CHAPTER IV.

ON THE OVERTHROW OF THE DRAGON, DEATH AND

HELL.

Now we are under the Gospel dispensation: and those beasts which had their lives prolonged for a time and season, of which Daniel speaks, were that portion of fallen Israel which did not suffer in the day of Jerusalem's judgment. These still remained in unbelief, and the mark of blasphemy has not yet been effaced from them; neither will it be, until the deliverer which came out of Sion, shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob; then all Israel will be saved. But now they are bowing down their

necks under all the nations of the earth, according to the prophecy of old. These Jews will be brought in with the rest when the fullness of the Gentiles has arrived.

It will be borne in mind, the beast spoken of in this book, was of a scarlet color. What gave him this color, was his being stained with the blood of the saints, which he caused to be murdered. The woman likewise, was drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus, and upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth.' Rev. xvii: 5. This was Jerusalem which was drunken with the blood of the saints, which John calls Mystery, Babylon.' This blood was to be required of that generation, according to the words of the Saviour.

Those who stood on the sea of glass, which represents the gospel, had their

Father's name written in their foreheads, which gave them the victory over the beast and his image. The ten horns on this beast, the angel told John, were ten kings, which had not then received kingdoms; but possessed some power as kings, for the space of one hour, with the beast. These kings were the Roman governors, which were the horns of the Gentiles, setting at the head of fallen Israel, to administer the Gentile laws upon them. These persons were of one mind, and gave their power to the beast. This they did in many cases. Pilate was one of these characters, which reigned with the beast, which represented the fallen part of Israel, which is called in other places

many waters,' the sea upon which the whore sat and the dragon.' This man, in the case of Jesus Christ, resigned the power with which he was invested by the Roman government, into the hands

of this murderous beast. This ravenous beast cried out, Crucify him! cru

cify him! And to his wish Pilate consented. He was afraid to do otherwise, lest he should offend this beast, and provoke him to rebellion. Thus it was with all the Roman governors. They yielded all they could to the wishes of fallen Israel, consistently with the honor of the Roman government, if no more. Thus these horns reigned with the beast, until he rose up in rebellion against that government, and attempted its overthrow, and the establishment again of the kingdom of Israel. This conduct brought on their great day of judgment, when these horns turned against the beast and hated him. 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.' Rev. xvii: 16.

It was at this time the Jews were raised to everlasting shame and contempt; i. e. the unbelieving part. But the elect, which stood on the sea of glass were raised to everlasting life. These two resurrections took place at the commencement of the rebellion. The fallen part of Israel, represented by the beast, the whore and the dragon, were raised to shame and everlasting contempt; while the elect were raised to everlasting life. These had this life conferred upon them through the instrumentality of those signs pointed out by the Saviour as immediately to precede that great and terrible day of the Lord. They were warned by them and obeyed the directions he gave, and were thereby saved.

Daniel says, 'And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?' Ch.