Christian there is ever light in the darkness. This very apostasy from the Christian faith, and the looming in the distance of that strange religion of the future-the product of an emasculated Christianity; of the theories of those who contract all belief within the limits of human experience; and of the dreams of those who, entirely giving up all faith in a conscious life beyond the grave, worship Humanity, a mere mental conception of the Human race, in the place of the ever Living and Eternal God-these evident delusions of Satan, the great deceiver, again released from his temporary prison, are the plainest possible miraculous evidences of the veracity and supernatural origin of those sacred writings which have so plainly predicted them. This striking fulfilment of prophecy forms a solid ground for our feet as we walk through the 'slough of Despond ;' as we perceive the sea and the waves roaring, and men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after these things which are coming upon the earth.' As individual believers we have nothing to fear, if we are conscious that we have received upon our foreheads the seal of the living God, and have made up our minds that we will not worship the Wildbeast or his Image, or be branded as his slaves. For it was for the support of our faith in all ages, but especially in these latter days, that the prophecies were written; even as the proplet himself declares, 'Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.' 1 'The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.' 2 'Seal not the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. ... Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.' 3 1 Rev. xiii, 10. 2 Rev. xix. 10. Rev. xxii. 10, 12. 1-3 Description of the book and blessing on its readers. 4-8 Salutation, and prediction of Second Advent. 9-20 The circumstances under which the book was written, and the vision of Christ in glory. 1 THE revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to point out to his servants the things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and madeit-known-by-symbols exhibited by his angel to his 2 servant John, who was-a-witness-of the Word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, even of the 1, 2. The word 'Apocalypse' means 'the uncovering of something previously hidden;' and the Greek verb used expresess exactly the nature of this book, which is an allegory revealing by signs or symbolic pictures the future of the Christian Church; the character and actions of the rulers of Christendom in Church and State; the condition, in every age up to the end of this dispensation, of that kingdom of God which is ' in the world' but ought not to be of it." Jesus, being the kept in check b In the Apocalyp the beginning to the of a Wild-beast with in character and ac power being in reali ferent characters at d powers are the Two V rescuing the persecu Serpent. At another of this world persecute bear their testimony in supporter of the Churc the pure Bride of the beast. At the end of this i power, still represented revealed as the enemy c in fact, fallen into diffe power in the world, but place of one removed out which long partly sup Church has now openly who now reigns and figh of the abyss' of unbelief dition.' He slays and three years and a half; h the Babylon which his pr he makes war with the gathers his armies togeth here were the larkness. This very stay from the Christian faith, and the looming in the distance of that strange religion of the future-the product of an elated Christianity; of the theories of those who contract all belief within the limits of human experience; and of the dams of those who, entirely giving up all faith in a cious life beyond the grave, worship Humanity, a mere metal conception of the Human race, in the place of the ever Living and Eternal God-these evident delusions of Satan, the great deceiver, again released from his temporary prin, are the plainest possible miraculous evidences of the veracity and supernatural origin of those sacred writings which have so plainly predicted them. This striking fulfilment of prophecy forms a solid ground for our feet as we walk through the 'slough of Despond;' as pine the sea and the wares roaring, and men's hearts filling them for fear, and for looking after these things which are coming upon the earth.' As individual believers we have authing to fear, if we are conscious that we have med upon our foreheads the seal of the living God, and have made up our minds that we will not worship the Wildbest or his Image, or be branded as his slaves. For it was fer the opport of our faith in all ages, but especially in these batter day, that the prophecies were written; even as the pro hill declares. Here is the patience and the faith of the with" "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of propage," "Saul not the prophecy of this book: for the had Bebell I come quickly; and my rewar will an, to give yading as his work ten bors. But th es of the past p only, but in every The World-power, b and not only Description of the book and blessing on its readers. 4-8 Salutation, and Christianity or to the Commu under Prolene spirit of lambe ment of the Chant by place of reg E revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to , to point out to his servants the things which st shortly come to pass; and he sent and madenown-by-symbols exhibited by his angel to his ant John, who was-a-witness-of the Word of and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, even of the he a the This very Christian there is ever light in the darkness. apostasy from the Christian faith, and the looming in the distance of that strange religion of the future—the product of an emasculated Christianity; of the theories of those who contract all belief within the limits of human experience; and of the dreams of those who, entirely giving up all faith in a conscious life beyond the grave, worship Humanity, a mere mental conception of the Human race, in the place of the ever Living and Eternal God-these evident delusions of Satan, the great deceiver, again released from his temporary prison, are the plainest possible miraculous evidences of the veracity and supernatural origin of those sacred writings which have so plainly predicted them. This striking fulfilment of prophecy forms a solid ground for our feet as we walk through the slough of Despond;' as we perceive the sea and the waves roaring, and men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after these things which are coming upon the earth.' As individual believers we have nothing to fear, if we are conscious that we have received upon our foreheads the seal of the living God, and have made up our minds that we will not worship the Wildbeast or his Image, or be branded as his slaves. For it was for the support of our faith in all ages, but especially in these latter days, that the prophecies were written; even as the proplet himself declares, 'Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.' 1 'The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." 'Seal not the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.' 3 92 1 Rev. xiii. 10. 2 Rev. xix. 10. 3 Rev. xxii. 10, 12. |