. 
 
 42. Son. What events will yet take place before the reign of 
 Christ will commence, and how long will that reign last on 
 earth ? 
 
 Father. The gospel of the kingdom must first be preached to 
 all nations for a witness before the end shall come, meaning the 
 end of the opposition to the true Church Again, the way of 
 settling of difficulties of nations must be changed; however, 
 many desolating wars may take place between this and that 
 time, it is said they shall beat their swords into plow shears, and 
 their spears into prooning hooks, and that war shall be learnt 
 no more; again it is written the captive shall go free, this pre- 
 diction means the Jewish people particularly, but will equally 
 
30 
 
 apply to all under bondage of any description. This must 
 gradually take place as the process of cleansing the sanctuary 
 is going on ; I have no idea of any of these general predictions 
 being fulfilled by any other way but by a gradual process, and 
 the evils suffered must be endured until God in his providence 
 opens up a way for their removal, so as to bring about a great 
 good which he has always done as far as I can trace his works of 
 providence. Let the reader take a glance of the Bible history 
 of Joseph, he had to go through the furnace of affliction to 
 make him rely on God for strength and deliverance, and for a 
 preparation for his afterwards high station and extensive ope- 
 rations for good to the then people of God, the Jews ; again go 
 with me and examine the bondage and affliction of that people 
 for over four hundred years, they were brought through the fur- 
 nace of affliction, and for what was all thi3? to establish a na- 
 tion that would worship the true God and exhibit to the world 
 of mankind the excellence of his law, and typify the heavenly 
 Jerusalem, and show that through tribulation is the way to emi- 
 nence, and it is through tribulation more or less that the people 
 of God enter into the Heavenly rest; it is said in God's word: 
 "these are they which came out of great tribulation and have 
 washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the 
 lamb." Again, the heathen must either go out before the 
 church or be christianized. The church will be stimulated to 
 greater exertion and wilt have more internal light to dispel those 
 petty unessential differences which keep them so divided into 
 sects, and so much mar its beauty. The church will have more 
 external light as the day of her redemption draweth nigh, for it 
 is the light of the world. That light will shine more and more 
 until there shall be no clouds to intervene or hide the beauty of 
 Zion's glorious palaces. Yes, clear as the sun, fair as the moon 
 and noble as an army with banners, will Zion shine, and when 
 the kingdom of Christ is fully established on the earth, it will 
 be a reign of probably one thousand years ; we find the scrip- 
 ture fraseology of seven often used in prophecy. One day with 
 the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one 
 day, apply this to the week as it is made up of seven, the last 
 day of which is the Sabbth, as first established, being holy time. 
 It is a fit emblem of the whole period of time allotted to man 
 on the earth, and most likely the time which God has calculated 
 to finish his purpose of grace, and gather in his numerous peo- 
 ple to the rest which he has prepared for them; again, it is 
 mentioned in scripture that the saints will live and reign with 
 Christ a thousand years. 
 
 In Revelations 20th chapter and from the 4th to the 6th verse 
 inclusive : 
 
 4. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was girea unta 
 tfa«m . and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, 
 
31 
 
 and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his im- 
 age, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands ; and 
 they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 
 
 5. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were fin- 
 ished. This is the first resuriection. 
 
 6. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection : on such the 
 second deatb hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and 
 shall reigia with him a thousand years. 
 
 These predictions are figurative and mean to inform us that 
 the saints will reign by their influence exerted on the living at 
 that time, for Christ will not reign in person himself, neither will 
 the saints, but they will co-operate with Christ in that influence 
 of his spirit they doing their duty as his agents. The resurrec- 
 tion here mentioned is a figure to give us the idea of the fact 
 that they being dead shall live by their influence ; these saints 
 have been living ever since they left the body of flesh. So it 
 must be employment far more extended than they have been in 
 for past ages of the world ; Christ has always reigned over the 
 affairs of this world as well as men, angels, and spirits ; yet in 
 Daniel it is said that God will set up a kingdom that shall not 
 be destroyed. God's kingdom was sat up before that time, — the 
 prophecy was in comparison to former times, and that vision of 
 Daniel was a prediction of a time when the end of the opposi- 
 tion to this kingdom of Christ should come ; thus he spoke of 
 the setting up of this kingdom in contrast with smaller beginings 
 and so means the more extended reign of Christ, and the saints 
 living and reigning with him. And in the 6th chapter of first 
 Corrinthians, 2d and 3d verses is a like figure made use of: 
 
 2. Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world ? and if the world shall 
 be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 
 
 3. Know ye not that we shall judge angels ? how much more things that pertain 
 to tis life ? 
 
 These are figurative expressions to show that saints, that is, 
 the spirits of the departed just persons are employed agents, and 
 understand and know enough to approve and sanction the 
 judgments of God, both in reproving sin and in its final punish- 
 ment. 
 
 43. Son. What power has Satan or the Devil as he is called 
 in the great contest between truth and righteousness on the one 
 side, and falsehood and corruption on the other, and how does he 
 exercise his power, and what will be his success and end ? 
 
 Father, Satan's power is limited, his disposition is to defeat 
 all God's righteous plans if he could, but God permits him to go 
 no further in tempting men than will place before them, a choice 
 of which they will choose, the good or the evil, and this is spirit- 
 ual power always and only advisory and not compulsive, and 
 sometimes he has appeared in disguise as he did to our first 
 parents ; but neither men or nations need fear Satan's tempta- 
 tions, they are under no obligations to follow his suggestions, 
 and if they will only trust in God and obey his laws and submit 
 
32 
 
 themselves to him and the suggestions of His spirit, they are out 
 of Satan's power , but inasmuch as Satan does not know events 
 until they take place, he will always be doing as much to defeat 
 God's plans as he can, and since the fall of mankind from a state 
 of rectitude, Satan has had the advantage in consequence of 
 men's corrupt nature and they are easily influenced to that 
 which they are naturally inclined and in consequence of this men 
 are oftner lead astray by their own depravity than any other way. 
 Had men not broken the covenant of works Satan would never 
 have had any power over them ; but in their fallen nature many 
 of them will be lead astray by Satan's devices and will have to 
 suffer the consequence of their disobedience to their rightful 
 sovereign, but the time will come when Satan with all his fol- 
 lowers will be forever separated from the people of God, and 
 their triumph will be complete through Christ their head and de- 
 liverer. Satan must then go away to his place of torment for 
 his rebellion against the rightful sovereign of the universe. 
 
 44. Son. What power does God exercise in the arrangement 
 of the things of this world, and what is the nature of his gov- 
 ernment, and what will be the final result in view? 
 
 Father. In order to answer this question, I must lead your 
 mind back to reflect on some things which God has done in time 
 past, and first, God is a sovereign of unlimitable power and wis- 
 dom; He is governed in action in accordance with His own per- 
 fections. He 'created the earth and all things partaining 10 it 
 as He chose for His own glory and the great good of all concer- 
 ned, and gave laws suitable to guide every intelligent and liv- 
 ing being as well as all inanimate matter. This power of ar- 
 ranging all events which should take place in this world, God 
 reserved to himself, and it is perfectly right and proper that it 
 should be so, for none other but himself would be capable. It 
 was God who laid out the plan, and it is He alone who has 
 knowledge and power to carry it out. He takes the control of 
 all nations, setting up some for the accomplishment of his wise 
 purposes, while he prostrates others for their wickedness, as he 
 has seen will be /or the best general good. This control is both 
 necessary and proper, for no other but God would be able to 
 control so extensive and important events, as are laid out and 
 promised by himself. What would a mere creature do in such 
 a case, one who cannot even govern himself? But God governs, 
 and by suitable laws which will harmonize with each other, and 
 will be applicable to the end intended ; and God has evidently 
 determined that an intentional misapplication of these laws of 
 nature as we call them, shall be fatal to the proper end of their 
 construction, but when properly adhered to, shall produce a hap- 
 py result. Now, apply this rule to men, intelligent beings, and 
 you will see the result. God chose to create mankind and place 
 them on the Earth. They must necessarily be under a law to 
 
m 
 
 God, They being created beings, it was both right and proper 
 that they should obey him. God's law required nothing but 
 what was just and right, and would have been for man's happi- 
 ness and God's glory; and this law implied liberty of action, 
 and thus arose the necessity of a test on man's part ; and it also 
 implied a confirmation in happiness, or being exposed to pun- 
 ishment, and God warned man of the danger of disobedience, 
 after requiring him to do certain things, such aj dressing the 
 garden, &c, telling he might eat of all the fruit of the trees of 
 the garden, except that of the knowledge of good and evil. Now, 
 this was fair warning, the punishment was pointed out, and no- 
 thing unjust in God, but man must be dealt with as a free agent. 
 Nothing must be done to force his action, but something must 
 be done to set in motion man's mind, and give him an opportu- 
 nity to act ; and thus, Satan was created for this purpose, and 
 was a fallen angel himself and suitable to the occasion, and was 
 permitted to lay the inducement before our first parents, and 
 mark it, it was the same kind of sin that brought him down from 
 heaven, that he presented to our first parents ; and they listen- 
 ed to him instead of obeying God, and thus the covenant of 
 words was broken. All this was voluntary transaction; God 
 was not to blame in this transaction ; man was created and must 
 be under law, and must act in order to be rewarded or punished . 
 
 Action must be called for and was called for, and we have 
 seen the result; and now, man had entirely forfeited all right 
 and title to life and any other favor from God, but must await 
 the execution of the sentence of death. But in God's great wis- 
 dom and benevolence he had devised the plan of redemption by 
 Jesus Christ, and through this channel his mercy should flow out 
 and be extended to mankind, and be exhibited to all intelligent 
 beings, and has secured a revenue of glory to himself, the grand 
 results of which will be the theme of rejoicing, and the giving of 
 glory to God forever. Now it is very evident that God intended 
 to elevate mankind to a higher scale of his being through the 
 covenant of grace, but this must be with his consent, and God 
 still acts with men as rational, intelligent beings, and although 
 the covenant of grace is made with Christ, and the condition 
 of salvation has been fulfilled by him, still God has been pleas- 
 ed to deal with the human race rationally, and requires a cordial 
 belief in Christ, the covenant's head, and a relying] on his ben- 
 efits by faith, and a cordial compliance with all the requirements 
 of his law and every duty growing out of the Christian relation, 
 and a hearty submission to all God's ordinances, and a conge- 
 nial feeling and acquiescence in the principles of God's govern- 
 ment, otherwise no man could be happy in the presence of God 
 and the holy company in heaven. Thus you see that God gov- 
 erns by moral suasion of his word and spirit, always by persua- 
 sive and not arbitrary means, never infringing on the liberty of 
 
 3 
 
34 
 
 action, but influencing by the means of his word and all agen- 
 cies which he may see proper to bring to bear on the subject as 
 well as the enlightening and convincing influence of the spirit, 
 and so by his boundless wisdom and knowledge harmonize and 
 make effectual all things which have been or will be need- 
 ed to bring «.bout the intended result Thus God has so arrang- 
 ed all, both cause and effect to harmonize with each other, so 
 that he will bring' about the great design which he has been 
 pleased to make known to us in his predictions. The fulfilment 
 of all the prophecies must be brought * about by means, which 
 none but God can make effectual to produce the great triumph 
 of his church and people, and result in the universal reign of 
 righteousness over the whole earth. And when the glory of 
 God's kingdom shall shine from the rising of the sun to the set- 
 ting thereof; and if men are not made happy, it is not for want 
 of appropriate means, but because they did not believe and prac- 
 tise the truth. In all. I have said, do not understand me to say 
 that God makes use of means not sufficient to accomplish the 
 intended purpose, but I do say that God's means are always ap- 
 propriate and sufficient; but from the nature of moral agency 
 those means are designed to produce a favorable or unfavorable 
 effect and, therefore, not lost : neither do 1 say that God has had 
 occasion to introduce new or contingent means to carry forward 
 his plans, but he brings to bear means and agency not before 
 intended to apply, but reserved until the proper time and place 
 for application. None but God alone is qualified with power 
 and wisdom sufficient to secure t!ie grand result intended ; but 
 by him it is easy and sure, for although heaven and earth should 
 pass away, God's word will not. All he has promised, will come 
 to pass to the letter, but in its proper time and when the most 
 good has been accomplished in etery particular event to be 
 brought about. 
 
 45. Son. Will you explain to me something of the meaning 
 of the Revelations of St. John, the Divine, especially the seven 
 seals and the seven trumpets, and their whole connection ? 
 
 Father. The Revelations of St. John appear to be a summing 
 up of all the subjects on which they speak. The first are di- 
 rections to the seven Churches of Asia. These are acknowledg- 
 ed to be given by Jesus Christ, as you will find in Revelations 
 first and fifth. Again in the 7th verse, He speaks of the signs 
 of His coming as follows : "Behold, He cometh with clouds, and 
 every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him, and 
 all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him, even so. 
 Amen." In the next, the 8th verse, His authority and equality 
 and supremacy are avowed. St. John then goes on first, to de- 
 scribe the circumstances in which he was placed, and then goes 
 on to give directions to the seven churches of Asia, — instructions 
 which would apply as well to all others in similar circumstan- 
 
 *Tu- 
 
35 
 
 ces. and were meant to be so understood. In tie epistles of 
 St. Paul and in other epistles the directions are a little more 
 practical and special, and meant to apply to particular times 
 and occasions, but there is nothing contradictory in the princi- 
 ples inculcated, and they are intended for general application. 
 But before proceeding to the main revelation, he explains some 
 of the figures of speech so that he will be better understood, 
 1st chapter, 20th verse, of revelations, he thus explains "The 
 mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, 
 and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the An- 
 gels of the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks which 
 thou sawest, are the seven churches." Angels here mean mes- 
 sengers, and candlesticks are a figure to show the light reflected 
 by the churches. He describes in the 4th chapter, 1st verse, a 
 door being opened in heaven, "And the first voice I heard was, 
 as it were, a trumpet talking with me which said, come up hith- 
 er, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter." This 
 figure of a door in heaven was intended to show intercourse, 
 and that the spirit of God descended to inspire him, for in the 
 2nd verse, he speaks of being in the spirit, "And a Throne being 
 set in heaven, and one sat on the Throne," intending to de- 
 scribe the dignity of the actor and his supreme authority. By 
 the figure of one sitting on a throne, he then in the 3d verse, af- 
 ter giving some figures to describe the perfections of the ruler, 
 says; "And there was a rainbow round about the Throne, in 
 sight like unto an emerald." This rainbow is an emblem of the 
 Covenant, and being in sight means, it will be adhered to. Its 
 being like an emerald, means the perfection of the covenant. 
 He again proceeds in the 4th chapter, with the 4th verse, and 
 describes the co-operation of the church with Him that sits on 
 the Throne, by the figure of twenty four elders being seated on 
 twenty four seats, with crowns of gold on their heads. These 
 elders are representatives of the church triumphant in heaven. 
 He again proceeds, 5th verse, to show an energy of action which 
 should follow by the figures of lightning and thundering, and 
 voices coming out of the Throne ; and in the same verse, he says 
 "And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the Throne 
 which are the seven spirits of God." These lamps of fire burn- 
 ing before the Throne represent the whole church and people of 
 God when purified. The figure seven is used to cover the whole 
 ground or subject, and shows by the figure of fire burning a pu- 
 rified state of the church, and "before the Throne" approved of 
 God. The fire burning means, correspondent action of the 
 church to their purity. These seven lamps of fire or pure church 
 being called the seven spirits of God, are intended to represent 
 his spiritual care over all his church and people. We find in 
 the 6th chapter of St. John's gospel, a similar expression where 
 it is said : "I am the bread of life." He meant that he had supplied 
 
36 
 
 them with the gospel of the kingdom of Christ or the bread of life. 
 And in the 6ih verse it runs thus : "And before the throne there 
 was a sea of glass like unto crystal." Glass being a purified 
 substance, represents the pure foundation of the church, and 
 shows the purification they have gone through. Crystal is in- 
 tended to give force to the figure. And in the game verse it is 
 e aid : "And in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne 
 were four beasts full of eyes before and behind." These four 
 beasts are messengers of the pure church, and being full of eyes 
 before and behind, shows a vigilance and discernment, and a ne- 
 cessary qualification for their station ; and in the 7th verse, there 
 is every appropriate quality given to these beasts or messengers 
 to show their efficiency. And in the 8th verse, it is said that 
 each of the four beasts had six wings about him. This again is 
 emblematic of their swiftness and energetic action; and their 
 being full of eyes within, shows their knowledge of all the trans- 
 actions going on, and necessary to their knowledge of duty. In 
 the same verse, these beasts or messengers are represented as 
 giving the very highest ascriptions of praise to God, and in the 
 9th verse, as giving honor and thanks and glory to the Lord ; 
 and in the 10th and llth verses, the twenty four elders, a repre- 
 sentation of the church triumphant, gave glory, and honor, and 
 power, and every ascription of praise to Him that sitteth on the 
 throne, casting their crowns before the throne; and thus acknow- 
 ledging that all their power comes from Him who created all. 
 You see that all these figures correspond, and are a review of 
 what the church will be when purified, and made white in the 
 blood of the Lamb. 
 
 And in the 5th chapter and 5th verse : "I saw in the right hand 
 of Him that sat on the throne, a book written within and on the 
 back side, sealed with seven seals." Here is an exhibition to 
 show the great transaction of the plan of the providence of God. 
 The inquiry is made, as if no man in heaven or on earth was 
 found able to open the book. This book was the universal pro- 
 vidence of God, and St. John appeared to weep. This is a fig- 
 ure to show the anxiety of God's people for the prosperity of the 
 cause of Christ, but as the figure goes on, one is found ; "One 
 of the elders said unto me, weep not ; behold, the Lion of the 
 tribe of Juda. the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, 
 and to loose the seven seals thereof." This was Christ, the head 
 of the church, and this book of providence was easily opened by 
 him, for He was the author of it. The 6th verse : "And I beheld 
 and lo ! in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in 
 the midst of the elders stood a Lamb, as it had been slain hav- 
 ing seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven spirits of 
 God sent forth into all the earth." This figure shows that the 
 opening of this book was in unison with the persons who sat on 
 the throne ; and the Lamb being in the midst of the throne and 
 
37 
 
 looking like being slain, shows that by his merits which he pur- 
 chased by his death, he could join in the opening of the book of 
 providence; and apply them to the great redemption and tri- 
 umph of his church. The seven horns are an emblem of power 
 and show the efficiency of his providence applied to the seven 
 divisions of time ; and seven eyes being the seven spirits of God, 
 is intended to show the sufficient light and the application of the 
 influence of his spirits in each of the seven divisions of time. 
 You will observe here that seven in Scripture phraseology, is a 
 whole number, and is intended to cover the whole subject on 
 which it treats, and is the leading key into its meaning, and is 
 intended to mark its whole outlines. And when He had taken 
 the book, the elders, a figure of the church, joining in the praise 
 of Him who sits on the throne, using all those high figures made 
 use of by the spirit, 9th verse, sang a new song saying : "Thou 
 art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof, for 
 thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out 
 of every kindred and tongue and people and nation." Here is 
 an efficiency of the blood of Christ, and an acknowledgment of 
 all the intelligent race of men ; and as the figure runs in the 
 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th verses, again they worshipped 
 him jointly with the highest ascriptions of praise. Again the fig- 
 ure of the seven seals in the 6th chapter, with the 1st verse, he 
 takes a view of events as they pass in the seven divisions of time, 
 and 1 will endeavor to show the prominent features, as they ap- 
 ply to each period of a thousand years. In doing so you must ex- 
 pect some of the features to leap over on the next period to come. 
 Each seal will be applied as near as possible to its own time. 
 
 The 6th chapter commences thus : 
 
 1. And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were 
 the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 
 
 2. And I saw, and behold a white horse, and he that sat on him, had a bow, and 
 a crown was given unto him, and he went forth conquering and to conquer. 
 
 A white horse is a figure of innocence and purity. This was 
 the condition in which our first parents were created and com- 
 merced life. This white horse is a fit emblem of this first peri- 
 od, and being a running animal, is a suitable figure of running 
 time. Again a bow. — This has a twofold meaning : first, a bow 
 is the emblem of a covenant. This was made with our first 
 parents through the mediation of Christ after the fall. Again, a 
 bow was the weapon of warfare or defense. A crown was giv- 
 en unto him. The earth was given to man to subdue or con- 
 quer, and he was to rule over all creatures which God had made. 
 And He went forth conquering and to conquer. This was a 
 plain figure of what man was to do, and was a proper figure of 
 the first thousand years. 
 
 3. And when He had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, 
 6ome and see. 
 
 4. Aad there went out another horse that was red. and powor was giyen to him 
 
that sat thereon, to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another, 
 
 and there was given unto him a great sword. 
 
 The first figure is, there went out another horse. Another 
 horse shows the continuation of a similar period, in some respects 
 with the first. This was the fact, but the horse was a red horse. 
 This is a figure of violence, and war and blood. Power was giv- 
 en unto him that sat thereon, to take peace from the earth. 
 This was a more cruel and wicked reign than the first period, 
 and goes to show that anarchy reigned. There being no crown 
 mentioned, anarchy was the ruling feature of the times. A 
 great sword was given unto him. This denotes excessive wars, 
 and from sacred history we are informed that the wickedness of 
 men had become so great upon the earth, that God swept them 
 off except eight souls, the righteous Noah and his wife, his three 
 sons and their wives. They were saved by a miracle we may 
 say, for Ged directed Noah to prepare an ark, to save his church 
 which was small at that time. Facts and these prophetic figures 
 show this to "have been the most wicked period of man's existence 
 on the earth. 
 
 5. And when He had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come 
 and see. And! beheld* and lo a black horse, and he that sat on him, had a pair 
 of balances in his hand. 
 
 6. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat 
 for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny, and see thou hurt not the oil 
 and the wine. 
 
 The first prominent figure is, and I beheld and lo a black horse. 
 This is an emblem of mourning, desolation and humility ; and 
 did not nature in every form bear these aspects? And he that 
 sat on this black horse, had a pair of balances in his hand. Now 
 mark this expression, "a pair of balances.-' What a beautiful 
 and suitable figure ! Observe the word "balances." God renew- 
 ed his covenant with Noah, and called upon him to perform his 
 duty ; and in offering sacrifice to God at that time, Noah acknow- 
 ledged his obligation to Him, and God was pleased to pledge to 
 Noah an emblem of the covenant. He put his bow on the cloud. 
 This was a time of balancing up matters on the earth, and thus 
 was the figure applicable. Again, Noah is advised as to his 
 future conduct, as the phraseology runs. He is first informed 
 of the abundance of the blessings which would be bestowed, by 
 the figure of the cheapness of the wheat and the barley, and in 
 this ''See that thou hurt not the oil and wine." This is a warning 
 to him not to despise God's blessings or hinder their bestowment, 
 by his acts of rebellion against God and his mercies. This is al- 
 so a figure to represent spiritual influence by the terms oil and 
 wine, which Noah is warned not to hinder by wickedness. These 
 are the most prominent figures of the prophecy of this period. 
 It was like beginning in a new world, with a renewed covenant. 
 In the next period we see decline. The next division carries us 
 
 up to the dawn of the gospel dispensation. 
 
 1 And vrhen He had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth 
 beast say, Com-e and see. 
 
39 
 
 8. And I looked, and behold a pale horse, and his name that sat on him, wa;5 
 Death, and Hell followed him; And power was given unto them oyer the fourth 
 part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the 
 beasts of the earth. 
 
 A pale horse is an emblem of decline of religion and change. 
 A sign of the times being at hand of the doing away of those 
 prominent signs or types of the coming of Christ and the gospel 
 dispensation. The figure is farther extended. IJis name being 
 Death and Hell, has one and the same meaning, and signifies 
 an end of that dispensation which is about to take place. Again, 
 he speaks of them having power given unto them over the fourth 
 part of the earth to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with 
 death, and with the wild beasts of the earth. Thus four is giv- 
 en definite for an indefinite number, but shows that desolation 
 and war should abound in the last end of this period of time, 
 and we find it was so. The first captivity of the ten tribes of 
 the Israelites, God's ancient people, took place in the last part 
 of this division of time, and other revolutionary movements were 
 going on for centuries, and often ending in bloody wars. An- 
 other dispensation is about to take place; the pale horse has run 
 his race. The sacrificing of animals is at an end. The Messi- 
 ah has come. The types and shadows, the offering of sacrifi- 
 ces, must pass away for the substance. Ntnv the figure of an 
 animal is dropped with the sacrificing of animals, and so ends 
 this fourth period. 
 
 9. Ann when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of 
 them tha'fc were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held. 
 
 The figure of souls being slain for the word of God and the 
 testimony which they held, and being under the altar, is to re- 
 present being sacrificed for religious belief; and this took place 
 in the first part of the Christian era. This came literally on the 
 apostles and many other Christians in their days ; and the days 
 of the offering of animal sacrifices were ended under the fourth 
 seal. In this, the fifth seal, the figure is changed to suit the 
 change of dispensation, not that this animal was a suitable sa- 
 crifice, but the figure of some animal was a very appropriate 
 emblem in the time of offering those animal sacrifices. Again, 
 the aecount of the matter goes on in the 10th verse : 
 
 10. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, Lord, holy and true, 
 dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth ? 
 
 You observe in this verse a call for righteous judgment to be 
 inflicted on the enemies of God's people. This had special refe- 
 rence to the Jewish people, and particularly to the tribe of Juda 
 who were the special enemies of Christians, as they were the 
 followers of Christ. It was by them principally that the mar- 
 tyrs suffered death ; but they were told in the next verse, what was 
 more suitable for them, "That they should rest yet for a little 
 season." But this vengeance, which the figure seems to say, 
 was claimed by those martyrs. The phraseology certainly 
 means, that the just judgments of God were lying against these 
 wicked Jews. 
 
40 
 
 11. And white robes -were given unto every one of them, and it was said unt© 
 them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants also 
 and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be futilled. 
 
 White robes are emblems of purity. They were justified by 
 the blood of Christ, and by the renewing of the Holy Spirit. 
 They were informed that they should rest yet for a little season, 
 until their fellow-servants and their brethren that should be kil- 
 led as they were, should be fulfilled. This punishment was in- 
 flicted on the Jewish people at the time of their rejection as a 
 church, and their dispersion among the nations of the earth. 
 Here is the prominent feature of the fifth seal. The persecu- 
 tion and martyrdom were to continue a little season. This phra- 
 seology means a time, which God has not been pleased to reveal 
 exactly to us, but the whole tenor of the prophecy shows clearly 
 that this was under the fifth seal, and ended at the final casting 
 away of the tribe of Juda, and the disorganization of their church 
 policy. No man who is conversant with sacred and profane his- 
 tory, will attempt to deny its application to this division of time, 
 and so on in the sixth seal. 
 
 12, And I beheld when He had opened the sixth seal, and. lo, there was a great 
 earthquake* and the sun becameblack as sackcloth of hgir, and the moon became 
 as blood. 
 
 This is the seal under which we live ; and the prominent marks 
 will be mostly towards the last part of the period. The phrase- 
 ology "earthquakes," means governments changing; and the 
 sun becoming black as sackcloth of hair, means that the strength 
 and steadfast feeling of governments shall become more uncer- 
 tain. They will be troubled with fears of their own standing; 
 and the moon becoming as blood, is a figure, and as the moon 
 receives its light from the sun shining on it, so the moon here is 
 an emblem of dependent governments, who rely on the strong 
 to help them. They will be disappointed in the time of need. 
 They will not receive what is denoted by the figure, support a- 
 gainst overthrow by others. This is the meaning of these figures. 
 
 13 And the stars of heaven feli unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her un- 
 timely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 
 
 Heaven is a figure in this prophecy, of the existence of the 
 forms of government which will change ; and the stars falling 
 from heaven, means that those high rulers and kings shall lose 
 their high power and authority ; and being cast unto the earth, 
 means being left themselves under law, and subject to authority; 
 and the fig tree being mentioned as being shaken by a mighty 
 wind, is intended to refer to the means of their fall. Wind here 
 means influence which they cannot hinder; and its being a 
 mighty wind, gives force to the figure ; and the wind being an 
 influence, will be in accordance with truth and righteousness, 
 and liberty and equality will become prevalent and universal. 
 Again the figure goes on in the next verse. 
 
 14. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every 
 XBomBtain and island were moved out of their places. 
 
41 
 
 In this part of the prophecy, the figure heaven departing, and 
 being rolled together as a scroll, means to give more force to 
 the figure of events predicted, and that all the old forms of gov- 
 ernment will be rolled out of sight, or as the figure means, en- 
 tirely gone, and will have no existence ; and every mountain 
 and island being moved, means large and small governments of 
 the past will be changed and gone. 
 
 15. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the 
 chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid 
 themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains. 
 
 In this verse is figured out the general distress, which will take 
 place both among the high and the low. They will grasp at ev- 
 ery refuge which will give a prospect of a shield or shelter from 
 the fate which awaits them, and from the tone of their wailing, 
 I suppose they will be generally on the opposite sides of the 
 universal reign of the kingdom of Christ. 
 
 16. And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face 
 of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. 
 
 Here they call on the mountains and rocks, to fall 6n them 
 and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. This is a continu- 
 ation of the same figure. They acknowledge the hatred of the 
 light, and dread of the punishment. 
 
 17. For the great day of His wrath is come ; and who shall be able to stand ? 
 
 Here they acknowledge His superiority of power in the phrase, 
 "Who shall be able to stand?" as much as to say, No one, nor 
 power is able to stand or vindicate themselves against His right- 
 eous judgments. 
 
 We now pass to the 7th chapter. In this chapter, the spirit 
 continues the vision under the sixth seal, and mentions some of 
 the actions. The church is in its purifying process, before the 
 opening of the seventh seal, and the language begins thus: 
 
 1. And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the 
 earth,holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the 
 earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 
 
 Angels being messengers of the church, and their standing on 
 the four corners of the earth, the earth being the emblem of law, 
 and wind the emblem of power exerted, and that it should not 
 blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. The sea 
 meaning the mass of mankind, and meaning in this place their 
 being in authority, and the force of the law should be continued. 
 
 2. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the liv- 
 ing God : and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given 
 to hurt the earth and the sea. 
 
 In this verse one angel being mentioned, means power being 
 brought to bear on the particular thing mentioned, the sealing, 
 and that no opposition should be brought to hinder the accom- 
 plishment of this great matter. 9 
 
 3. Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed 
 the servants of our God in their foreheads. 
 
 This shows that the laws in force at the time of this sealing, 
 will favor it, and that their power will continue the same as it had 
 been before, until their accomplishment. 
 
42 
 
 4. And I heard the number of them which were sealed, and there were sealed 
 an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 
 
 A definite number is here given for an indefinite number. 
 
 This process of sealing is the return of the Israelites to their 
 own land, and to the true standard of Christianity. This angel 
 is called so, because in this vision he acts the part of a messen- 
 ger, and is also armed with power sufficient to control all other 
 powers ; and this corresponds with the Scripture account of the 
 river Euphrates being dried up so as to prepare the way of the 
 kings of the east. Also a passage in another place speaks of 
 the return of the Israelites, as the expression is, flying on the 
 shoulders of the Philistines towards the west. The Philistines 
 being the strongest nation in existence, when the prediction was 
 made, it was a fit figure to use, to represent the highest author- 
 ty of the actors in the fulfilment of the prophecy ; but the sealing 
 goes on in the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th verses. The number of 
 twelve is mentioned. This is a proper number to represent all 
 the tribes. This inference is drawn from other places in the 
 Scriptures, of God's plans of representation. The twelve apos- 
 tles were the representatives of the gospel dispensation, and the 
 twelve patriarchs represented the Israelitic people, and twelve 
 legions of angels represented the force that Christ might have 
 had to defend him against his enemies, if He had so desired. It 
 has pleased God, however, to represent the church trium- 
 phant by twenty four elders, — a union of both the apostolic and 
 Israelitic host. 
 
 9. After this I beheld , and lo, a great multitude which no man could number, of all 
 nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before 
 the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. 
 
 In this verse the great number mentioned, of all nations, and 
 kindreds, and people, and tongues, standing before the throne, 
 and before the Lamb, with palms in their hands, represent the 
 universal prevalence of religious principle, and a union of sen- 
 timent and action. In the 10th, 11th and 12th verses, there is an 
 ascription of praise and honor given to God and the Lamb, and 
 approved by the elders and the four beasts, showing that the 
 true worship of God will universally prevail, and that there will 
 be union of sentiment, plainly showing that from the Jews, and 
 at the time of their return, will go out an influence which will 
 pervade the whole gentile nations. The same thing is predict- 
 ed in another place, where it is said that all nations shall flow 
 unto them. 
 
 13. And one of the elders answered, sajing unto me, What are these that ars ar- 
 rayed in white robes ? and whence came they ? 
 
 14* And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said unto me, These are 
 they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made 
 them white in the blood of the Lamb. 
 
 They frankly acknowledge that they got the victory over their 
 troubles and sinfulness, and their robes being made white, means 
 that they were justified by the merits of the blood of the Lamb 
 which had been slain. 
 
43 
 
 15. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in 
 his temple ; and he that sitteth on the throne, shall dwell among them. 
 
 This serving him day and night, means a continuation of the 
 true worship of God : and he that sitteth on the throne, shall 
 dwell among them, means that Christ at that time will reign in 
 his church by his power or spirit; 
 
 16. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst ; ny, more, neither shall the sun 
 light on them, nor any heat. 
 
 By not hungering and thirsting any more, the meaning is that 
 they shall have all spiritual strength given them, which they 
 may need. Neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat, 
 means that they shall not be subject to punishment or persecu- 
 tion by their enemies or any remorse of conscience. 
 
 17. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall 
 lead them unto living fountains of water ; and God shall wipe away all tears from 
 their eyes. 
 
 In this they are told that the Lord which is in the midst of the 
 throne, shall feed them, means that they will be supported ; and 
 being led unto living fountains of water, means that the purify- 
 ing of the church shall go on, the water being the emblem of 
 cleansing. And wiping away all tears from their eyes, means 
 that they shall have no occasion for mourning, but happiness 
 will continue with them forever. There are unmistakable and 
 prominent marks of the sixth seal or period of time, and they 
 will all be realized between the fifth and seventh seals ; but the 
 most prominent is yet to come, before the present two thousand 
 years shall end. 
 
 In the 8th chapter, the spirit by St. John continues thus : 
 
 1. And when He had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about 
 the space of half an hour. 
 
 This means that the former powers were at an end, that they 
 were stopped, or as the phrase is, silence in heaven about the 
 space of half an hour. Heaven here means government on 
 earth, and the old form had stopped, or as the figure is, was si- 
 lenced, or laid aside for the new, milder form. 
 
 2. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God, and to them were given 
 seven trumpets. 
 
 These seven angels will soon describe the scene that has pass- 
 ed, and they being seven has special reference to some of the 
 events, which took place in the seven divisions of time. 
 
 3. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer, and 
 there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of 
 all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 
 
 Incense and the prayers of all the saints here mentioned, is 
 the offering or worship of a pure church, and it being offered on 
 the golden altar. The altar is put for the sacrifice, and that 
 means Christ, and it is through Him they make their offering. 
 
 4. And the smoke ©f the incense, which come with the prayers of the saints, as - 
 cended up before God out of the angel's hand. 
 
 Smoke means that the influence of prayer with a pure heart 
 was heard. Now, from this purified church, incense is an em- 
 blem of a pure heart, and affection, and worship ; and ascending 
 
44 
 
 np out of the angel's nand, means they were borne up by the 
 Mediator himself. 
 
 5. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast 
 it into the earth; and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and 
 an earthquake. 
 
 The filling the censer with fire of the altar by the angel, and 
 easting it into the earth, means to convey to us that an influ- 
 ence shall go forth, which will produce a change in the laws, and 
 a change in the rulers. Fire is the emblem of renovation and 
 change of principle. The laws will all be founded on the prin- 
 ciple of God's law and justice ; truth will be adhered to by all. 
 There were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an 
 earthquake. This is a figurative expression, to show the change 
 which will take place in the form of government. Lightnings 
 and thunderings mean influence with great rapidity and irresis- 
 tible force. 
 
 6. And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets, prepared themselves 
 to sound. 
 
 He again in this 8th chapter, from the 7th verse to the close 
 of the 9th chapter, takes a review of the past down-fall of the 
 past powers, and describes the scene by figures. 
 
 7. The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with 
 blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of the trees were 
 "burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. 
 
 An angel means a messenger, and sounding means making 
 known events past or passing. Then followed hail and fire min- 
 gled with blood. This means violence and powerful influence, 
 and change of laws, or as the figure is, cast upon the earth. 
 The third part of the trees being burnt up, means men losing 
 power; and grass being burnt up, means that nothing was left 
 to support the sinking powers. 
 
 8. And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burnijag 
 with fire, was cast into the sea; and the third part of the sea became blood. 
 
 This great mountain or high power burning with fire and be- 
 ing cast into the sea, and the sea becoming one third part blood, 
 means that great influence was brought to bear on the mass of 
 the people, and their faith in the former powers will be greatly 
 shaken. The third part is meant to show the progress of change 
 not great enough to turn the scale. 
 
 9. And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, 
 died ; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. 
 
 Creatures being in the sea and having had life, died, means the 
 smaller powers among the nations were giving way, or losing 
 their influence; and the ships being one third of them destroyed, 
 means that the powers on whom these smaller dependents were 
 leaning, were also giving way. 
 
 10. And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, 
 burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon 
 "the fountains of waters. 
 
 This great star falling from heaven , means one of the strongest 
 
45 
 
 rulers of nations losing his power ; and burning as it were a lamp, 
 means that his fall will have great influence; and its falling up- 
 on the third part of the rivers and fountains of waters, means 
 that this star or high power will carry with him a very respect- 
 able part of the different powers that exist at that time. These 
 will be of two grades — fountains mean independent, and rivers 
 mean those who are dependent on other powers to sustain them. 
 
 11. And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of 
 the waters became wormwood ; and many men died of the waters, becaus* 
 they were made bitter. 
 
 The star's name being called wormwood, means that his prin- 
 ciple was bitter against the new form of government, just forc- 
 ing him out; and the third part of the waters becoming worm- 
 wood, means a bitterness of feeling among the people against 
 the old form of government; and dying of the waters, because 
 they were made bitter, means that the people were leaving the 
 old wormwood reign of government, and falling in with the milder 
 reign, under the influence of the elevating blaze of gospel truth 
 and light. 
 
 The 12th verse reads : 
 
 "And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part «f the sun was smitten, and 
 the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars ; so as the third part of 
 them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it. and night like- 
 wise." 
 
 The third part of the sun being smitten means to show that 
 the combination of power was losing its force, and the third part 
 of moon being in the same condition, means a decaying and de- 
 clining, and weaker government. The stars not shining more 
 than a third part, and the same with the day and night, all go 
 to show by figures the loss of power and influence as the bright- 
 er day begins to draw. 
 
 13. And I beheld, and heard en angel flying through the midst of heaven, say- 
 ing with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the 
 other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound ! 
 
 The tenor of this verse seems to indicate warlike feeling and 
 movements, and an expectation of general revolution and 
 changes which should soon take place, and that old despotism 
 must cease and give way before the more liberal system of the 
 pure reign of Christ 
 
 The ninth chapter : 
 
 1. And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: 
 and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 
 
 This figure of a star falling is intended to show the downfall 
 of an empire. You note that there is no figure to show the loss 
 of any of the elements of Empire, such as grass of the earth, 
 nor the trees, nor any green thing ; these were not to be hurt, but 
 only the empire itself, and this probably by death or some other 
 way of the ruler. 
 
 2. And he opened the bottomless pit ; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, m 
 the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of 
 the smoke of the pit. 
 
46 
 
 In this verse you see by the smoke ascending from the bot- 
 tomless pit shows that the power heretofore exerted should or 
 would be again enforced by other rulers, and although this em- 
 pire was being darkened as the figure is of the sun and air here 
 mentioned ; yet this smoke was a fit emblem of decaying fire, 
 and indicated the element of renovating or bringing together 
 power which was only set aside. 
 
 3. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth : and unto them was 
 given power, as the scorpions of the earth have no power. 
 
 Locusts in this verse is intended to show by figure the power 
 that would arise out of this fallen empire, and the quality of the 
 rulers are figured out by these insects to show not only their 
 groveling and grasping disposition, but their spreading them- 
 selves over the earth, and grasping everything in their way. 
 
 4. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, 
 neither any green thing, neither any tree ; but only those men which have not the 
 seal of God in their foreheads. 
 
 This appears to be a description of the action of the people 
 described in this vision, and they were directed not to destroy or 
 hinder the cherishing of law and order, and they were not hin- 
 dered ; but required to hurt those men which had not the seal of 
 God in their foreheads. This crusade must have been against 
 the false church, and this appears to be a prominent object in 
 this chapter to show that God does make use of nations to 
 scourge each other for wickedness. 
 
 5. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but they should be 
 tormented five months, and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when 
 he striketh a man. 
 
 In this verse the torment was mental and was of the mind and 
 probably arose from anti- christian principles, but was not toler- 
 ated by the ruling power, and this torment lasted five months or 
 one hundred and fifty years, and shows that God's providence 
 has so arranged it that false religion is not a screen to righteous 
 judgment, but will be inflicted even by the wicked. 
 
 6. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it, and shall de- 
 sire to die, and death shall flee from them. 
 
 Desiring to die and death flying from them means that they 
 will desire to get rid of those pains and plagues designated by 
 
 stinging by scorpions. 
 
 7. And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle, and 
 on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of 
 men. 
 
 The shapes of the locusts being like horses prepared unto 
 battle — a thorough process — a horse is a figure used to denote 
 running and shows that this torment will do its work swiftly, 
 and as a battle is mentioned the conquest of the vistims will be 
 certain, and as they had crowns on their heads like gold, a ma- 
 jority of them will be ruled and governed by power that will do 
 justice to them. They will either be tolerated in their opinions 
 or have liberty of conscience Faces like men means that they 
 will be frank to avow their sentiment openly. 
 
47 
 
 8. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of 
 lions. 
 
 Hair like women means fair, smooth and winning, and teeth 
 like the teeth of lions, that they were courageous and persever- 
 ingin what were their rights. 
 
 9. And they had breastplates, as it were, breastplates of iron ; and the sound of 
 their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. 
 
 The figure of breastplates as it were iron, means a firmness of 
 strength sufficient to defend themselves against any assault made 
 on them or their principles, and the sound of their wings being 
 as the sound of many chariots of many horses running to battle 
 shows a union of strength and facilities to use it. 
 
 10. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails : 
 and their power was to hurt men five months. 
 
 Here is still kept up the figure of the facility of their action 
 and a punishment following it. This is the meaning of their 
 stings being in their t^ils. The time of this torment will be five 
 months or 150 years. 
 
 11. And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, 
 whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his 
 name Apollyon. 
 
 The angel of the bottomless pit is a figure to show the influ- 
 ence operating on them to carry on and keep up the struggle, 
 going on between the contending parties, and the names are ap- 
 propriate to the figure used in the prophecy. 
 
 12. One woe is past ; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter. 
 
 In this the spirit takes a view of the punishment and the re- 
 sult that will follow. 
 
 13. And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the 
 golden altar which is before God. 
 
 This voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar be- 
 fore God, four being in the figure before the altar indicates that 
 the voice came by the messengers called beasts. In some other 
 places, and as it was from the golden altar before mentioned, 
 it was punishment and justly. From the figure of the altar, it 
 was intended to purify at least some that were in the conflict or 
 sacrifice them on the altar of death. Now comes the conflict be- 
 tween the followers of God and the lamb, or as it is in the figure 
 loosing the four angels. 
 
 14. Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which 
 are bound in the great river Euphrates. 
 
 Loosing the four angels is probably a contest of war which 
 will take place between the followers of God and the followers 
 of the beast; and four angels being loosed out of the great river 
 Euphrates, seems to indicate a general contest by the combined 
 powers, and continuing some length of time. 
 
 15. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, 
 and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. 
 
 The different times mentioned which these four angels were 
 to be let loose is 396 years, and to slay the third part of men, 
 and is a common figure to represent the judgments of God. 
 
48 
 
 16. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand 
 thousand ; and I heard the nunber of them. 
 
 In this figurative language is intended to show the combined 
 strength brought to bear on the cause of Christ in some shape 
 or other. This contest appears to be against anti-chrislian as- 
 sociations ; yet God does often make use of this kind of means 
 to cleanse his church by cutting off their enemies and scourging 
 them in the contest in the matter in dispute ; and in the 17th, 
 18th and 19th verses a highly figurative description is given of 
 the nature of the contest by expressions applicable. 
 
 20. And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented 
 not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of 
 gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood : which neither can see, cor 
 hear, nor walk. 
 
 The rest of men is intended to show the balance of them un- 
 der the influence of these plagues, and is a carrying out the 
 figure of one-third so often made use of in scripture prophecy. 
 
 21. Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their 
 fornication, nor of their thefts. 
 
 Violence is described by murder and dishonesty by thefts, and 
 sorceries by a co-operation with evil spirits, and fornication 
 worshipping the beast, the false church. These four angels 
 probably refer to four empires which arose after the fall of the 
 one founded by Charles the great, namely Bagdad, Iconeum, 
 and Damascus. However, this may be, one thing is certain, it 
 is a description of a part of the great contest going on in the 
 world, and will be part of the combination of means which will 
 be made use of in bringing about the final cleansing of the 
 church, and the final setting up of the kingdom of Christ on the 
 earth. 
 
 The tenth chapter. 
 
 1. And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud; 
 and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet 
 as pillars of fire. 
 
 To be clothed with a cloud is a token of God's presence, and 
 a rainbow being on his head is a token of approbation or sign 
 of covenant fixed and not to change. His face as it were the 
 sun, and opening light of the brightest kind is meant. His feet 
 as pillars of fire a figure of purifying influence. 
 
 2. And he had in his hand a little book open, and he set his right foot upon the 
 sea, and his left foot on the earth. 
 
 Having in his hand a little book open, is intended to represent 
 a fixed fact or a matter to be seen or known, and setting his 
 right foot on the sea and his left foot on the earth, is a figure to 
 show the control of both law and people. 
 
 3. And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth, and when he had cried 
 seven thunders uttered their voices. 
 
 Crying with a loud voice as when a lion roareth, is a positive 
 declaration of decision of what justice demands, when he had 
 cried seven thunders uttered their voices . this probably means 
 that the justice of God was taken in view. By the figure of an 
 open book, it signifies an examination of the subject in hand. 
 
49 
 
 4. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write, 
 and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the 
 seven thunders uttered, and write them not. 
 
 A sealing up of what these thunders uttered probably means 
 the withholding of just judgment on the past short comings of 
 God's people, and the thundering voice was silenced by the 
 mediation of Christ the lamb, but now to be king of nations as 
 he was king of saints before. 
 
 5. And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up 
 his hand to heaven. 
 
 6. And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the 
 things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, 
 and the things that are therein, that there should be time no longer : 
 
 The act of the angel lifting up his hand to heaven and swear- 
 ing, and ascribing all power of creation and acknowledging that 
 God had done these things, and that he was about to perform an 
 act of which God by his providence, had continued for some 
 legth of time, and an act of which he knew well the mind of the 
 spirit; that there should be time no longer, this prophecy look- 
 ing forward to the end of this period of time, which had their ter- 
 mination, that is, the opposition to the kingdom of Christ should 
 be no longer, and he says there shall be time no longer, or in 
 other words, the vision of which Daniel spoke of the great God 
 setting up a kingdom which should be universal and should fill 
 the whole earth, evidently meant the opposition which should con- 
 tinue to be exerted against the church and should end, and when 
 the church should be cleansed, and when the kingdom shall be 
 given to the saints, and when Christ shall reign over all the earth, 
 and when Christ shall be king of nations as he is now king of 
 saints, then the vision or opposition shall end ; but this does not 
 mean the end of the world as the Millerites seem to suppose. 
 
 7. But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to 
 sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants 
 
 the prophets. 
 
 He here refers to the seventh angel, when he shall begin to 
 sound ; this has reference to the commencement of the thousand 
 years of Christ's reign. Sounding is a declaration of something. 
 He says the mystery of God shall be finished. Thus the full 
 redemption of his church at the time of the cleansing of the 
 sanctuary. This corresponds with the opening of the seventh 
 seal, which I have already explained. He making it known to 
 his servants the prophets, shows clearly that this should be un- 
 derstood. 
 
 8. And the voice which I hoard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go 
 and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth up- 
 on the sea and upon the earth* 
 
 The invitation to go and take the little book out of the hand 
 of the angel, plainly shows that it was given to mankind for 
 their instruction and enlightment, and it being open shows that 
 it can be understood, and that its contents are to be seen, and 
 made the rule of life, and its principles should be a guide in 
 " 4 
 
50 
 
 duty both toward God and man, and to all the human race as 
 we may have opportunity and the means to carry it out. 
 
 9. And 1 went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And 
 he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up, and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it' 
 shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. 
 
 The figure is plain the little book was designed for men and 
 was given to them, cind the eating it up was a command to use 
 it for instruction. It should make thy belly bitter, this is a 
 figure to show the digestive tendency of the word of God, and 
 its requirements are bitter to fallen men; but in his mouth as 
 sweet as honey, shows that its principles are agreeable and right 
 to the christian. The principle meaning is that it is right of 
 itself, suitable to accomplish the great object intended by its 
 revelation to men. 
 
 10. And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up, and it was 
 in mj mouth sweet as honey, and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. 
 
 In this verse the practical effect of the use of God's truth is in- 
 tended. 
 
 11. And he said unto me, Thou must prophecy again before man y peoples, and 
 nations, and tongues, and kings. 
 
 This book's contents must be diffused among many people, 
 and nations, and tongues, and kings. This interpretation will 
 apply to prophecy or the written word of God, and shows that 
 it is the main means of the advancement of the kingdom of 
 Christ although it operates in different ways on different per- 
 sons and on different nations, according to their character. 
 
 The eleventh chapter. 
 
 1. 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. 
 
 The spirit by St. John commences in this chapter and reviews 
 
 the church of God as it existed in the Jewish nation. This is 
 
 what is meant by measuring the temple of God, and the altar, 
 
 and they that worship therein. Measuring is examining the 
 
 Jewish church. 
 
 2. But the court which is without the temple leave out. and measure it nGt, for it 
 is given unto the Geatiles : and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and 
 two months. 
 
 The court without the temple is intended to show a place of 
 proper organization and justice, showing by figure that the court 
 is the Gentile church, and is at present the true church of Christ, 
 being without the temple shows that the Gentiles are yet im- 
 perfect as they will be when the time comes for them to flow 
 unto it; being gathered in with the Israelites after they return 
 to be the true church or to Christianity. The court without the 
 temple not being measured and being given to the Gentiles goes 
 to show th^t God accepts of the Gentile worship, but he has 
 tolerated many things of which he does not approve, and the 
 figurative language of the Gentiles treading under foot the holy 
 city, forty and two months, was the exile of the Jews. They 
 are the holy city in this prophecy, and the time is forty and two 
 
51 
 
 months, or 1260 years. This is the same time mentioned of the 
 casting away or unchurching of the Jewish nation. The same 
 time is given for the setting up of the abomination of desolation, 
 and these all correspond with the time of the nourishment of 
 the women or the church in the wildernes ; also of the reign of 
 the beast or the an ti- christian church. The two witnesses will 
 continue the same time. I do not say that all these different 
 events will commence in and* at the same time; but I do say 
 that these predictions are taken into Daniel's vision of the op- 
 position which would exist, and be kept up against the church 
 for this period, and all these different features will appear and 
 be prominent marks of the times when understood. 
 
 3. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophecy a 
 thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 
 
 In this verse it is evident that he is speaking of the time of 
 the casting away of Israel or more particularly the tribe of Juda; 
 and his two witnesses are the Old and New Testaments. But 
 men are used for the figure, and so on through the prophecy in 
 the same prophetic style; and they mast prophecy a thousand 
 two hundred and threescore days or 1250 years, corresponding 
 with treading under foot of the holy city by the Gentiles. Cloth- 
 ed in sackcloth is a token of affliction or humilitv, and is not 
 this a beautiful figure to represent the success of the gospel 
 most of the time before mentioned ? 
 
 4. These are the two olive trees, and the'tw* candlesticks standing' before the God 
 of the earth. 
 
 The two olive trees are ixitended to describe quality, mildness 
 and permanency; and the two candlesticks standing before the 
 God of the earth, this light shining and diffusing itself into the 
 laws of the land. The God of the earth means the laws of the 
 land will be controlled somewhat by the light of these witnesses 
 most of the time. 
 
 5. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and de- 
 voureth their enemies, and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be 
 killed. 
 
 Hurting or doing any thing against the witnesses word of truth 
 and fire proceeding out of their mouth means both light and 
 influence or renovation ; and if any man will hurt them he must 
 in this manner be killed, that is, condemned by its principles 
 or influences, which will be brought to bear on their opposition 
 to its truth. They will be cleansed or changed in their actions 
 and influences. 
 
 6. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy, 
 and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all 
 plagues, as often as they will. 
 
 The power here mentioned with which they will have to shut 
 heaven is intended to show the influence which will be exerted 
 on the government generally. Rain being a reviving and re- 
 freshing emblem shows that this shall be much exerted. Power 
 over waters to turn them to blood, shows confusion and undecid- 
 
52 
 
 ed opinion and action among the people ; and to smite the earth 
 with plagues as often as they will. These witnesses or the word 
 of truth will have a very strong tendency to shape the laws to 
 their own principles ; also indicates judgments and afflictions 
 of the mass of people as well as confusion in the laws, or con- 
 flicting interests. 
 
 7. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast thai as- 
 cendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against, them, and shall over- 
 come them, and kill them. 
 
 "When they shall have finished their thestimony." This will 
 
 fee a stop in the time of their prophecy; and the beast ascending 
 
 out of the bottomless pit shows an increase of his power and 
 
 liberty of action, and a decline of religious principles. Make 
 
 war against them and overcome and kill them, means to destroy 
 
 or put down by authority of law, sanctioned by the powers that 
 
 had the sway of this matter. 
 
 8. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which 
 spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 
 
 Being in the street, means being thrown out as useless and no 
 longer to be tolerated or obeyed, and the great city here is in- 
 tended to show decision by authority. Spiritually like Sodom 
 and Egypt is a figure to "show the high toned opposition to the 
 truth of the scriptures which prevailed at that time. Where al- 
 so our lord was crucified, indicates a gross act of wickedness 
 compared with nothing short of the high handed act of crucify- 
 ing our Lord and Savior. This was a rejection of his authority 
 of governing the world by his laws as well as his spirit. 
 
 9. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see 
 their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies 
 to be put in graves. 
 
 This is a further extension of the figure and shows a general 
 approval of the act, and that the universal rejection of the truth 
 of the gospel should take place in one or more of the high 
 powers for the space of three years and a half. 
 
 10. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make 
 merry, and shall send gifts one to another ; because these two prophets tor- 
 mented them that dwelt on the earth. 
 
 Dwelling on the earth is a reliance on the law of decision 
 which banished the word of truth, and prevented it from control- 
 ingthem. Rejoicing and making merry, and sending gifts to 
 one another, is a figure to show the liberty they now had to 
 practice on the opposite side of truth, for these two prophets 
 tormented them that dwelt on the earth. These righteous laws 
 were not congenial to the feelings of the ungodly populous mass 
 of the people who wished to be at liberty to follow their own 
 wicked devices, to suit their selfish ends. To^be hindred of this, 
 was torment,, such as they were not willing to submit to, if they 
 
 could help it. 
 
 11. And after three days and a half the Spirit of life from God entered into 
 them, and they stood upon their feet ; and great fear fell upon them which aw 
 them, 
 
53 
 
 After three days and a half, which is three years and a half, 
 the spirit from God entered into them. This was a revival of 
 the scriptures, God by his providence had it re-established. It 
 was his truth, and they standing on their feet. They were es- 
 tablished on their footing or former principles and worth ; and 
 great fear falling on them that saw them, means that there was 
 danger of this influence curbing their wickedness, which they 
 had been in the habit of practicing. This opposition cam© 
 from the high ruler principally, as he is called the beast. 
 
 12. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up 
 hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud: and their enemies be- 
 held them. 
 
 They hearing a voice and ascending up to heaven, means 
 that they were re-established by authority, and in a cloud, is a 
 token of God's spiritual approbation. This is a fit emblem to 
 show that the witnesses or word of truth was again set up by 
 the proper authority, and was supported by the laws of the land. 
 And their enemies beheld them, goes to show a yielding to their 
 influence, at least in action if no more. 
 
 L3. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of 
 the ( ity fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the 
 remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 
 
 Being a great earthquake the same hour, is a figure to show 
 that the beast or false church lost the tenth part of his power 
 against the truth, as well as part of his power over the state. 
 And their being seven thousand men slain by the earthquake, m 
 meant a great number went on the side of the two witnesses, 
 and left mother church who reigns over the nations of the earth, 
 and being affrighted and giving glory to the God of heaven, 
 means they were in favor of the re-establishment of the truth, 
 and honored the high power by whom it was again enforced. 
 This figure of the God of heaven has still a higher meaning 
 and shows that honor was given to the supreme ruler of the uni- 
 verse. I suppose this has some reference to the reformation under 
 Luther and Calvin, and others who were engaged in that great 
 change which took place in the Roman government. It is said 
 that near half of old Mother church's power over the ten kingdoms 
 or empires, was lost at that time, and has never been regained 
 since, nor never will be again. Her power is gradually sinking 
 as well as other corresponding opposition. AH must fade under 
 the progressive light of the present day. 
 
 14. The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. 
 
 15. And the seventh angel sounded : and there were great voices in heaven, 
 saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and 
 of his Christ ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. v 
 
 This voice is intended to show that at the opening of this 
 seventh seal there will be a general feeling in favor of the gos- 
 pel of truth, and the voice being from heaven signifies that the 
 powers that be will favor it, and means Christ shall reign for ever 
 and ever. It is clear that this will be at the time of the cleans- 
 
54 
 
 ing of the sanctuary when men will acknowledge and aot in ac- 
 cordance to truth and righteousness, which will then prevail 
 among God's people universally over the earth. 
 
 16. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell 
 upon their faces, a/pd worshipped God. 
 
 Here the twenty-four elders approve of God's acts as they 
 were seen by theriiy and they were a representation of the church 
 of Christ triumphant. They also worship God for his exhibition 
 of holy purposes shown them, and they adore him who is the 
 unerring ruler of the whole universe: 
 
 17. Saying, We give thee thanks, Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, 
 and art to come: because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast 
 reigned. 
 
 Giving thanks to God that, he has taken to himself his great 
 power and hast reigned, is an expression of thanks to him as 
 his power is made manifest in the fulfilment of this particular 
 prophecy. 
 
 18. And the nations were angry, and thy wa.rth is come, and the time of the 
 dead, that they should be judged, and thou shouldest give reward unto thy ser- 
 vants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and 
 great: and stiouldest destroy them which destroy the earth- 
 
 The nations being angry,' is. their opposition to the kingdom 
 ,©f Christ, and thy wrath is come, means the day of just pun- 
 ishment is come; and the time that the dead should be judged, 
 this means their enemies shall be '/deprived of doing them any 
 more injury. That they should be judged, and giving. re wards 
 to his servants, the, prophets, means. a liberty from those annoy- 
 ing enemies which had done them an injury.; and to the saints 
 and them that fear thy name, small and great, this is figura- 
 tive language showing the triumph of God's people. Destroy- 
 ing them that destroy the earth, is to prevent them from doing 
 any injury,, or. to, have the authority of law extended against the 
 saints or the cause of which they are , advocates. Destroying 
 them that destroy the earth, . indicates judgment, also inflicted 
 on their enemies, those who are waring 'against the true king- 
 dom of which He, .the God truth is the founder. 
 
 19. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his 
 temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and 
 thimderings, and an earthquake, and. great hail. 
 
 The temple being opened in heaven, is an emblem of the true 
 religion, being not only approved by the high powers of the land, 
 but it now obtains their favor and sanction. And there were 
 seen in his temple, the ark of his testament. This ark being 
 seen in his temple shows that the governments were a shield to 
 the saints and their cause. The ark was a depository for sacred 
 things; and now the powers that be, are what is intended by 
 the figure. And there being lightnings, and voices, and thun- 
 dering and an earthquake, and great hail, represents the change 
 of power, and feeling, and action, which will take place on earth, 
 and is intended to show the change of law and of government, and 
 
55 
 
 nail the end of strife. Thus you see that this chapter takes into 
 view the means and the end of the contest between the righteous 
 and the wicked, and that it will finally be all on the side of 
 truth, and with the saints, and that those that will not be reform- 
 ed will have no excuse for the want of means but must perish. 
 
 Twelfth chapter. In this there is a discription of the church 
 and its persecutions and triumph. 
 
 1. 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. 
 
 "A wonder in heaven," a woman represents the church, and 
 that she is nourished and protected by the ruling power, clothed 
 with th© sun, shows that she shines with clear light ; and the 
 moon under her feet, shows that her light is not now a reflective 
 light, the reflective light being put under her feet. And upon 
 her head a crown of twelve stars, signifies that the church will 
 exhibit the honor of which the twelve apostles are entitled to. 
 Wearing crowns of righteousness which the righteous judge will 
 put on their heads. 
 
 2. And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be de- 
 livered. 
 
 This means affliction, progress and prosperity in her retire- 
 ment. 
 
 3. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red 
 dragon, having seven heads and ten horn*, and seven crowns upon his heads. 
 
 The wonder in heaven signifies the toleration or fostering, or 
 protection, which the church would be favored with in her in- 
 creasing state of action. A great dragon is a figure to repre- 
 sent the false church, and having seven heads, is a figure to show 
 the seven divisions of the earth, on which the false church ex- 
 erts her power ; and the ten horns, are ten rulers that will favor 
 her, or tolerate her grasping power . and seven crowns upon 
 his heads, shows that only seven of those ten rulers will be en- 
 titled to the honor of kingly powers. This figure of ten horns 
 has special reference to the ten kingdoms, over which the roman 
 church once had grasped nearly all the power of both church 
 and state, she lost about half of her ill gotten power at the time 
 of the reformation. 
 
 4. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them 
 to the earth : and the dragon stood before ihe woman which was ready to be 
 delivered, to devour her child as soon as it was born. 
 
 His tail drawing the third part of the stars of heaven, shows 
 that the false church by its influence would control a part of the 
 kings and other rulers; and casting them to the earth, signifies 
 that these powers themselves should be subject to the control 
 of his laws; and the dragon standing before the woman to de- 
 vour the child as soon as it was born, is a figure to show the 
 vigilence of the mother of harlots, or the false church to try by 
 all the stratagems which she can invent, to retard the increase of 
 converts, or prosperity ©f the true church. And mark what a fit 
 
56 
 
 figure this is to destroy the offspring, and the race will soon be 
 gone. 
 
 5. 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. 
 
 Bringing forth a mail child, represents the efficiency of the 
 church as it increased, and shows that it will have strength and 
 self-controlling power; and ruling all nations with a rod of iron 
 signifies the influence of the church, and that it will be univer- 
 sal ; and her child being caught up to God and his throne, this 
 is intended to show that the seed of the church or its universal 
 host should be brought fully under the influence of the laws of 
 God, and will be governed by his will when the time of its 
 cleansing shall arrive. 
 
 6. 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. 
 
 Flying into the wilderness is a figure to show ttiat the church 
 left the protection of the old governments when they were so 
 corrupt that they were not ruled by any principle of just pro- 
 tection to them. A place prepared of God is a place where the 
 church would be protected from her enemies, the old dragon t>p 
 false church. They should feed her a thousand two hundred 
 and threescore days, this signifies that she shall be supported 
 and fed with truth aid liberty, till she should become strong. 
 
 7. And there was war in heaven ; Michael and his angels fought against the dra- 
 gon, and the dragon fought and his angels. 
 
 Michael is the name of an angel, and the representation 
 shows a strife between the parties, that is to say, the false 
 church exerted all her influence to hinder prosperity, and in- 
 crease of the kingdom of Christ. Michael the angel, being here 
 mentioned shows the cause is of God, and his employment of 
 the angels as agents in the contest. 
 
 8. And prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. 
 
 Here the strife ends. There was no place found in the king- 
 doms of the world to fully protect the old mother of harlots. 
 She must be thrown on her own resources, and her intolerant 
 spirit will be subdued and she die a lingering death by the light 
 of truth rightly diffused. 
 
 9. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Sa» 
 tan, which deceiveth the whole world, he was cast out into the earth, and his an- 
 gels were cast out with him. 
 
 Here the defeat of the false church is figured out by all the 
 names of the wicked leader in her false pretentions to power, 
 and in her worship of idols and saints, and with her intolerant 
 spirit ; and being cast out into the earth, shows all power is 
 taken from her, and she was obliged herself to submit to law, 
 His angels being cast cut with him proves that they are subjects 
 of law and can go no further than the length of their chains. 
 
 10. 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 llie 
 accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and 
 night. 
 
57 
 
 A loud voice in heaven, means a strong influence in favor of 
 Christ's kingdom controlling all law and action, and a general 
 voice that favors the true kingdom, and salvation is a recover- 
 ing from the power of the false church or the power of the dra- 
 gon; for the accuser of our brethren is cast down. This is en- 
 tire loss of power to hurt or hinder the ushering in of the glori- 
 ous kingdom. Which accused them before our God day and 
 night, this intimates that these brethren were not always right, 
 or they would not be the subjects of accusation. 
 
 11. And they overcame htm by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their 
 testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death. 
 
 Overcome him by the blood of the Lamb, is by the redemption 
 of Christ. The word of their testimony, is the principle on 
 which they acted. And they loved not their lives unto the 
 death, this means that they loved the cause of Christ and the 
 principles of the truth of the gospel better than life itself, and 
 rather than deny the christian principle or Christ himself, they 
 would suffer death, and well they might, rather than sin against 
 God. 
 
 12. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the in- 
 habiters ot the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having 
 great wrath, beeause he knoweth that he hath but a short time. 
 
 Ye heavens rejoicing and them that dwell in them, this is a figure 
 to express satisfaction and co-operation with truth. Woe to 
 the inhabiters of the earth and sea, for the devil is come down un- 
 to you, having great wrath. This shows the exertion which he will 
 make after his defeat, and what trouble he will bring on the 
 man that will hear him ; but it principally indicates the oppo- 
 sition still existing in the breasts of the men that oppose the 
 true cause of righteousness, which shall be universal throughout 
 the land. 
 
 13. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the 
 woman which brought forth the man child. 
 
 This persecution is by the beast or the false church in the 
 figure of the dragon. 
 
 14. 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. 
 
 The woman flying into the wilderness is a figure to show that 
 the church fled from persecution. The wilderness is a place of 
 escape from such persecution, a shelter and prospect for im- 
 provement ; a country suitable for her, where she could enjoy 
 liberty of conscience. .Again, her place is obtained, she moves 
 by the figure of the two wings of a great eagle. These two 
 wings represent two places or two countries where she has had 
 her retreat from the dragon. The United States is the most 
 prominent place of her rest from persecution. This I prove by 
 the emblem of the eagle as that is the emblem of our nation's 
 flag. I know that this figure of the woman or church com- 
 menced long before these United States were settled with chris- 
 
58 
 
 tians, yet the figure shows that this country is the most liberal 
 to the church of any other. In prophecy it always has the 
 highest marks, and the most prominent action is taken to rep- 
 resent the event intended in the prophecy. I believe that the 
 United States and England are the wings of this eagle. Again, 
 where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time; this 
 period is 1260 years. In this lime the church will be enlighten- 
 ed by the word of truth more than in any other period, and she 
 will be favored by the powers of the world, and still the more 
 as the day of her redemption draweth nigh. "From the face of 
 the serpent." This is still the false church. From the face of 
 the serpent, that is, the church shall not be brought to account 
 for their religious opinions. This will be true in the general 
 and that is what is meant in this prophecy. Their liberty will 
 be enlarging more and more until it is entirely triumphant. 
 
 15. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that 
 he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 
 
 The water Cast out of the serpent's mouth is intended to rep- 
 resent, that from the false church there should be a flood of peo- 
 ple coming from his native country, and should try by their in- 
 fluence to destroy or put down liberty of conscience, and check 
 all education that did not suit them. Trying to keep the people 
 in ignorance, and going against all improvements of mind or 
 condition, especially in religion, and carrying away the means 
 of improvement of the true church with their error by intro- 
 ducing their tradition, and throwing away the word of God and 
 making use of their unmeaning and blasphemeous rights. 
 
 16. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and 
 swallowed up the flood which the draggon cast out of his mouth. 
 
 The earth helping the woman, and opening her mouth, and 
 swallowing up the flood, is intended to represent the law or con- 
 stitution, which gives liberty of conscience, and leaves no possi- 
 bility for persecution, and so it is in relation to all light by the 
 press and otherwise, which abounds in our country to enlighten 
 the people, and this process of light is going on in many parts 
 of the world, and more and more as the truth of the gospel be- 
 comes the foundation of moral action. This gospel is fast dif- 
 fusing its light in this country, and the church is doing avast 
 amount of labor in sending their light abroad into almost all 
 lands. 
 
 17. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the 
 remnant of her seed, which keep the eommandments>of God, and have the testi- 
 mony of Jesus Christ. 
 
 This shows that the same enmity still exists between the 
 mother of harlots and the true church, and a disposition to still 
 persecute and put to death all that comes under her power; be- 
 cause they keep the commands of God, and have testimony of 
 Jesus Christ, but thank God that in his providence he has so en- 
 lightened the people that there is not much prospect of the old 
 mother of harlots living much longer. She begins to show the 
 
59 
 
 marks of decay, the kings have almost quit kissing her too, and 
 making obeisance to her proud self; who has sat on so many 
 places not her own. In prophecy it is not always easy to under- 
 stand the exact intention of the spirit, for almost all events 
 which have a bearing on the subject are hinted at, and some- 
 times prominent marks of several events are brought into view, 
 and must be interpreted accordingly, and great allowance should 
 be made ; but the figure should have an appropriate meaning 
 in all cases. 
 
 The thirteenth chapter. 
 
 1. 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 blaspheme. 
 
 Standing upon the sand of the sea and viewing, shows that it 
 was auniversal glance or looking at what was to take place ; and 
 the beast rising out of the sea is intended to show a ruler being 
 raised from among the people, and that he was a man and in 
 figure represented the corrupt church, and having seven heads 
 and ten horns, and ten crowns upon his heads, represents pow- 
 ers or rnlers that operated with and supported the false church. 
 And upon his heads the name blaspheme. This is something 
 easily seen in the regulations of the combined powers which 
 were favoring the corrupt principles, and lending aid to the un- 
 holy and tyranical church. 
 
 2. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the 
 feet of a bear, and his moth as the mouth of alien ; and the dragon gave him His 
 power, and his seat, and great authority. 
 
 This beast being like a leopard signifies that he was ot the 
 most courageous, and yet subtle of any beast known. This is 
 a very proper emblem to represent the mother of harlots. "His 
 feet were as the feet of a bear." This animal has larger feet 
 than are in proper proportion to his body. This is another well 
 selected figure of tho spiritual beast. "And his mouth as the 
 mouth of a lion." This is no less a well drawn comparison, for 
 you know how terrible this animal uses his voice to show his 
 power, so does the tyranical church the same thing. She will 
 worry all she cannot destroy. "And the dragon gave him his pow- 
 er and his seat and great authority." This is still a plain figure 
 to show the features of this an ti- christian tyrant, they always 
 claim the power of both church and state, and made kings and 
 emperors crouch and yield to their usurped power which they 
 claim under all circumstances. 
 
 3. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death j and his deadly 
 wound was healed : and all the world wondered after the beast. 
 
 One of his heads being as it were wounded to death, is to in- 
 timate that one of his dependants and great masters had lost 
 his power. "And his deadly wound was healed." This is a 
 restoration of power. ^And all the world wondered after the 
 beast." This shows that their influence was very great, and 
 
tso 
 
 that there was a disposition among the people to follow their 
 superstitious ways and wicked principles. 
 
 4. And tbey worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast : and they 
 worshipped the beast, saying, Who la like tmU the beast? who so able to make 
 war with him ? 
 
 In this verse they honor the rulers that gave power unto the 
 beast, and they honor the beast. They obey him and acknowl- 
 edge the beast to be the great power which none can conquer. 
 
 t>. And there was given unto him a mouth, speaking great things and blas- 
 phemies ; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 
 
 The account goes on to describe the grand false church by all 
 the language that can be brought to bear to show its large pre- 
 tensions and great things done by its power or the power 
 of the former beast, and to speak evil against the true church. 
 "And he will continue forty and two months," or 1260 years* 
 This is the time he will reign, that is, the time that the false 
 church called the beast, shall exist on this earth. 
 
 6. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, 
 and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 
 
 Here is the very highest coloring given to speach to show the 
 dreadful extent to which this sink of iniquity of a rotten church 
 will go in her opposition to the cause of God and his people. 
 
 "7. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome 
 them ; and power was given to him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 
 
 Making war with the saints, and overcoming them, is an ex- 
 pression to show how much power the opposition to the church 
 has had for the time of this vision of 1280 years. This is the 
 meaning, for the church of God cannot nor will they ever be 
 overcome, God may suffer his enemies to afflict, scatter or tor- 
 ment her so as to humble her, but she is like iire well kindled 
 in suitable combustibles, the more you spread it the more rapidly 
 it will burn. There need be no fear but that God will take care 
 of his church and will not suffer her light to go out as the light of 
 the world. 
 
 8. 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. 
 
 This goes to show that all that are not God's people who have 
 not believed in Christ and become followers of the lamb, will be 
 followers of the beast in some way, or hold the opposition prin- 
 ciples ; but I must hero observe that this is the case with those 
 who have continued through their whole life to the end,, in this 
 opposition and unbelief in the true God. 
 
 9. If any man have an ear, let him hear. 
 
 This is a warning to mankind to attend to instruction and the 
 appeal is made, u if any man has an ear let him hear." If he will 
 not hear then he must suffer the consequence of his ignorance 
 and neglect of his true interests as a rational and accountable 
 being. 
 
 10. 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 
 salute. 
 
01 
 
 "He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity." This 
 is intended to predict that those who have led Baints into diffi- 
 culty shall themselves be punished, "and that killeth with the 
 sword must be punished as they deserve, and this is often in the 
 same way that they afflicted their enemies. "Here is the pa- 
 tience of the faith of the saints." The patience and faith of 
 the saints. This principle appears to enable them to suffer 
 patiently, knowing that all things will work together for the 
 good of them who take the chastisement as from God, and re- 
 ceive it as intended for their good. No doubt but all his afflic- 
 tions are for the improvement of God's people. They know 
 that no chastisement is sent on them without its sanctifying in- 
 fluence on the christian . 
 
 11. And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth: and be had two 
 horns like a latnb, and he spake as a dragon. 
 
 This other beast coming out of the earth, seems to repre- 
 sent that he rose from among the people that he had no power 
 before he arose, nor was entitled to any. "And he had two 
 horns." This is intended to show that he had his own limited 
 power raised on the popularity of another. He had less power 
 to support him, "and he had two horns like a lamb, but he spake 
 as a dragon. He still supported the false church by the power of 
 the former beast, or ruler which was connected with the corrupt 
 church, in holding the power of both church and state. 
 
 12. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before hun, and canseth 
 the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly 
 wound was healed. 
 
 This beast was governed by the same laws and customs of the 
 first beast, and causeth the earth and them which dwell in it to 
 worship the first beast. This represents that he got up on the 
 popularity of the first beast. He made use of the tyranny of 
 the former beast to strengthen his own power. This is plain in 
 this prophey. 
 
 13. And he doeth great wonders, bo that he maketh fire eome down from heavea 
 on the earth in the sight of men. 
 
 This is intended to represent that he brought as strong influ- 
 ence to bear on the people from the power of the former crown 
 to shape the laws after the former rules which governed the first 
 or previous king, in the sight of men. Thus they were satisfied 
 with this course of action, as it was their old favorite laws and 
 customs which suited their corrupt and degraded propensities. 
 
 14. And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles 
 which he had power to do in the sight of the beasi ; saying to them that dwell on 
 the earth, that they should make an image to the boast, which had the wound by 
 the sword, and did live. 
 
 "By deceiving them that dwell on the earth by miracles, which 
 he did in the sight of the beast." He established the power of 
 the former beast, and was termed a miracle. He being dead and 
 being in the sight of the beast. It is a representation of being 
 4one by the fonder power, and making an image to the beaat, 
 
 "UK?] 
 
62 
 
 is to keep the former beast in sight by his power and laws 
 kept in force, by his successor having the wound by a sword 
 and did live, means death and yet living by power. 
 
 15. And he had power to give life unto the image ©f the bea3t, that the image 
 of the beast should both speak aad cause that as macy as would not worship the 
 image of the beast should be killed. 
 
 Having power to give life to the image of the beast, is to gov- 
 ern by his power as though he was not dead. "And causing 
 the image to speak, and causing that as many as would not 
 worship the image of the beast should be killed," thi3 indicates 
 that the power ®f the former beast should operate, and that all 
 the causes that existed to keep the former laws in force, and the 
 very tone and spirit of the former ruler should be adhered to by 
 the present one. This is the former beast speaking; and them 
 that would not worship him to be killed, means that it shall be 
 done b} r the same dead man's living power and laws. 
 
 16. And he eausetk all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to re- 
 ceive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads. 
 
 This was, no doubt, the same kind of a mark that had been 
 in practice in the former beast's time. 
 
 11. And that no man might buy or sell, save be that had the mark, or the same 
 of the beast, or the number of his same. 
 
 These were stringent laws, but they resemble the old mothers 
 code. In this chapter we have a figurative description of the 
 great beast or the false and corrupt church which has trampled 
 on the powers of the earth, and have persecuted the church of 
 Christ, until at times they were almost driven from the land. 
 But their power is greatly deminished in this day in which we 
 live. The intolerant spirit is reluctantly kept down and no one 
 need fear her power for she will die in the light as quick as 
 Jonah's gourd did in tke sun. We have the promise of God 
 that she shall be destroyed by the brightness of his coming, and 
 that is enough for us to build our faith upon. This has com- 
 menced some time ago, but begins of late years to show its 
 ways as with the flight of eagles wings in motion. 
 
 18. 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. 
 
 This number might be fixed to some king or emperor, but I 
 have not the means of fixing it at this time 
 
 The fourteenth chapter : 
 
 1. And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sioii, and with him an 
 hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their fore- 
 heads. 
 
 The Lamb on mount Sion represents Christ the head of the 
 church, and mount Sion is a figure for the true church. And 
 the one hundred forty and four thousand being with him, shows 
 that they were the church of which Christ is the head ; and hav- 
 ing their Father's name written in their foreheads, shows their 
 acquiescence in the government and principles of their head, 
 
 . w 
 
63 
 
 and the number given definitely means indefinitely, and is in- 
 tended to comprehend all the people of God in the vision. 
 
 2. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the 
 voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their 
 harps. 
 
 This voice from heaven, is an expression of the church, and 
 "many waters," shows universal acquiescence in the matter in 
 which the spirit is leaking known to men; and a gieat thunder 
 signifies firm decision ; and harpers harping with their harps, 
 shows *hat the Heavenly Hosts render praise on the occasion 
 of the victory of the church over the beast and his power. 
 
 8. And tbey sung as it were a new eong before the throne, and before the four 
 beast, and the elders : and no man could learu that song but the hundred and forty 
 and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 
 
 This song was the theme of redemption here exhibited by a 
 church redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. 
 
 4. These are they which were not defiled with women ; for they are virgins, 
 These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were re- 
 deemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. 
 
 This is a representation showing that God's people had not 
 worshipped the corrupt church, that they were clear of that sin, 
 and that they worshipped the Lamb, and had made his laws the 
 rule of their faith and practice ; and that they were from among 
 men, and was a suitable offering to God and the Lamb, called 
 the first fruits, is a figure drawn from sacrificial custom of of- 
 fering the firstlings of the flock. This was the Jewish sacrifice 
 and shows that christians are purified by the blood of Christ. 
 The Lamb of God signified by the first born being the only 
 suitable animal sacrifice for a type of Christ. 
 
 5. And in their mouths was found no guile: for they are without fault before the 
 throne of God. 
 
 No guile being found in their mouth is a representation of 
 their purity. They were not chargeable with sin, and being 
 without fault before the throne of God, shows that they were 
 justified in the presence of the great judge of quick and dead. 
 
 6. And I saw ano'her angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting 
 gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred 
 and tongue, and people. 
 
 An angel flying in the midst of heaven with the gospel, shows 
 that the universal spread of the gospel will be by the consent of 
 the powers that be, and that the gospel is to be preached to all 
 nations and kindred, and tongues, and people. This will be by 
 the church principally, but other means will be made use of in 
 their place, such as commerce and cheap and quick intercourse 
 between the nations. The press will be a great engine of light 
 to the nations of the earth, its influence is incalculable for good 
 or for evil. The nations of the earth by their laws and by their 
 rulers will favor the gospel in its spread, and will yield to its in- 
 fluence. 
 
 7. Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him ; for the hour of 
 his judgment is come : and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, 
 and the fountains of waters. 
 
64 
 
 In this is summed up what the declaration of the gospel will 
 be, "for the hour of judgment is come." This is given for the 
 reason why he should be worshipped, and also who has made 
 heaven, and earth, and sea, and the fountains of waters. This 
 is to be proclaimed with the truth, God's greatness; and our ac- 
 countability must necessarily be understood, and all this is made 
 plain in God's word, to them who desire ^o be guided by its 
 truth. 
 
 8. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that 
 great city, because she made ail nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her for* 
 nication. 
 
 Babylon is fallen, and again repeating the declaration, is in- 
 tended to show that the corrupt and false church must and will 
 be entirely destroyed, because she made all nations drink of the 
 wine of the wrath of her fornication. These are expressions to 
 figure oik the judgments which will come upon all that will fol- 
 low the false teachings of that mother of abominations. She 
 hinders the everlasting gospel from being proclaimed, or the 
 knowledge of the truth being spread. This is one of her promi- 
 nent marks; this is in her forehead, and in her hand, and all 
 her practices are contrary to the principles of truth, or any right 
 order of worship. 
 
 9. And the third angel followed them, saying in & loud voice, If any man worship 
 the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand. 
 
 This worshipping the image is to be a follower of the laws and 
 customs of this spiritual beast, and having his mark in his fore- 
 head or in his hand, is to show the false principles and practice 
 of those who follow this unholy and declining church, if I may 
 call it so. 
 
 10. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, wich is ponred out 
 without mixture into the cup of his indignation ; and he shali be tormented with 
 fire and brimstome in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the 
 Lamb. 
 
 This is an emblamatic expression showing that the just judg- 
 ment must fall on all those who are found to hold those pernici- 
 ous errors of the false church. The fire and brimstone repre- 
 sents the gnawing of conscience, which must be felt by those 
 who have been simple enough to be cheated out of their soul's 
 salvation, by putting away the light of truth from them, and 
 following those traditions which are the very essence of corrup- 
 tion ; for without the truth of God to direct the mind, it always 
 slides downward into darkness more and more, as long as the 
 light is continued to be kept out. Mark it, when the spirit of 
 God is speaking of the great triumph of his kingdom, he says 
 the gospel will be preached to all nations for a witness, yes, for 
 a witness, so that the choice may be made between truth and 
 error, that men may have the offer of the right way, which the 
 word of God, by inspiration, always teaches, and if this light is 
 not enjoyed, the corrupt nature of men, and so will a church, de- 
 cline in correct moral practice, nothing will keep them straight 
 but truth. 
 
65 
 
 11. And the smoke of tbeir torment aseendeth up for ever and ever: and tftey 
 have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever 
 receiveth the mark of his name. 
 
 The smoke of their torment ascending up for evei and ever. 
 As smoke is the evidence of fire, it is a fit emblem of the effects 
 of punishment, and fire represents punishment itself; smoke as- 
 cending up is a sign or memorial of God's justice arising up, 
 and it, will have no end to those who are found to hold the 
 principles of this false church, or have practiced thereon in 
 any manner. 
 
 12. Here is the patience of the saints, here are they that keep the commandments 
 of God, and the faith of Jesus. 
 
 As much as to say they obey the commandments of God and 
 rely on the redemption of Jesus Christ as the ground of their 
 justification with or before God. They do not rely on their obe- 
 dience to the commands of God. This obedience will they yield 
 from their congenial feeling to God and his requirements, and 
 this feeling and obedience becomes the evidence of faith, and it 
 is called justifying faith. The meaning is, it depends or trust© 
 in what is the justifying righteousness. This is the principle 
 taught everywhere in God!s word where the subject is mentioned. 
 
 13. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the 
 dead which die in the Lord from henceforth : Yea, saith the spirit, that they may 
 rest from their labors ; and their works do follow them. 
 
 This declaration of the blessing of the dead which die in the 
 .Lord from henceforth, represents that they will continue without 
 end, "yea, saith the spirit " Here is the witness sealed to con- 
 firm the declaration, and that they may rest from their labor. 
 Rest is an end of toil. "And their works do follow them." This 
 means that their works will not be lost sight of, but they will be 
 rewarded as their works shall be, or according to their works, 
 and why not if all their qualifications are a gift of God through 
 Christ, yet they will possess it, and God will reward them as if 
 it was inherent in themselves. 
 
 14. And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like 
 unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp 
 gickle. 
 
 This white cloud was a token of the presence of God ; and 
 one sitting upon the cloud like the son of man, signified the di- 
 vine presence was their in the person of Christ. "And having 
 on his head a golden crown." He was in his power as a prince. 
 "And in his hand a sharp sickle.' This is intended to show 
 that he was in the attitude of gathering the harvest, and this 
 gathering is the great gathering in of people into his own king- 
 dom of peace, and would reign with him on the earth ; and 
 mark this, the Son of man or the redeemer goes foremost in his 
 harvest to reap, and what a beautiful figure this is. He will 
 have the reaping done with skilful hands, such as he will em- 
 ploy to accomplish his grand purpose of gathering his people 
 to the marriage supper of the Lamb. 
 
 5 
 
66 
 
 15. And another aagel eame out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him 
 ihat sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap ; for the time is come for thee 
 to reap ; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 
 
 Here is the agency of angels introduced in the great conquest 
 of Christ's kingdom over the mass of mankind, which will be 
 gathered into his church on earth to the praise of his glorious 
 grace ; "for the time is come for thee to reap, for the harvest of 
 the earth is ripe." All things are ready, the gospel has been 
 proclaimed to all nations, and they are convinced of their obli- 
 gation to God, their maker, and their judge. And they came 
 and confessed their obligations to Him. That will be a time of 
 ingathering of the nations, which will be worth seeing. The 
 old mother will be quite dead by that time, or she will be in the 
 last stage of the consumption. 
 
 16. And be that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth ; and the earth 
 was reaped. 
 
 This sickle is the means of grace, such as God's ward and 
 spirit, and the combined means suitable to accomplish the object 
 intended. These will be effectual, and will be brought to op- 
 erate in their proper time and place. 
 
 I 
 
 IT. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also bar 
 ing a sharp sickle. 
 
 This is an influence from the church itself, for this is what is 
 meant by coming out of the temple, which is in heaven; and this 
 will have great influence when the church will shine "fair as the 
 moon, clear as the sun and terrible as an army with banners ; " 
 for conversions will take place at that time by the same means 
 
 that they do now. 
 
 18. And asother angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire ; and 
 cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sicke, saying, Thrust ia thy sharp 
 sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth ; for her grapes are fully 
 ripe. 
 
 "Another angel coming out from the altar which had power 
 over fire." This angel was Christ. Here the scene changes. 
 This angel came out from the altar. This has reference to sac- 
 rifices. Now who has applied the sacrifice of the altar? Mark 
 this, the angel has power over fire. This means renovation, 
 who was made clean by this sacrifice, and who has not. But 
 they must now be called to account, because a short work will 
 the Lord make upon the earth, "and gather the clusters of the 
 vine." They must now come and receive their reward, but it 
 will be the reward of unrighteousness. They are fully ripe al- 
 so, and must be judged as their work shall be. If lovers of God 
 and truth, they will be approved, and if haters of him and his 
 truth they must be disapproved of God, and dealt with accord- 
 ingly. The wicked must be banished from God's holy presence, 
 and from the saints of the Most High. 
 
 1&. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine ©^ 
 the earth, and cast it into the great wi»e press of the wrath of God. 
 
 This is punishment of some kind, and as the usual figure is 
 
67 
 
 aot made use of, it is hard to say exactly what it may be. but it 
 will be such as to deprive them of the opportunity of doing any 
 more harm to the saints, and they will be dealt with as they de- 
 serve and no more. *■ 
 
 20. And the winepress was trodden without the city, aud blood came out of the 
 winepress, even unto the horse, bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred 
 furlongs. 
 
 "The winepress trodden without the city." It was not where 
 the people of God were. It was out of the city ; and blood be- 
 ing a figure, probably, the punishment of death by war, by the 
 power of the state rulers, for we find the government will be 
 managed by righteous rulers, and blood coming out of the wine- 
 press, unto the horses, bridles, by the space of a thousand and 
 six hundred furlongs, is a phrseology to give force to the figure. 
 This is probably the closing scene between the saints and their 
 enemies in order to prepare for the peaceful reign of Christ"* 
 kingdom on earth, when the separation between the righteous 
 and the wicked shall take place. 
 The fifteenth chapter : 
 
 1. \.nd T saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven augels Laving 
 the seven last plagues ; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. 
 
 These seven last plagues is a description of the different 
 judgments which will take place at the time of the change of 
 the old laws and customs, which will gradually give way as the 
 full light of the gospel is introduced. 
 
 2. And I saw as ft were a sea of glass mingled wilh fire,: aad them that had 
 gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, «nd over 
 the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 
 
 "A sea of glass mingled with lire." A sea represents people, 
 and glass, something both changed and purified. Fire signifies 
 the cleansing process, and the whole put together shows that 
 the people of God now stood before him justified by the purify- 
 ing process of Christ's death, and sufferings applied by the holy 
 spirit, and them that had none of the marks of the beast stood 
 on the sea of glass. Yes, they stood before God justified and 
 having the harps of God, shows a delight in praising God. 
 
 3. Aad they sing the song of Moses the servant of God. and the fipng of th i 
 Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty : just dh 
 true are thy ways, thou king of saints. 
 
 The song of Moses signifies victory. He was a type of Christ, 
 and his name is introduced here as such, and in as much as 
 Moses was the leader of a people triumphantly delivered fr*om 
 the bondage of Egypt, such a song was proper for the redeemed 
 people of %od to sing. "The song of the Lamb." This was 
 intended as praise for what the Lamb had done for them in re- 
 deeming them from the pollution and consequences of sin. "Say- 
 ing, great, and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty." 
 Here they acknowledge the great wonders of redemption. And 
 well they may, for it will be a theme of wonders and praise to 
 all intelligent beings, who contemplate the wonderful mercy of 
 
68 
 
 God thus manifested ; and again, "just and true are thy ways, 
 thou king of saints." Mere the church acknowledge God's cor- 
 rect proceedure in the manifestations of his works as they are 
 delivered by him. "Thou king of saints." They take him for 
 their ruler and head, 
 
 4. Who shall not fear thee, Lord, and glorify thy name? for them only art holy : 
 for all na'ions shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made 
 manifest. 
 
 Here is, as it were, a challenge saying who shall not fear thee? 
 as much as to say no nation or people can avoid injustice to 
 render unto God all honor and worship, and all nations will ac- 
 knowledge God to be the rightful sovereign of the universe. 
 "For thou only art holy." That is, the only one who is worthy 
 of being esteemed right and perfect in all his works on the earth. 
 "For thy judgments are made manifest." That is, they are seen 
 to be right, as it is said in scripture, every mouth shall be stop- 
 ped and all the world become guilty before God. No one will 
 have occasion to complain. 
 
 5. And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the tes- 
 timony in heaven was opened. 
 
 Thus there was about to be proclaimed by one of the 
 messengers of the Church a series of judgments, to be sent on 
 the people of the earth, proceeding from the temple of the tab- 
 ernacle. The temple signifies the true church, and the taber- 
 nacle means a voice by joint government of the church, for the 
 tabernacle is a figure to represent the church or people of God. 
 
 6. And the seven angels came ont of the temple, having the seven plagues., 
 clothed in pore and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden 
 girdles. 
 
 This description of the seven angels is given to show that 
 they were pure spirits; w 7 hite and clean is the figure of purity. 
 and that the mission was a righteous one. "And their breasts 
 being girded with golden girdles," show that they were well 
 prepared to accomplish their work, and that they were clothed 
 with authority from a proper source—the Supreme head of the 
 church. This was all they needed for God h?.s always bestowed 
 power sufficient. 
 
 1. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full 
 of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. 
 
 One of the four beasts is one of the messengers of the church 
 militant, and is intended to convey declaration. The term 
 beast in heaven is a contrast figure to represent the messengers 
 of the true church militant, as the same figure is usffl to repre- 
 sent the false church, as it is often called by the name of the 
 beasts or powers that uphold and support its tyrannical and cor- 
 rupt ways These plagues or punishments coming from or ar- 
 ising out of the justice of God, is the same that will be inflicted 
 on the false church by the figure destruction of the beast, and 
 as the true ehurch is saved by the means of the light of truth, 
 and the influence of the Holy Spirit, sc will the false church be 
 
destroyed by the same influence, and punishment indicted on the 
 false church will be of a purifying tendency, and will bring out 
 of it all God's true believing children ; and the expression in 
 this verse; "who liveth for ever and ever," is acknowledgment 
 of God's highness and unending existence, and Supreme Ruler 
 of the universe. 
 
 8. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his 
 power j and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagufes of 
 the seven angels were fulfilled. 
 
 This is a representation showing that the church .at that time 
 was going through a cleansing process, and had not came to the 
 full point, to which it would be when all these plagues were in- 
 flicted. In this chapter their is a figurative description of the 
 many difFerent events and plagues which would come on the in- 
 habitants of the world, both of a purifying and calamitous na- 
 ture, as well as a cleansing process, which should go on in the 
 church of Christ. This process has been going on for many 
 ages, but it will be seen to increase more rapidly as the time 
 draws to a close, and when ended, the church, will shine in her 
 beauty. 
 
 The 1 6th chapter commences as follows ; 
 
 1. And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go 
 your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. 
 
 A voice out of the temple is an indication of intended action, 
 and being from the temple, shows that it was from the church, 
 and also approved of God, as the message was from Him, and 
 carried by angels, his approved agents ; but it still further sig- 
 nifies actions of men, and will apply to events taking place in 
 the world, such as judgments, and revolutions, and other plagues 
 that follow sin. Vials being poured on the earth, signify change 
 of laws, for earth here signifies law. 
 
 2. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth, and there fell a 
 noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and up- 
 on them which worshipped his image. 
 
 The first is an angel pouring out his vial upon the earth, shows 
 a commencement of this judgment of pouring out the vial which 
 means wrath, or justice ready to be inflicted on the earth, and 
 shows that the law would be an instrument to inflict the judg- 
 ment. A noisome and grievous sore will apply to either phys- 
 ical or mental affliction, but is principally intended to apply to 
 moral decay, and corrupt principles in the former laws. This 
 plague will fall on the men who have the mark of the beast. 
 Thus this is to be a means of reform ; i t is to be directed against 
 those men who have the mark of the beast and who worship his 
 image. This is to hold to the false church and its principles, and 
 to act with her in all her rebellious disposition and wickedness. 
 
 3. And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea, and it became as the 
 blood of a dead man, and every living soul died in the sea.' ''"'' ."■'* - 
 
 The second vial was poured on the sea. This sea is all the 
 people, and shows that rulers will be affected by the change 
 
70 
 
 which is to take place. The sea becoming as the blood of a dead 
 man, shows ignorance and darkness, and very likely anarchy 
 and misrule, and an unsettled state of the law. And every liv- 
 ing soul dying in the sea, signifies entire change of principle, so 
 far as the mass of the people are concerned. It also signifies 
 no fixed principle of action, or law to govern their actions, but a 
 confused state of government as well as an unsettled state 
 generally 
 
 4. And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers und fountains of wa- 
 ters ; and they became blood. 
 
 This third angel's vial was poured out on the rivers and foun- 
 tains of waters. Rivers signify small empires dependent on oth- 
 ers for their existence, and fountains of waters mean indepen- 
 dent empires; but in both these the rulers are losing their pow- 
 er and influence, and it signifies rather an anarchical feeling, 
 and a threatening of entire change of government, and an unde- 
 cided contest between the parties. 
 
 .I. And I beard the angel of tbe waters eay. Thou art jrighteb»s. Lord, which 
 art, av:-l wast, and sualt be, because thou ba:-;t judged thug. 
 
 The angel of the waters I suppose, is intended to show the 
 leader of the opposition to the old forms of governments, and 
 shows further that he had high power, and ; was on the side of 
 reform,, and approved' of the changes which were taking place, 
 and also of the fitness of the means to produce the end intended. 
 He says, -'Thou art righteous, O Lord, which hast judged thus." 
 This angel of the waters acknowledges that those judgments are 
 from God, and approves of them, and acknowledges His right- 
 eousness in the punishment inflicted. 
 
 G. Ft.v trfey hays shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hasr given them 
 blood to driink ; for they are worthy. 
 
 These people represented by waters, are charged with shed- 
 ding the blood of saints and prophets. This plainly shows that 
 these who are known by the figure of sea, have been enemies of 
 God's people, and have united in the murder of them from time 
 to time. Sea means the mass of the people, and those then are 
 the murderers of the saints. Thou hast given them blood to 
 drink. This was the judgment, and this angel of the waters ac- 
 knowledges that this judgment was from God, and he says, they 
 are worthy, that is, they deserve the chastisement. This will 
 apply to all the wicked who persecute God's people, and has a 
 very special reference to the corrupt church, which has always 
 made this her chief business for ages past, and would like to con- 
 tinue her old course. 
 
 7. And I heard another angelout of the altar say. Even so, Lord God Almighty, 
 true and righteous are thy judgments. 
 
 This other was an angel coming out of the altar. This ex- 
 pression "of the altar," is a representation of the sacrifices on 
 the altar, and shows that this same plague spoken of before, 
 was approved by the head of the church, and was a just judg- 
 
71 
 
 ment, and bo acknowledged in this prophecy, and further shows 
 its fitness to accomplish the purpose for which it was sent; it cer- 
 tainly will be the effectual means of bringing about the down- 
 fall of the old mother of abominations of the earth. 
 
 8. And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun : and power was given 
 iinto him to scorch men with fire. 
 
 This angel poured his vial upon the sun. The sun is here in- 
 tended to represent the influence proceeding from the high pow- 
 er who advocated the new system. The figure is applied to the 
 effect of the system ; the emblem of the ruler which is here call- 
 ed sun, is applied to the effects of the sun, and plainly shows 
 that it is the effects of the new, renovating influence which so 
 harassed them. This is the scorching which was so severe on 
 them. This was more in mental than physical punishment, and 
 they were to be scorched five months or 150 years, and it proba- 
 byl commenced in 1848, when republicanism broke out in Europe, 
 the dread of which is so general among the despots of the world 
 in our days. This has reference more particularly to the despe- 
 ration of the fallen or declining church, which is to be destroyed 
 by the brightness of the corning of Christ. This scorching may 
 have reference to other times as well as to the one mentioned 
 above, but it certainly signifies fear and affliction both, and 
 proves the suffering were on the opposition to the kingdom of 
 Christ. 
 
 9. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, 
 which has power over these plagues : and they repented not to give him glory. 
 
 This scorching was compulsory influence from the reform pow- 
 er called the sun, and was evidently in consequence of this pow- 
 er striving to oppose the progress of truth. The kingdom of 
 Christ was advancing, and this was what troubled them ; conse- 
 quently, every thing that seemed to advance this good cause, 
 was punishment to the opposition. "And they blasphemed the 
 name of God, which had power over these plagues." Thi3 is 
 common to such feeling. They opposed this cause, because 
 they w T ere opposed to irod himself. They blasphemed his name. 
 This is the highest mark of opposition, and shows it was great. 
 "But they repented not to give Him glory." Thus it is; they 
 still persisted in their opposition to the righteous cause of truth 
 and justice. It was not the truth, but their opposition which 
 required their punishment. 
 
 10. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his 
 kingdom was full of darkness ; and they gnawed their tongues for pain. 
 
 This fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast. 
 This is the destruction of the false church ; this "mother of har- 
 lots" has here her doom figured out. The vial being poured out 
 on the seat of the beast, represents the falling of those powers 
 or rulers who supported and upheld this sink of iniquity. "And 
 his kingdom was full of darkness." This was unsettled govern- 
 ment, and especially that support which had been given to the 
 
72 
 
 fallen and corrupt church, which was about to give way ; this is 
 the darkness which still enraged the beast. "Aad gnawing their 
 tongues for pain," shows that the remedy cannot be had ; and 
 the anguish of their pain may manifest itself by the gnawing of 
 their tongues ; — they will have to die a lingering death. This 
 may take into view other opposition to the cause of Christ, such 
 as the Mahometan power and other acts of rulers most suitable 
 to the prediction. Most prominent events in a whole period of 
 a prophecy are alluded to. This is common and is to be look- 
 ed for, and has either a general or special reference. 
 
 11. And blasphemed the God of heaven, because of their pains and their sores, 
 and repented not of their deeds. 
 
 This is still the same opposition continued in all the power 
 and former features described in the prophecy, with all the ven- 
 om of action and sentiment which could be manifested in every 
 form and color. 
 
 12, And the sixth angel poured out his his vial upon the great river Eaphrates jj 
 and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be 
 prepared. 
 
 This sixth angel pouring out his vial upon the great river Eu- 
 phrates, represents the down-fall of a combination of powers 
 which were the supporters of this false church. This prophecy 
 probably has reference to the four kingdoms which arose ©ut of 
 the ruins of the one founded by Chsarles the Greats named Bag- 
 dad, Iconium, Aleppo and Damascus, lying near the river Eu- 
 phrates. This probably is the most prominent figure, but has 
 still a reference to the Ottoman Empire, which is on the decline 
 or down-fall, — for the drying up of the waters, represents the loss 
 of power and influence. "That the ways of the kings of the east 
 might be prepared." This is a representation of what God is 
 intending to bring about by these kings of the east. They will 
 act from their own motives, but it is plain from the figure, that 
 these kings of the east will have a large share in bringing about 
 those plagues or judgments which are spoken of in this prophe- 
 cy, I have very little doubt, but they will be the most efficient 
 means in God's hand, of subduing the whole Ottoman Empire, 
 and all other organizations existing against the true church. The 
 chief feature of this part of the prediction has not yet been ful- 
 filled. I also suppose these same kings will have a hand in the 
 return of the Israelitish people to their own land and to true 
 Christianity. This, however, will not take place for some time 
 to come. These kings will be a succession of rulers which will 
 rise, the most prominent of whom are probably not yet born, but 
 will be in their place in due time to act. 
 
 13. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragoa , 
 and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 
 
 These three unclean spirits, like frogs, coming out of the mouth 
 of these three dignitaries, are a representation of the influence 
 which they would exert against the cause of truth and upright- 
 
73 
 
 ness. These spirits being like frogs, shows the groveling- and 
 low, underhanded manner in which they would act, like frogs 
 under water, or as the figure means, operating among their peo- 
 ple, biasing their minds, and trying to deceive them by pretend- 
 ing to work miracles, which they dare not have inspected by the 
 public. These miracles are spiritual frauds, and have long been 
 practised on the credulity of their people by this dishonest church. 
 The false prophet probably has reference to Mahomet. The fig- 
 ure will, however, apply to the false pretensions of the same old 
 mother church which reigns over the kings of the earth. 
 
 14. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth \iato the 
 th.8king3 of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that 
 great day of God Almighty. 
 
 These unclean spirits are called the spirits of devils. This 
 shows a feeling and action common to devils, having one and 
 the same interest and end in view. Again, they work miracles. 
 This is one of her grand devises. By this she deceives the kings 
 of the earth, pretending to them that she has the spiritual and 
 temporal power both of church and state, and by this means has 
 led the powers of the earth astray, and nearly at her will. "And 
 they gathered them to the battle of that day of God Almighty." 
 This represents the course of this corrupt church. She always 
 stirs up the enemies of God against the true church. Her plan 
 is to defeat the cause of truth at all hazards, and in all times, 
 and in every place. This battle is the great contest going on be- 
 tween the true church of Christ on the one side, and the false 
 and corrupt church on the other side, and will end in the final 
 triumph of the kingdom of Christ. 
 
 15. Behold, I come aa a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his gar- 
 ments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 
 
 This expression "coming as a thief," signifies the certainty of 
 the judgments of God, and the warnings which He has given us, 
 to be on the watch ; and those only are safe and blessed who 
 trust in the God of truth. "And keep his garments clean," has 
 reference to the garment of Christ's righteousness. "Walking 
 naked" is a destitution of God's favor, and is at enmity to Him 
 and his truth. "And they see his shame." This represents the 
 dishonesty of those who will be found opposing the true king- 
 dom of God. Shame also signifies deserved punishment, and a 
 self-conviction of its justice on them as transgressors. 
 
 16. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Ar- 
 magedden. 
 
 In this verse reference is had to the 14th verse, in which the 
 description is given of the gathering to the battle of the great day 
 of God Almighty. 
 
 It. And the seventh angel poured out. his vial into the air; and there came a 
 great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. 
 
 This seventh angel pouring out his vial into the air, signifies 
 a strong and prevailing influence operating on the entire com- 
 munity, such as to move them, as the trees of the woods are 
 
74 
 
 moved with the wind, and such as could not be avoided. This 
 wind had a controlling and sweeping power, and carried every 
 thing beiore it which was in its way, to accomplish the end for 
 which it was intended. "And this voice out of the temple of 
 heaven," signifies an official act of government, and was sanc- 
 tioned by the true church. Being from the throne, shows that 
 the decision was from the highest authority, and that it was on 
 the side of the kingdom ©f Christ. "And saying, It is done," is 
 intended to represent the end of the great contest between the 
 followers of God and the followers of the beast or false church. 
 This has also reference to the vision of Daniel, of the opposition 
 which would continue to exist for a time, against the cause of 
 Christ, but it must and will end according to the prophecy, when 
 the wicked shall cease from troubling, and the weary shall be at 
 rest. This division will be between him that serves God. and 
 Mm that serves him not. 
 
 !§. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings:, and there was a great 
 earthquake, such as Was not Since men were upon the ■■earth, so mighty »a earth- 
 quake, and so great. 
 
 Voices are intended to show a declaration going forth, of the 
 principles of truth and justice; and thunders and lightnings sig- 
 nify the means to be employed in the accomplishment of the 
 change which was about to take place. This most likely will be 
 a war of conquest on the enemies of Christ, but I apprehend, its 
 more primary meaning is to show the progress and effects of 
 truth on the mass of men, and especially on the destruction of 
 the anti- christian church,— the irresistible influence which shall 
 foe brought to bear on this interesting subject. "And there was 
 a great earthquake." This is indicative of the overthrow of all 
 the forms of government and powers of the earth, which had sup- 
 ported the false church, ©r any of her superstitions or corrupt 
 principles. This earthquake being so mighty and so great, sig- 
 nifies a greater change of laws and government, than had ever 
 before taken place; and the strict observer cannot fail to discov- 
 er that this change has already begun, both in the corrupt church 
 and m the governments of the present day. They are more fa- 
 vorable to the Christian religion, as the light of the gospel is 
 brought to bear on them, and this favorable influence will still 
 more rapidly increase, as the light of truth shall be more fully 
 diffused among the nations of the earth. 
 
 19. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations 
 fell : and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup 
 of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 
 
 This great city was a representation of the three great prin- 
 ciples which had existed on the earth, from the time when our 
 first parents partook of the forbidden fruit ; and the first division 
 of this city is the righteous government of God, as made known 
 to mankind through the covenant of works, made with our first 
 parents, and so extended over the whole human family as well 
 
75 9 
 
 as over all events which should take place, both on earth and in 
 heaven above. The second division of this city was man's self- 
 aggrandizement, first aimed at in the eating of the forbidden 
 fruit, and carried out in all their course of actions since that time. 
 This principle has manifested itself in the despotism and tyran- 
 nical government of the world, showing at all times that their 
 aggrandizements were the chief object of their pursuit, and at all 
 times either acting against the principles of God's government, 
 or turning a deaf ear to its requirements. The third division of 
 this city is the grand organization of the corrupt and anti- 
 christian church, which in all ages of her existence has kept up 
 an entire opposition to God's government and all His church, 
 who were obedient to His laws and principles, and also opposed 
 to despotism, unless they were favored by their power in the op- 
 position to God's government. "The cities of the nations fell." 
 This is the figure carried out. This despotism in all its forms 
 will come down gradually, and in the end certainly, and it will 
 be seen and felt on the earth. This will take place at the time 
 of the cleansing of the sanctuary, and the setting up of the king- 
 dom of Christ universally over the earth. And great Babylon 
 coming in remembrance, &c, is an indication by the figure, of 
 the destruction of the corrupt church, and all that will finally be 
 found to oppose the reign of Christ on the earth. This, howev- 
 er, will be done gradually, and by the light of the revelation of 
 God's word principally. "And the wine of the fierceness of his 
 wrath," is a figure to represent the punishment to be inflicted, 
 and from whom it will come, not directly, but by agents suitably 
 employed, and justly found inflicted. 
 
 20. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 
 
 21. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, evejy stone about the 
 weight of a talent; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for 
 the plague thereof was exceeding great. 
 
 This is figurative language to represent the judgments of the 
 last scene of contest which will be very great, if I can judge by 
 the figure used in the prophecy. But still men will be wicked, 
 and these judgments which should bring them to repentance, 
 will have the contrary effect. "And they blasphemed God be- 
 cause of the plague of the hail." Poor fallen man ! He does not 
 see that his sins deserve all this afflictive punishment ; but this he 
 will understand when it shall be too late forever. 
 
 The 17th chapter continues thus : 
 
 1. And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked 
 withme, saying unto me, Gome hither, and I will show thee the judgment of the great 
 whore that sitteth upon many waters. 
 
 This seventh angel is one of the seven angels, which were 
 generally employed in giving a description of events which were 
 to take place in the great contest, which was to go on between 
 the true and false churches, or in other words, between the king- 
 dom of Christ and the usurped kingdom of Satan. He com- 
 
76 
 
 t 
 
 mences in this chapter to describe the corrupt church by the fig- 
 ure of a woman, calling her a great whore sitting upon many 
 waters. This figure is a representation of an inconstant woman 
 to her husband, and fitly applies to the act of withholding the 
 worship which this church or people were bound to render unto 
 God, the proper object of worship. And sitting upon many wa- 
 ters, shows the dependence which she was placing upon the 
 mere power ©f the mass of men for her support, instead of the 
 true God who is always able to support and protect his church. 
 
 2. With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhab- 
 itants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 
 
 Here is a description of the way in which the kings of the 
 earth were drawn away after this corrupt church, and became 
 guilty of the same idolatrous worship which this church had 
 practised. "And the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk 
 with the wine of her fornication." This shows how entirely ab- 
 sorbed these people were in her beverage of false principles 
 which they had imbibed from their very youth, and were now 
 prepared to receive her false doctrines, and join her in her idol- 
 atrous worship with greediness 
 
 3. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness ; and I saw a woman sit 
 apon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten 
 
 horns. 
 
 Here is a further description of the masses ©f the people which 
 is here meant by the wilderness, which forms this anti-church ; 
 and he continues the figure of a woman sitting upon a scarlet 
 colored beast. This beast is intended to represent the great 
 leader or head of this corrupt combination of falsehood and cor- 
 ruption. The spirit goes on to describe the changeable and un- 
 just qualities of this church, by the scarlet color of her leader. 
 He still further continues to describe her usurped and pretended 
 claims to titles, and attributes, and authority of Christ, by the 
 names of blasphemy which this beast has written on him. He 
 then continues the description of seven heads, to show her pre- 
 tended claims to universal dominion, for I presume, this is the 
 most prominent feature of this part of the figure. He then 
 speaks of ten horns. This, no doubt, has the same pretended 
 claim to control all monarchical powers, but also has particular 
 reference to ten kingdoms which she had the control of at the 
 same time. 
 
 4. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with 
 gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abom- 
 inations and filthiness of her fornication. 
 
 The spirit here still keeps up the same figure of a woman, 
 and goes on to describe her equipage in the same figurative ex- 
 pression, showing the grandeur of this false church in all her 
 splendor, which often is literally the case with her leaders. The 
 true application of these figures is intended to represent the 
 qualifications of this church; and first, the scarlet color shows 
 her varying and changeable principles and actions, as shall best 
 
7? 
 
 promote her own interest. Again, she is represented as making 
 a fair show to the world, by shaping her laws and principles to 
 the fallen and corrupt nature of man. This is the decking with 
 gold and precious stones and pearls which shine so clear, and 
 are so congenial to the feeling of wicked men. They can in- 
 dulge in all manner of wrong, and have the whole canceled for 
 the mere trifle of a few cents, and have indulgence to go on a- 
 gain in the same riot of wickedness as before. Again, she hold- 
 ing a golden cup in her hand, full of abominations and filthiness, 
 shows that she holds out by the figure of this golden cup, her 
 own idolatry to the world, to induce them to neglect the worship 
 of the true God, and follow her in the worship of images and 
 saints, and all the forbidden forms of idolatrous worship. A fur- 
 ther meaning of holding this cup in her hand, and it being full 
 of the abominations of her fornications, shows that she holds the 
 principle of worshipping idols, as one of her prominent marks. 
 This cup further represents, that her punishment will be for her 
 idolatry, and neglect of the worship of the God of heaven. 
 
 5. And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the 
 mother of harlots and abominations of the earth. 
 
 I presume that the spirit in this verse, has allusion to the de- 
 struction of literal Babylon, as its overthrow was entire and com- 
 plete, in order to represent the entire destruction of this idola- 
 trous churoh, which is sometimes called Great Babylon; and fur- 
 ther to show the contrast of wickedness which was found in them 
 both; and the name of Babylon being written on her forehead, 
 shows a likeness both in life and their death; and being the 
 mother of harlots, represents her as the nourisher of all idolatry 
 and abominations of the earth, and gives her the reward due 
 her for wickedness and corruption, chargeable as she is with 
 the most extended organization of idolatry ever invented on 
 this earth since the origin of man. 
 
 6. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood 
 of the martyrs of Jesus ; and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 
 
 The figurative expressions are still kept up, and I presnme 
 the interpretation is, that this church has gone the whole length 
 of her power and ability in persecuting and putting to death all 
 of God's people whom she could possibly reach by all and every 
 means which she could invent either by herself or her agents. 
 Being drunken, shows that she was not satisfied with ordinary 
 efforts, but she had to go to excess in this slaughter of Christians. 
 The mind of St. John was brought to a stand of wonder and ad- 
 miration, and well it might be, when he viewed the desolation 
 which this anti-christian church would bring on the followers of 
 the Lamb. A further wonder was the injustice of this act of 
 butchery without any just cause whatever of any kind. 
 
 7. And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will show 
 thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which has the 
 seven heads and ten horns. 
 
7.8 
 
 8. The beast that thou sawest, was and is not ; and shall ascend out of the bot- 
 tomless pit, and go into perdition, and they that dwell on the earth, shall wonder, 
 whose names were not written in thebook of lite from the foundation of the world, 
 when they beheld the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. 
 
 The full explanation of this part of the prophecy is intended 
 to show, that these beasts were supporters of the false church, 
 and were rulers 01 empires, and that the power of the former 
 one was still upheld by the latter, after the first of the two had 
 passed away ; and ascending out of the bottomless pit, is a fig- 
 ure to show the quality of the first beast. His going into perdi- 
 tion shows his end. This wondering of those that dwell on the 
 earth, is a representation of the way which the people will cling- 
 to, and follow the pernicious superstitions of the first beast, so 
 well established by the second, and especially as these laws and 
 regulations which still uphold the woman or false church, were 
 supported by the former ruler or beast. None, however, will 
 follow either of these beasts, who have their names written in 
 the book of life, or in other words, who are true Christians at the 
 time of the taking place of this prophecy. 
 
 9. And here is the miad which hath wisdom. The seven heads ?re seven moun- 
 tains, on which the woman sitteth. 
 
 This is the scope of the habitation of the corrupt church, and 
 as seven is a figure to represent the whole of what is spoken of, I 
 must conclude it means the whole habitable world, for this is 
 what the corrupt church has always claimed as her dominion. 
 The number seven also in prophecy, has ever been considered a 
 perfect number, embracing every thing of which it treats. She 
 never has been satisfied with anything short of this: and all the 
 world having wandered after her, shows that she has not come 
 much short of her aim in this respect. 
 
 10. And there are seven kings ; five are fallen, and one is, aad the other is not 
 yet come ; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. 
 
 This nearly interprets itself. It shows that the woman had 
 not always the same number of powers to support her in her cor- 
 rupt state. And one is, and the other is not yet come, means 
 the same as in the ninth verse, — that they should be governed 
 by the same general principles, and that they would support her 
 opposition to Christ's kingdom, and favor the false church in all 
 her corruption and actions, continuing a short space or short reign, 
 at least for the mother of harlots, for if the beast did continue, 
 he would not support her interest, as the figure goes. 
 
 11. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, 
 and goeth into perdition. 
 
 This is to be interpreted as above. The eighth king gets him- 
 self in authority on the popularity of his predecessor and gov- 
 erns by his laws, 
 
 12. And the ten horns which thou sawest, are ten kings, which have receiredno 
 kingdom as yet, but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 
 
 This is highly figurative, and shows that these kings had but 
 nominal power, being controlled by the beast or the old mother 
 
79 
 
 of harlot*. She iiad them as mere tools for her own use; and 
 they were obliged to do as she chose to let them. 
 
 13. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. 
 
 Here it is further shown, that all these ten kings are support- 
 ers of the corrupt church, and do her bidding in all her opposi- 
 tion to the kingdom of Christ. 
 
 14. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them ; 
 for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings ; and they that are with him. are called, 
 and chosen, and faithful. 
 
 "These shall make war with the Lamb." Here the figure re- 
 presents the contest of war. This, however, is to show the op- 
 position rising to a height not to be endured : and the people of 
 God are represented as fighting with their enemies, by the fig- 
 ure of making war with the Lamb, and the Lamb overcoming 
 them, for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings. He has a right 
 to rule over His subjects : His laws are right of themselves, and 
 suitable to produce and insure happiness to all who conform to 
 their requirements. (C They that are with Him, are called, and 
 chosen, and faithful." They act with congenial feelings to His 
 will, and are on the side of Christ's kingnom, and are His host, 
 as they are here represented to be. This prophecy has a special 
 reference to the Reformation, which took place in the days of 
 Luther, and Calvin, and others, who were prominent instruments 
 in God's hand, of producing its happy results. At that time the 
 tyrannical church lost one half of her subjects, who left her cor- 
 rupt worship, and got from under her tyrannical power. This 
 wound of some of her power or horns injured the beast very much, 
 so that he will never again reach his former greatness. 
 
 15. And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sit- 
 teth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 
 
 Here are the effects of the reign of this woman or false church 
 plainly pointed out. The figure points out all the different ex- 
 pressions, to show her universal reign. This figure i3 intended 
 to cover her whole claim to dominion. Here I might observe, 
 that this anti- christian church is described by all her prominent 
 helps, and in this aspect of the case, you may see why she is call- 
 ed by the name of her supporters. She is known by almost all 
 the prominent marks of opposition to the kingdom of Christ, and 
 even her qualities are described, s© that there may be no mis- 
 take of her identity, and no excuse is left to any one who will 
 examine the truths of the revelations of God's word. He may 
 very easily find the true church of Christ, if he would only look 
 for it, as his own interest w r ould seem to dictate or require. 
 
 16. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the 
 whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn 
 her with fire. 
 
 These ten horns are still the 3 epresentation of her former sup- 
 porters, but there is a time when they shall turn their power a- 
 gainst her,—- "they shall hate the whore." This is a figure of 
 idolatry. They will not support her in her idolatry, but will 
 
80 
 
 strip her of all the power she formerly had, of enforcing her prin- 
 ciples by law. "And shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.'' 
 This signifies a wasting away of her numbers and power, by the 
 acts of these ten horns or kings, the representatives of her for- 
 mer upholders. This has a special reference to the final over- 
 throw of this anti-church, but will apply to her decline in all 
 its stages, until her final and entire destructi@n. It is further 
 implied in this opposition of these kings to the corrupt church, 
 that they will be supporters of the true church, but this will ap- 
 ply to all shades from toleration to full support, which will be 
 given to the church of Christ by the rulers of the kingdoms of 
 the earth. 
 
 17. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will,, and to agree, and give 
 their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 
 
 Here is a representation of God's providence in His permis- 
 sive wisdom, in giving the great spiritual beast full sway, so that 
 his deformities might be made manifest to all his people, so that 
 they would not be able to endure them any longer. This is of- 
 ten the way that evil and oppression are remedied. When the 
 people can bear the burden no longer, they will throw it off from 
 them. "Until the words of God should be fulfilled." This has 
 reference to God's promised triumph of His church and people 
 over all their enemies of every kind, but especially over this 
 monster of iniquity, which should not always persecute and 
 slaughter them. This promise is fast fulfilling at the present 
 day. 
 
 18. And the woman which thou sawest, is that great city, which reigneth oTer 
 the kings of the earth. 
 
 The great city is the anti-christian church in her combined or- 
 ganization, as she has been on the earth ever since she had an 
 existence. Reigning over the kings of the earth, represents her 
 power to control them by all her strategems, and lying wonders 
 and miracles, which she pretends to perform. By these means 
 poor, weak men are drawn away from the true God, and follow 
 her, and so become corrupted, and are finally lost to all happi- 
 ness to all eternity. 
 
 The 18th chapter continues, as follows : 
 
 1- And after these things I saw another angel come down from beaTen; having great power ; 
 a?d the earth was lightened with his glory- 
 Ill this chapter there is a representation of the destruction of 
 the mother of harlots, by the fall of Babylon, and a description 
 of the many plagues sent on it, is given with minuteness, in or- 
 der to show the certainty of the destruction of the corrupt church. 
 The reasons are given, and a detailed account of her loss of for- 
 mer privileges, and the lamentation over the ruins, of them most 
 concerned in her welfare. These lamentations are appropriate 
 to the figure used, but all intended to apply to the one grand 
 point in view, the destruction of the opposition to the cause of 
 Christ, and its entire inadaptation to the former purposes to 
 
81 
 
 which it was intended. So will be the extensive organization of 
 the anti-christian church. It will become an entire mass of ru- 
 ins, and will not exhibit any of its former grandeur, but will be 
 a hissing and a by- word to all formerly concerned in its organi- 
 zation and welfare. 
 
 2. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen'is fallen, and ia 
 become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean 
 and hateul btrd- J 
 
 Here the crying with a strong voice, as to the fall of this great 
 city, shows & fixed determination on her overthrow; and the 
 reasons are given, — because she had become a habitation of dev- 
 ils. This represents her wickedness in the highest degree. "And 
 the hold of every foul spirit.'- They cherished an evil disposi- 
 tion and an unmanly course af action in themselves and others. 
 "A cage of every unclean and hateful bird," that is, they were 
 corrupt in action, in all their intercourse with such as they came 
 in contact with. A cage signifies a place to hold not only un- 
 clean, but ungovernable and ill disposed animals of every kind 
 and quality. All this fitly represents the fallen and corrupt 
 church. 
 
 3. For all nation* have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the 
 earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich 
 through the abundance of her delicacies. 
 
 Here is a representation of the judgments which came upon 
 nations, in consequence of her idolatry. The figure of being 
 drunk, shows their willingness to go with her to excess in this 
 idolatry, but that made it no less a crime, and far less a cause 
 of evading the punishment. The kings also lent their aid in this 
 homage of idols, they going hand in hand with her in all her 
 plots to defeat the true church, and build up her superstitious 
 fabrication, and structure of falsehood and corruption. And the 
 merchants of the earth were with her, as long they could reap 
 advantage from her costly equipage. This is all natural, and 
 applies well to the grand design of the prediction by the spirit. 
 
 4. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not 
 partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of har plagues. 
 
 Here is a warning given to God's people to refuse this idol 
 worship, not to be in her communion, to give no countenance to 
 her corrupt form of worship, but to separate themselves from 
 her entirely; and the reason is given, — that they be not partak- 
 ers of her sins. This was the main point, that they should not 
 deserve the punishment. This was fair warning, f nd will be 
 sufficient to direct the true Christian. He abhors all idolatry of 
 every kind, and takes kindly all God's instructions and warnings; 
 but the followers of this false church are under the same obliga- 
 tion to obey their maker and judge, as the Christians are, but 
 this they will not do. 
 
 5. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 
 
 In this is a description of the time having come for the judg- 
 ment to be infflicted on this sinful church; the cry for vengeanoe 
 has gone to heaven. * 
 
 6 
 
82 
 
 6. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according 
 to her works : in the cup which she hath filled fill her double. 
 
 Here is a rule given for the punishment of this corrupt church, 
 and it is moddeled after the golden rule. "Reward her even as 
 she rewarded you." This is all justice demands, although the 
 further phraseology seems to signify that the punishment should 
 be double, but it is only an emphasis to give force to the figure 
 to show a positive demand for justice. "The cup v hich she hath 
 filled fill to her double." This is intended to show the nature 
 of the judgment to be inflicted, as she has put to death all God's 
 people which she could reach by law or tradition, and her 
 punishment must be the second death, for all her subjects who 
 will not repent and turn to God, and obey his just requirements, 
 and render unto him the worship which is due to him. As she 
 has been the means of sending others to destruction forever, so 
 she cannot have any room to complain of her doom of eternal 
 death. 
 
 7. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment 
 and sorrow gave her : for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, 
 and shall see no sorrow. 
 
 The same figurative expression is kept up to show the nature 
 and degree of punishment justly due her. The figure is carried 
 still further in the expression of setting as a queen. She still 
 claims her power and supposes she has a right to retain it. She 
 apprehends no danger of loosing her supporters. She denies 
 any just judgment due her. She will strive to maintain this 
 claim to the last. This is the nature of this usurper of power. 
 
 8. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and fam- 
 ine ; and she shall be utterly burned with fire ; for strong is the Lord God who 
 judgeth her. 
 
 These plagues coming in one day, signifies the sudden coming 
 of this unexpected judgment on her. "Death and mournings." 
 This shows the utter destruction of the spiritual Babylon, and 
 the feeling which will prevail among the people at the loss of 
 what they so much value, of worshipping not only her false head, 
 but her idol self ; and all the array of images and saints which 
 they so much venerate and worship. Burning with fire is a de- 
 scription of the nature of the means of her death. Fire is a 
 renovating element. This shows a fitness to the description of 
 her being destroyed by the brightness of the coming of Christ. 
 This figure of fire shows that what cannot be refined must be 
 destroyed. This has reference to the gospel which has this ten- 
 dency in a moral sense, and will be the means of reformation 
 when it is adhered to, or if rejected will be just cause of pun- 
 ishment on those who still persist in disregarding its just require- 
 ments. "For strong is the l_ord God who judgeth her." This 
 is a figurative expression to show the certainty of the judgment 
 being inflicted, in accordance with the prediction. 
 
 9. And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deli- 
 ciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the 
 smoke of her burning. 
 
83 
 
 The kings are here charged with the same idolatrous worship 
 which is charged to the corrupt church, and although this is in 
 connection with literal Babylon, yet. it is intended to show their 
 acquiescence in her false worship, and also shows the support 
 which they gave her in her corruption. This is further proven by 
 the lamentation and sympathy which they seem to have for her 
 when they see her destruction. They appear to lament their 
 loss of the advantages which they had from her costliness. All 
 through this chapter a description of the loss of all that is valu- 
 fole both to Babylon herself, and all that were connected with 
 her is given. The figure is still carried farther in the 20th verse: 
 
 20. Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets ; for God 
 &ath avenged yeu on her. 
 
 This shows the approval of the Supreme being and of the 
 apostles and prophets. This description is intended to apply to 
 the false church, and that her destruction will come. That is, 
 her organization will cease forever, and her burning is a figure 
 to show the process which will be necessary to convince God's 
 people of their error and to bring them out of her, that they be 
 not partakers of her plagues. That is, that they may not be 
 finally lost by her errors and superstition. This figure is still 
 continued, and shows that this corrupt church will be deprived 
 of all former privileges, both of profit and pleasantness, all will 
 be desolation and ruins, and she is charged with the sin of all 
 the martyrdom of all the people of God which ever took place 
 upon the earth. This is a great charge, for she would have 
 murdered the whole church of God if she could have done 
 so, but this is what she will never have power to accomplish. 
 But what she has done will be charged to her, and will be her 
 own final destruction. God will avenge his servants at her hand. 
 All those kings who have supported her must either be reformed 
 or they must be put down by judgments sent en them, such as 
 will be just and according to their works. 
 Chapter nineteen : 
 
 1, And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying. 
 Alleluia, Salvation, andgior/, and hanor, and power, unto the Lord our God. 
 
 "After these things." That is, the destruction of Babylon, or 
 the false church. "And I heard a great voice of much people 
 In heaven." This heaven is the new government, and the voice 
 of praise ascribed to God. The phraseology of much people 
 joining in ascriptions of praise, and honor, unto the Lord our 
 God, shows the hearty acquiescence in the. rule and the princi- 
 ples of his government which are now being setup. 
 
 2. For true and righteous are his judgments, for he hath judged the great whore, 
 irhich did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his 
 servants at her hand. 
 
 In this verse the people approve of the judgment, which God 
 has inflicted on this corrupt church. They charge her with 
 causing the people to favor idolatry by law in some shape, for this 
 
84 
 
 is what is meant, by corrupting the earth with her fornication, or 
 idolatrous worship. "And hath avenged the blood of his ser- 
 vants at her hand." This phraseology m^ans punishing her for 
 shedding the blood of his true worshippers. This prophecy shows 
 that the people who form the government, were the true wor- 
 shippers of the true God. 
 
 3. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. 
 
 Again they exhibit his praise in appropriate words, "And her 
 smoke, rose up for ever and ever." This smoke shows that in 
 some way a standing memorial will be exhibited ; but the figure 
 of fire, being the figure of punishment, smoke ascending up for 
 ever and ever, plainly implies the unending existence of that 
 punishment, and that it Will be a separation from the true wor- 
 shippers of God. 
 
 4. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped 
 God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen, Alleluia. 
 
 The heavenly hosts by their four and twenty elders, and four 
 beasts or messengers, fell down and worshipped God, that sat 
 on the throne. Falling down is intended to give force to the 
 figure to show the honor and worship gave to God by the heav- 
 enly host. And they say, Amen, Alleluia, that is to say, let it 
 be so, but, this is not enough. 
 
 5. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his ser- 
 vants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 
 
 "A voice come out of the throne," -calling on all God's ser- 
 vants to praise him both small and great. 
 
 6. A nd I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many ' 
 waters, and as the voice of mighty thunders, saying, Alleluia, for the Lord God 
 omnipotent reigneth. 
 
 "'And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude," and 
 so on through the verse, in the most emphatic language, all going 
 to show the joy in heaven, that the Lord God omnipotent reign- 
 eth in heaven above. 
 
 7. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him ; for the marriage of the 
 Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 
 
 There is an allusion made in this verse to the universal reign 
 of Christ over his church and people, which is about to take 
 place b}^ the figure of the endearing marriage relation. The 
 same figure is still continued to show T the preparation and the 
 cleansing of the church, and the honor which will be bestowed 
 on Christ, the head of the church. In this connection the figure 
 of the marriage relation shows the oneness of the interest be- 
 tween the church and its head, the Prince Emanuel. But you 
 must not suppose this is the first of this union of Christ with 
 his church and people. It is only a figure to show the perfection 
 of that union which has always existed between Christ and his 
 church. It is a figure to show that even in this peaceful and 
 perfect reign, that the laws that will regulate the church and 
 state will be separated from each other, but they will be conge- 
 nial to both; but in the eleventh verse it is more fully explained. 
 
•I 
 
 9. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in tine linen, clean and 
 white ; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 
 
 The expression, "and to her was granted that she should be 
 arrayed in fine linen, clean and white." This is intended to 
 represent the robe of Christ's righteousness, and is called the 
 righteousness of saints. 
 
 9. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper 
 of the Lamb. And he 8aith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. 
 
 "And he saith unto me, Write." As much as to say it must 
 be published for the encouragement of the saints. This then is 
 the blessedness which the people of God should enjoy on the 
 earth, during the happy reign of one thousand years, and this is 
 for them who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. 
 The supper of the Lamb is to show that all the support and 
 nourishment of a spiritual nature, flowing to the church will be 
 by means of the word and spirit of God, and what other means 
 he may see proper to combine together to perfect the kingdom 
 of Christ on the earth. "These are the true sayings of God." 
 These predictions willbe fulfilled beyond a doubt. This is what 
 is meant by true sayings. 
 
 10. And I felf at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not : I am thy 
 iellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus : worship God : for the tea- 
 timony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 
 
 "And I fell at his feet to worship him." Here you see the 
 weakness of poor frail human nature. St. John was about to 
 worship a departed spirit which God had sent, to reveal to man 
 what he intended to do on the earth. But it seems that St. John 
 did not know that the messenger who was communicating to him 
 spiritual truths from God, was the spirit of one of his fellow-ser- 
 vants and of his brethren. It is no matter of surprise, then 
 that this is not understood in our day, no better than it is. He 
 said he had the testimony of Jesus. "Worship God : for the 
 testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." This explains 
 itself. The things which Jesus would have testified to, was the 
 very thing, he was testifying, or in other words, he was convey- 
 ing to St. John the things which God intended to have revealed 
 to man for his benefit and improvement. 
 
 11. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse ; and he that sat on him was called 
 Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 
 
 "And I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse." Heav- 
 en beying opened, means that the civil government was in ope- 
 ration. "Faithful and True," is intended to show the perfection 
 of action, and by the figure of the "white horse." White is an 
 emblem of purity, and a horse being a running animal, is a rep- 
 resentation of the progress of government. "Sitting on a 
 horse," is intended to represent a ruler in the exercise of his 
 power. This ruler was Christ in his spiritual reign over the na- 
 tions. "And in his righteousness he doth judge and make war." 
 Judging in rightousness means that his reign will be in accor- 
 dance with the true principles of justice founded on the law of 
 God, "Judge and make war," is intended to show that the ruler 
 
86 
 
 will defend his subjects against all unlawful claims against these 
 rights or privileges, which they should enjoy under his peaceful 
 reign, and no doubt the church will be protected by the laws of the 
 kingdom, yet, it will be entirely separate from the state. Tnis 
 is one of the prominent marks of the true church, and the op- 
 posite is a mark of a corrupt and false church. 
 
 12. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns ; and he had a nama 
 written, that no man knew, hut he himself. 
 
 "His eyes were as a flame of fire." This is a figurative ex- 
 press to show his all seeing penetrating knowledge of all things 
 which should take place in his kingdom, and a knowledge of the 
 motives which produced them. "And on his head were many 
 crowns." This is an expression highly figurative, and goes on 
 to sho.v clearly that his reign will be a spiritual reign, and the 
 many crowns will be the honor bestowed on him by the many 
 rulers of the nations of the earth, who will give him the glory of 
 being* the founder of their kingdoms. Christ's laws will be the 
 rule of action of all civil governments. "And he had a name 
 written that no man knew but he himself." This means great- 
 ness which no man knows, nor can know in this life. It is a fit 
 expression, for of his great name, he alone can know. 
 
 13. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood : and his name is called The Wofd of 
 God. 
 
 "Being clothed in a vesture dipped in blood," shows that he 
 will be entitled to all the honors of his subjects in all his differ- 
 ent offices. Here a vesture is mentioned, and as none but 
 priests were entitled to wear those garments, then the very men- 
 tion of it is an honor in an exalted degree, when applied to this 
 high dignitary, and being dipped in blood, carries with it the 
 sign of sacrifice, and also of mediation, and shows the honor 
 due Christ as mediator. "His name is called The Word of God." 
 Here the medium through which the word flowed out to man- 
 kind, is put for the thing itself, so that the true meaning that 
 Christ is the medium through or by which the benefits of the 
 word of God is given to mankind, and this carries out the for- 
 mer idea, in this verse, of honor being still due him in all his 
 dignified offices and titles. 
 
 14. And the armies which were in heaven followad him upor white horses, clothed in fins 
 linen, white and clean . 
 
 These armies in heaven following him on white horses, is 
 carrying out of the figure of a strong civil government with 
 sufficient internal strength for its support and success . "And 
 following him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and 
 clean " means purity and progress, and in following him they 
 will be governed by Christ's laws, and he is entitled to the honor 
 of Supreme Ruler. 
 
 15. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he sheuld smite the nations : and 
 he shall rule them with a rod of iron : and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath 
 of Almighty God. 
 
 The sharp sword proceeding out of his mouth, is his word 
 which will be received by the*nations of the earth, and smiting 
 
87 
 
 the nations means subjugation to its mild influences. "And he 
 shall rule them with a rod of iron." This is an expression to 
 give force to the former figure of the complete subjugation of 
 the nations to the peaceful and spiritual reign of Christ on the 
 earth. "And he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the 
 wrath of Almighty God." Here allusion is made to the justice 
 of God, which he satisfied by his sacrificial offering so com- 
 pletely accomplished. 
 
 16. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of 
 Lords. 
 
 Here he takes the highest title which words can express of 
 his high power and authority, both in heaven above and on the 
 earth beneath. 
 
 17. And I saw an angel standing in the sun ; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the 
 fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of 
 thegieat God. 
 
 Here the scene changes, and a highly figurative description of 
 the last great contest between the worshippers of God and the 
 opposition, or the false church and its upholders. And I will 
 here observe that Satan must always have a church, as men are 
 religious beings. This was the reason that he set up his church 
 at the time of which Daniel speaks of the great God's setting 
 up a kingdom, which should not be destroyed ; meaning of 
 course an impulse to his kingdom which had existed before. At 
 that time we are reminded by the inspiration of the spirit that 
 Satan's chmch should continue to exist for twelve hundred and 
 sixty years. But to return to the figure of the 17th verse: "And I 
 saw an angel standing in the sun." Standing in the sun is put- 
 ting out the light of the former high rulers, taking away their 
 power, and bringing their kingdom into darkness. There is no 
 more light from the former rulers ; their time to reign js over ; 
 their light is out, and that forever. This '-'crying with a loud 
 voice to the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven," to come and 
 feast on mighty men and kings, is a figure intended to give force 
 to the scene. 
 
 18. That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, 
 and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and 
 bond, both small and great- 
 
 The same general ideas are continued in this verse, and the 
 entire destruction of the enemies of God is foretold. 
 
 19. And 1 saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to 
 make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 
 
 "And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth." In this 
 verse, a review is taken of the past scene, and a few expressions 
 to show the combination which had existed between the false 
 church and the kings of the earth, to oppose by power of arms 
 the true church. It is figured out by opposition to him that sat 
 on the horse and his army. 
 
 20. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before 
 him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that 
 worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 
 
 In this verse the result is given, the beast was taken and with 
 
88 
 
 him the false prophet, that is to say they were destroyed. They 
 both fell at one time and may refer to some particular persons, 
 and at some particular time, but it also applies to all the com- 
 bined opposition to Christ's kingdom and their final defeat and 
 final punishments. And again these both were cast into a lake 
 of fire, burning with brimstone. Fire is here taken to repre- 
 sent the mental suffering, which will come on them who shall 
 finally be found to be the enemies of Christ and his cause. 
 "Lake of fire," is an expression to give force to the figure. 
 
 21. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which swovd 
 proceeded out of his mouth ; and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. 
 
 "The remnant being slain with the sword of him that sat on 
 the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth," seems to 
 signify that these were subjugated to the gospel influence. The 
 sword by which they were siain proceeding out of his mouth, 
 appears to be the sword of the spirit, and if it was then they 
 were slain by the truth, and that would be a happy result, never- 
 theless the last clause in this verse may be intended to refer to 
 the past scene of defeat, and now my dear son do not suppose 
 that I intended to explain all the figures in this nineteeth chap- 
 ter. I only intend to give some of the outlines of the subjects 
 therein treated, and endeavoring to show some light on them. 
 
 Chapter twenty. 
 
 1. And I saw an angel come down from heaveu, having the key of the bottomless pit and a 
 great chain in his hand. 
 
 This angel was the same who sat on the white horse, in the 
 nineteenth chapter, and refers to Christ in his spiritual reign ; 
 and coming down from heaven, shows an act of the civil power. 
 The key of the bottomless pit, and a chain in his hand, is intend- 
 ed to show the control which the civil government should have 
 over moral evil, or the works of Satan and his emissaries. 
 
 2. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan, and bound 
 him & thousand years. 
 
 Here, you observe that the dragon is mentioned, and the old 
 serpent which is the devil and Satan. Here you can see by the 
 figures employed, the character of the actor is given, and there- 
 by representing the quality of the action. The figure geos on 
 and says, "bound him a thousand years," when really it only 
 means to control his action, and that by civil law, founded on 
 the law of Christ. 
 
 3. And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and put a seal upon him, that he should 
 deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should le fulfilled : and after that he must 
 be loosed a little season. 
 
 Here the figure is still kept up by the bottomless pit, and 
 shutting it up, and putting a seal upon him ; giving to them the 
 efficiency of the government regulations, to keep down all those 
 moral evils with which we are in our day so much infested, and 
 farther it is said, that he should deceive the nations no more, 
 till the thousand years were fulfilled. I here make the remark 
 that the action of all Satan's servants will be equally bound 
 under the spiritual reign of Christ, but no physical force will be 
 
89 
 
 applied, ''and after that he must be loosed a little season." This 
 probably refers to the bringing to judgment and the exposing of 
 those evils, which had been restrained a thousand years, and 
 merely refers to the general judgment, and not another contest 
 of war. 
 
 4. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I 
 saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, 
 and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received Mb mark upon 
 their foreheads, or in their hands ; and they lived and reigned with^Chriet a thousand years. 
 
 In this verse, the expression of seeing thrones and they that 
 sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them. This is in- 
 tended to show a practical decision, and not a judicial one. It 
 has reference always to the moral principles of the servants of 
 God, and also those of the opposition ; but it goes on and gives 
 a more minute description of these servants, and points out their 
 sphere of action, during the thousand years. During the thou- 
 sand years of the reign of Christ here mentioned the spirit is 
 very particular to show that the servant of Christ, had none of 
 the marks of a corrupt church. "And they lived and reigned 
 with Christ a thousand years," shows that they will be employed 
 with Christ during the spiritual reign. This then implies not 
 only a knowledge of the transaction going forward, but a co- 
 operation with him in carrying out those plans of operation, for 
 they are to reign with him a thousand years. This implies ac- 
 tion and it must be spiritual action. Their living at this time 
 is a figure to show a more energetic influence than they were 
 in before this period had arrived. 
 
 5. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is 
 the first resurrection. 
 
 The rest of the dead, meaning the wicked, lived not again 
 until the thousand years were finished, shows that their influence 
 will not be brought to bear on the people as evil, this thousand 
 years ; then the first resurrection here mentioned is intended to 
 represent the raising of the saints to a nore efficient action and 
 all opposition will have less influence, but this is not to be consid- 
 ered the final resurrection of the dead 
 
 9. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection : on such the second death 
 hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a 
 thousand years. 
 
 These expressions of blessedness and living of these saints who 
 have a part in the first resurrection, and on them the second death 
 shall have no power, shows the pleasure they will have in their 
 employment during these thousand years, and the second death 
 have no power, show their security against any consequences of 
 sin which will be cancelled by the efficacy of the covenant of 
 grace. "But they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and 
 shall reign with him a thousand years." The office of the priests 
 is to apply the benefits derived from another source, and have 
 them given to the party intended to be benefitted thereby. This 
 then will be their office during this reign of a thousand years, 
 which is here repeated. The four following verses of this chap- 
 
90 
 
 ter, viz : the 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th, are connected and will be 
 explained accordingly. 
 
 7. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison. 
 
 8. And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the the four quarters of the earth, Gog 
 and Magog, to gather them together to battle : the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 
 
 9. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed ;the camp of the saints 
 about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 
 
 10. And the dlevil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the 
 beast and the fase prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 
 
 These predictions are highly figurative. The whole prophecy 
 is a description of the contest just ending. Every allusion to it 
 shows it. Satan being loosed out of his prison is a contrast 
 figure to "shutting him up," that meant his having less influence 
 or power at that time than he had formerly, and shows an end 
 of this period. "And shall go out and deceive the nations," 
 making as it were preparations for war. This is merely a refer- 
 ence to the past, and here again : "in the four quarters of the 
 earth." Here the whole earth is intended to be a prominent 
 figure in this connection, and lest it should not be sufficiently 
 comprehensive, it is said "the four quarters of the earth." This 
 is the extent of the great battle ground, on which the ending 
 contest was fought. And again, "Gog and Magog to gather 
 them together to battle." This figure, Gog and Magog, signifies 
 no nation in particular, but is intended to represent Satan's 
 whole force. They aFe to be gathered together to battle. Their 
 number is mentioned as the sand of the sea. Keeping up the 
 figure large enough to cover the whole ground. "And they went 
 up on the breadth of the earth." Still the figure is kept up as 
 comprehensive and significant as before. "And compassed the 
 camp of the saints about, and the beloved city." This com- 
 passing the camp of the saints, and the beloved city, are both 
 mentioned to comprehend all God's people, the Jews and Gen- 
 tiles about to be finally delivered from the great enemy of souls. 
 "And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured 
 them." Fire being an emblem of suffering, is a figure to rep- 
 resent God's justice being inflicted on the wicked, and shows 
 decision according to principle, from God the Supreme Judge, 
 and is intended to represent an entire separation from the saints, 
 and not a literal consuming by fire. 
 
 II- And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earlh and 
 the heaven fled away ; and there was found no place for them. 
 
 In this verse a representation is given of the last judgment. 
 The "white throne," represents both the dignity and purity of 
 the action as well as the actor, and him sitting on it means 
 Christ in his majestic power. The earth and heaven fleeing 
 away has a reference to the passing away of the former despot- 
 ic governments. "And no place being found for them," shows 
 that they had entirely passed away. 
 
 12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened 
 and another book was opened, which is the book of life : and the dead were judged out of thoss 
 things which were written in the books, according to their works. 
 
 The expression of "the dead standing before God," is a rep- 
 
91 
 
 resentation of a fair trial. Books being mentioned shows that 
 the decision will be according to some rule, and there being two 
 books shows that the past acts were intended to be brought into 
 view, and the decision will be according to quality and charac- 
 ter. This is represented by the first book. The second is in- 
 tended to represent the title of God's people to eternal life. 
 
 13. And tho sea gave up the dead which were in it ; and death and hell delivered up the dead 
 which were in them : and they were judged every man according to their works. 
 
 In this verse, figurative expressions are made use of to show 
 not only the resurrection of the dead, but a yielding of all na- 
 ture, as it were, to the grand object in view, of meting out jus- 
 tice to all. 
 
 14. And death aud hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 
 
 In this verse the meaning of death and hell being cast into 
 the lake of fire, is that those who are worthy of death should be 
 punished. The "second death," means banishment from the 
 abodes of happiness. "Lake of fire" means mental punishment 
 and remorse of conscience. 
 
 .15. And^ whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 
 
 In this verse there is the expression to show the final decision, 
 and the figures must be explained as similar expressions were 
 in the preceeding verse. 
 
 Chapter twenty-one. In this chapter a view is taken of the 
 grand result of the past scene of contest. The first eight verses 
 describes the grandeur which will be exhibited in the new king- 
 dom, and the remainder of the chapter shows, by appropriate 
 figures, the grandeur and glory of the kingdom of heaven above. 
 
 1. And 1 saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were 
 passed away : and there was no more sea. 
 
 Heaven here means government, and was now established 
 over the whole universe. Earth means law and is intended to 
 represent the new code. The first heaven and earth having 
 passed away, is intended to represent the entire end of all the 
 former despotic forms of government. Sea means people, and 
 shows that there were none to contend for the principles which 
 existed under the former order of things. 
 
 2. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from Ged out of heaven, pre- 
 pared as a bride adorned for her husband 
 
 The "holy city new Jerusalem," is the purified church in this 
 world. "Coming down from God out of heaven," shows that 
 the means of the cleansing the church was the law of God as it 
 was now founded on the government principles. "Prepared as 
 a bride adorned for her husband." Bride means the universal 
 church, and shows her entire purity, and suitableness to fill the 
 place for which she has been prepared. 
 
 3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with, 
 men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with 
 them, and be their God. 
 
 A voice means the authorizing of law being exercised. "Tab- 
 ernacle of God being with men." The tabernacle was a church 
 edifice, and its figure was put for the dwelling place, and would 
 read the dwelling place of God is with men, and is intended as 
 
♦ 7 ■it 
 
 the account goes on in this verse, to show the spiritual reign ol' 
 Christ on the earth. 
 
 4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes : and there shall be no more death, 
 neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are 
 passed away. 
 
 The tenor of this verse goes to show, by the universal happi- 
 ness which will prevail, that the sorrows of former times will be 
 at an end. 
 
 o. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And lie said unto 
 me, Write ; for these words are true and faithful. 
 
 Here again the new forms of government are taken into view, 
 and the direction. "Write, for these thing are true and faithful,*' 
 this is intended to show the certainty of their fulfillment. 
 
 6. And he said unto me , It is done. I am Alpha ana Omega, the beginning and the end. I 
 will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 
 
 Here are declarations going to show the end of this contest 
 or vision of which Daniel spoke, and a declaration of God be- 
 ing both the author and finisher of it. And the figure goes to 
 show the support which the church will receive from Christ its 
 head. 
 
 7. Pie that overoometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my 
 son. 
 
 In this verse the expressions are generally to be explained 
 literally, and "all things to be inherited by them," means all 
 they need. The remainder of the verse means just what it says. 
 
 8. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abomnable, and murderers, and whoremongers, 
 and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burnetii with 
 fire and brimstone : which is the second death. 
 
 This verse is like the one immediately previous in nearly all 
 plain literal language except the expression, "lake of fire and 
 brimstone," which must be mental suffering. Brimstone being 
 a suitable substance to increase fire, it is employed to give force 
 to the figure of the mental agony of a conscience, awake to 
 the sufferings brought on itself by disobedience and neglect 
 of that which would have made it happy. 
 
 9. And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the 
 seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the 
 Lamb's wife. 
 
 Here one of the seven angels being mentioned, shows that 
 the matter to be revealed will cover the whole subject to be spo- 
 ken of This angel introduces the subject in a familiar style of 
 invitation and says, "come up hither, I will shew thee the bride 
 the Lamb's wife." This is still using the figure of the mar- 
 riage relation to show the union existing between Christ and his 
 church, and here the figure extends not only to the bride but to 
 the wife, showing by this figure the entire triumph and accept- 
 ance of her by Christ her head. 
 
 10. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that 
 great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God- 
 
 The spirit carries St. John to a great and high mountain, and 
 showed- him the great city, the holy Jerusalem, which is intended 
 to represent the church triumphant. The spirit then goes on in 
 this chapter to the 22d verse to describe the grandeur of the 
 heavenly host by the figure of a very magnificent palace, de 
 
93 
 
 scribing each part of the structure, in the highest terms oi beau- 
 ty, which language can describe. 
 
 22. And I saw no temple therein ; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple 
 of it. 
 
 The temple being the most magnificient part here described, 
 is a figure taken to represent God's prominent highness as he is 
 the majesty of heaven above and ruler of his host. 
 
 23. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it : lor the glfery of 
 God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 
 
 The glory of God being called the light, shows that it will be 
 one of the great themes for the expanding minds of the saints 
 above. "The Lamb being the light thereof," is intended to hold 
 up to view the honor of his mediatorial office, and the medium 
 through which light is communicated to the saints. Again the 
 Lamb is called the light because he is the author of it 
 
 24. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it : and the kings of the 
 earth do bring their glory and honor into it. 
 
 "Walking in the light," means to be governed and controlled 
 by its influence. "Kings of the earth bringing their glory and 
 honor into it," is intended to show that God's entire supremacy 
 will be acknowledged by all earthly potentates or powers. 
 
 25. And the gates of it shall not be shut a{ all by day : for there shall be no night there. 
 
 The gates not being shut shows the freeness of entrance for all 
 those who are qualified for the place audits employments. "Not 
 to be shut at all by day, for there shall be no night there," rep- 
 resent the continuing of the spiritual support which the saints 
 rill receive from the Lamb, the fountain of light. "No night 
 there," is an expression employed to give force to the figure. 
 
 26. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. 
 
 This is intended to represent the entire yielding of all people 
 o the laws and principles of the heavenly kingdom. 
 
 27. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever work- 
 eth abominrtion, or maketh a lie : but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. 
 
 This verse explains itself, and shows conclusively that none 
 but pure spirits can enter the holy place. Here again the book 
 of life io referred to, for enlightening any who may wish to be 
 informed, and is intended to represent the true principles of 
 heaven above, and as they are handed down to us in God's word: 
 or mark what I say, no moral principle will or can change here 
 in this world or in that which is to come. Implicit obedience to 
 the laws and requirements of God, oordiality of feeling, in- 
 ■tegnity of purpose and action are necessary to true happiness 
 here or hereafter. 
 Chapter twenty-two. 
 
 1. And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal' proceeding out of tho 
 throne of God and of the Lamb. 
 
 "A pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal." Water 
 being an element, is made use of here to represent the suitable- 
 ness of the principles of heaven to support and confirm the 
 saints in that happy place. "Proceeding out of the throne of 
 God and of the Lamb," shows that the Supreme Ruler imparts 
 strength to his redeemed people ; and the river running indi- 
 cates support constantly in operation. 
 
94 
 
 2. In the midst of the street of it, and on either (side of the river, was there the tree of life, 
 Which hare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month : and the leaves of the 
 tree were for the healing of the nations. 
 
 "Tree of life," means not only a standard, but a productive 
 support of it, and as a means of expression of the minds of 
 the saints. The tree being in the midst of the street, and on 
 either side," is intended to show that there was a sufficient sup- 
 ply for the wants of all the redeemed. Bearing twelve manner 
 oi fruits, has a reference to the ample means of enlargement of 
 the capacities and the happiness provided for the saints, by the 
 great and King of Kings Lord of Lords. And the leaves of the 
 tree were tor the healing of the nations, is intended to carry out 
 the idea of abundance of support which should be supplied for 
 the intellectual powers of the saints of the Most High God. 
 
 3. And there shall be no more curse ; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it ; 
 and his servants shall serve him: 
 
 "No more curse," means no more judnment or punishment for 
 sin. "But the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it." 
 This is a representation of power, and its permanence, and 
 amply to maintain order and prevent evil or injury of every kind 
 'And his servants shall serve him." This explains itself. 
 
 4. And they shall see his face ; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 
 
 Seeing his face, is a representation of the favor of the Su- 
 preme Ruler, and their acceptance in his sight. "And his name 
 shall be in their foreheads." This shows the identity of the re- 
 lation existing between God and his servants, and further, his 
 name being in their foreheads, indicates the high honors, be- 
 stowed on them by him that sits on the throne. 
 
 5. And there shall he no night there: and they need no candle, neither light of the sun ; fot 
 the Lord God giveth them light : and they shall reign forever and ever. 
 
 The language of this verse goes to show the grandeur of the 
 place spoken of, and refers to the Lord God as the source of 
 light, and closes with the remark that they shall reign forever and 
 ever. 
 
 6. And he said untc me. These sayings are faithful and true : and the Lord God of the hoiy 
 prophets sent his angul to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. 
 
 In the first part of this verse the phraseology, "faithful and 
 true," is intended to confirm all the previous predictions of this 
 book to be positively true, and in the remainder of the verse a 
 declaration is made that the Lord God has sent his angel to 
 shew unto his servants the thing which must shortly be done. 
 These things were the end of the struggle between the people 
 of God and their enemies which should end. 
 
 7. Behold, I come quickly : blessed is he that fe^epeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 
 
 Coming quickly means certainly and without failure or delay. 
 "Blessed is he thatkeepeth the saying of the prophecy of this 
 book." These expressions are intended to represent the happi- 
 ness of those who should be governed by the principles inculca- 
 ted in this book. 
 
 6. And I John saw these things and heard them. And whsn I had heard and seen, I fell down 
 to worship hefore the feet of the an el which shewed me these things. 
 
 Saint John appeared to be so absorbed in the contemplation 
 
95 
 
 of the passing scene, that he was about to worship the object 
 through whom the communication was made. 
 
 9. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not : for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy breth- 
 ren the prophet, and of them which keep the sayings of this book : worship God. 
 
 Here you see the angel objected to receiving the homage of 
 Saint John and plainly gives us such explanation as to warrant 
 us in believing that, Saint John was mistaken as to the dignity 
 of the rnesser gers. "Keep the saying of this book : worship 
 God." Here the messenger acknowledges his own obligation to 
 be governed by the principles written in this book, but directs 
 Saint John to his own obligations to worship God, which is re- 
 quired by this book. 
 
 10. And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book ; for the time is at 
 band. 
 
 The direction in this verse, is a command to have the princi- 
 ples of God's word spread abroad, and diffused through the 
 minds of men, and giving them the rules of right, so that they 
 may be prepared for happiness. 
 
 11. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still : and 
 toe thai is righteous, let him be righteous still : and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 
 
 Here is a declaration plainly showing an end of probation and 
 common terms are made use of to signify the character and 
 destiny of the division which will be made. 
 
 12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward it is with me, to give every man according 
 as his work shall be. 
 
 Here again a declaration is made of the certainty and the 
 time of retribution coming, and of happiness and glory await- 
 the righteous, and the infliction of punishment due the wicked. 
 
 13. I am Alpha and Omega, the heginning and the end, the first and the last. 
 
 in this veree Gud asserts the eternity of his existence, both 
 past and future. 
 
 14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life 
 and may etter in thiough the gates into the city. 
 
 We have here a promise of blessedness to those who are gov- 
 erned by the principles of the word of God. "That they may 
 have a right to the tree of life." What consoling expressions 
 to encourage the child of God to persevere in obeying his com- 
 mands. "And may enter through the gates into the city." This 
 city is the eternal home of the blessed. 
 
 16. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murders, and idolaters, and 
 whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 
 
 In this verse a descriptive character i3 given of the ungodly 
 or those who shall be shut out of heaven. 
 
 10. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the 
 root and the offspring of David, and the Dright and morning star. 
 
 The first part of this verse is intended to give the divine ori- 
 gin and inspiration of the scriptures. "I am the root and the 
 offspring of David." This is intended to represent Christ's title 
 to being the founder and builder of the whole universal church. 
 "And the bright and the morning star." This is a claim of be- 
 ing its head, and high ruler over it. 
 
 17. And the Spirit of the bride say, Come. And let him that hareth say, Come. And let him 
 SJsat is athirst came. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely 
 
 The spirit and the bride. The bride is the church, and is rep- 
 resented in connection with the spirit, influencing the world to 
 
m 
 
 come under the mild spiritual reign of Christ. "And let him 
 that heareth say, Come." This is intended to show the obliga- 
 tion of those who have the gospel, to send it to those who have 
 it not. The remainder of the verse contains encouraging invi- 
 tations to come and partake of the waters of life freely. 
 
 18. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book. If any 
 man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this 
 book. 
 
 Here fair waring is given to men to adhere strictly to the 
 principles contained in this book, and intimation is given of the 
 punishment justly due those who shall add thereto. The 
 plagues mentioned can mean nothing less than the banishment 
 from the presence of God. 
 
 19. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophocy, God shall 
 take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which 
 are written in this book. 
 
 In this verse, "taking away the words of the book of this 
 prophecy," means to diminish and also to lessen the obligation of 
 men, to obey its truths. "Out of the holy city," means banish- 
 ment from heaven. "And from the things which are written in 
 this book." This is a representation of the loss of the happi- 
 ness of heaven above. 
 
 20. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely 1 come quickly: Amen. Even so, come, 
 Lord Jesus. 
 
 This testifying is a very strong assurance to the truth of the 
 foregoing revelation, by him who is the author of our salvation. 
 And here also is equally as strong assurance of his final coming 
 and that quickly, followed by a solemn affirmation of amen. 
 "Even so come, Lord Jesus. "John unites here in the prayer for 
 the final coming of Christ in a most animated manner. 
 
 21. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. 
 
 This form or expression is what is called a benediction, and 
 includes a prayer for those to whom it is addressed. 
 
 And now my dear son, I acknowledge that a great many of 
 the prophetic figures are not fully explained; still enough has 
 been shown to lead you in the way of truth, and strengthen 
 your mind as to the certainty of the fulfillment of God's predic- 
 tions which you will find in many other parts of his word, all 
 centaining the same general principle and the certainty of their 
 fulfillment to his church and people, nothing of it can fail and 
 will be brought about by appropriate means and in proper order 
 as the contest progresses. 
 
 An inquiry may arise in the mind of the reader whether or 
 not the church is doing its duty at the present time in relation 
 to the moral contest going on in the world. I answer that the 
 church is using the proper means : it is organized under its su- 
 preme head, Jesus Christ, whose right it is to reign over the 
 whole earth. The church has taken the word of God for their 
 own guide, and are translating it into almost all languages, and 
 are sending it to all nations who are willing to receive it ; and 
 are Bending missionaries to explain the word to the masses of 
 
9? 
 
 the people, this is the light which will expel tjie darkness and 
 superstition that covers the earth ; but you must not look for the 
 church to make progress faster than she can do so by the light 
 of truth as revealed in God's word. The reaction of the world 
 with all its despotism, and opposition, and hatred to the princi- 
 ples of truth is a great hinderance to the progress of the church 
 and must be overcome by a slow process, but will be certain in 
 the end; then will the church come up to the true standard, 
 when all the nations of the earth are brought under her influ- 
 ence, and will be governed by the laws of God, this is the true 
 standard, and the only one on which all can unite : because it 
 is right in itself, and is a guide to all right action , and contains 
 the principle which must be cherished in the breast of every 
 person who may have any hope of acceptance with God, or 
 happiness in his holy majesterial presence in that place, where no 
 one can enter but such as have a congenial feeling for the honor 
 of God, and a delight in exhibiting it to the very highest of their 
 capacity to the heavenly host who surround the throne. 
 
 10 
 
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