Revelation 16:13-16

Before the final destruction of the Mahometan power it is destined to secure powerful allies, which will aid it in its last struggle, and go down with it when that struggle is ended, in. final and utter destruction. This conflict is described as follows:

"And. saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold,. come as. thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together in. place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon."--16:13-16.

The reader will observe that, before the seventh vial is poured out, there is an alliance of three powers described as the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. From their mouths came three unclean spirits, like frogs, who go forth to the kings of the earth, rally their forces under the banners of the three allied powers, and march them to the battle of the great day of the Almighty. And the hosts join battle in. place called in the Hebrew tongue,

ARMAGEDDON.

I wish the reader to understand that in venturing upon this portion of Revelation,. do so as one who goes through. dim, mysterious and untraveled country. Thus far. have been writing of the past, and. have asked my reader to tread with me the solid ground of history.. have pointed him first to the sublime panorama of the future described, as an eye witness, by the prophet of Patmos.. have then turned to history and have shown the march of events corresponding to, and in precise order of the Apocalyptic symbols. But in this application we have now reached the year 1881. The symbolism next proceeds to map out what is future to us as well as what was future to John eighteen centuries ago. The gathering of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet, belongs to the future. It is unfulfilled prophecy, and of the meaning of unfulfilled prophecy we should always speak with modesty. The blunders made by so many learned men in trying to teach the world what prophecy of events yet future should mean, ought to admonish the interpreter to lay aside all dogmatism before he begins his work.

Yet, in the interpretation of this passage we are furnished with solid ground where we can place our feet. The dragon and the beast are symbols that have already been identified. All Protestant commentators are agreed that the dragon is. symbol of old, persecuting, imperial Rome, and that the beast represents the no less tyrannical and persecuting power of Papal Rome.

Here. difficulty arises concerning one of these powers. Papal Rome still exists, but imperial Rome, once the mistress of the world, is gone forever. How then can the dragon appear in. conflict that is yet future? It cannot appear as imperial Rome, but it may appear as some great despotic power of kindred character, representing its work and spirit. We may, perhaps, receive some assistance by comparing the passage before us with the thirty-eighth and thirty-ninth Chapter s of Ezekiel. These Chapter s are understood by President Milligan, and other judicious commentators, to describe the gathering of the hosts to the battle of Armageddon. We quote: "Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief Prince, of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him." Ezekiel 38:2. Magog was one of the seven sons of Japhet. His sons were Gomer, Magog, Maadai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. Josephus says that Magog founded the "Magogae, whom the Greeks call Scythians." The people called Scythians anciently inhabited southern Russia. We are justified, then, in pronouncing that country the "land of Magog." Ezekiel, in the passage quoted, not only names the land of Magog, but "the chief prince of Meshech." Meshech we have named already is the sixth son of Japhet. There can be little doubt but that the name survives in Russia. Muscovy is the ancient name of Russia, and the word is probably. corruption of Meshech, and the other Russian terms, Moscow, Moskwa, Mesoc and Mosc, are all variations of the same word. This resemblance is rendered still more striking by. correct translation of the Septuagint version. It there reads: "The prince of Roos and Meshech and Tubal."

We have then found that the land of Magog was Scythia or Russia; that the prince of Roos, or Russia, is named; that Meshech corresponds with Moscow and Muscovy, and the remaining name, Tubal, or Tobol, as it is in the Septuagint, is also. Russian name. The capital of Asiatic Russia is Tobolsk. Tobol is its chief river.

I think that these facts clearly show that Ezekiel marks Russia as one of the powers destined to take part in the battle of Armageddon. In despotic form. of government, in extent of dominions, in ambition, in military power, it more fitly represents imperial Rome than any other modern State, and since it is definitely described by Ezekiel, we are justified in regarding it as the revived imperial despotism symbolized by the dragon.

ARMAGEDDON.

Two of the powers that enter into the conflict can now be conjectured, viz: Russia, the great modern secular despotism, and the spiritual despotism of Rome, symbolized by the beast. These, are not at present in union, but they will unite. They each have. system of Episcopacy, worship images, invoke saints, and nourish monasticism. They have so much in common religiously that it will not be impossible to make an alliance in the future.

Papal Rome in the zenith of her power would have disdained an alliance with the eastern church, but in the humiliation brought upon her by the pouring out of the vials she will stretch out her hands for help. In the reign of Justinian when the Pope first received the title of Lord of the Church, the Greek and Latin churches were united under his sceptre and will be again united at their fall.

The third power described as the false prophet, remains to be identified. The reader will note two facts: 1. The sixth vial treats of the fall of the Turkish power. We have not yet passed to the seventh vial. The Sultan is the recognized "commander of the Faithful;" the head of Islam. The false prophet represents the Mahometan power; possibly not under the Sultan, but still existing. It is the religion of "The Prophet," as his disciples term Mahomet; of the false prophet, as the rest or the world suppose. 2. By turning to Ezekiel we find that it is stated that Persia, Ethiopia and Lybia with them, are joined in the conflict. These are the very countries that are peopled by Mahometans.

"The power of the Euphrates" will probably be dried up, and before this conflict, but there will be. marshaling of the followers of the false prophet from Persia, Ethiopia, Lybia and other countries. Let the reader note the significance of the historical fact that the Mahometan lands are fast passing under the dominion of Russia. Already central Asia to the borders of China acknowledges the Czar, and Turkey is suppliant at his feet. It seems, then, to be already foreshadowed that after the drying up of the Euphrates there will be. grand alliance of secular despotism led by Russia, spiritual despotism embodied in Papal Rome, and false religion as exemplified in Mahometanism. Their aim will be to check the progress of political and religious freedom and of the gospel of Christ. The final gathering of the hosts will be it Armageddon, where the last conflict in which the beast and false prophet shall ever engage, will be fought. It will not be the world's last battle. There remains yet another which closes the scenes and struggles of time, but the great victory of Armageddon will secure the peace of earth for. thousand years, and usher in the glories of the Millennium.

I have endeavored to identify the powers which shall contend upon the one side in the battle of Armageddon. Of two of these there can be no doubt. The beast is ever. symbol of the Papal power. The connection, as well as the name indicates that the false prophet represents Mahometanism. The dragon represents, not old, imperial Rome, but the spirit of imperial Rome revived in some modern power, or powers.. have urged that Russia is that power. It may be that it is an alliance of despotic powers under the leadership of Russia.. passage to which. ask the reader's attention suggests that this is probable.

In chapter 13:16, the beast, false prophet and dragon are named. In chapter 19:19-20, there is another description of the same conflict. There John saw the beast and the false prophet as before, but instead of the dragon he names the kings of the earth. These would represent the imperial despotism of ancient Rome. The language would suggest an alliance of despotic rulers. The dragon represents the spirit of them all. What has been written renders it probable that Russia will exercise. preponderance.

The sacred writer saw that, they were gathered to. place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

If this is. literal conflict of arms the place where it will take place is probably indicated. Possibly the conflict will be moral and spiritual, but if not, it is of interest to know where this great final conflict will be fought. It is at. place. The place would therefore probably be found where the Hebrew tongue was spoken, and where the Jews were wont to bestow Hebrew names upon places. The fanciful Baldwin has chosen the United States as the theatre of this conflict,. supposition about as probable as many of the prophetic theories of which he is the advocate. The place named is not only Hebrew, but is. famous spot in Hebrew history. Armageddon means simply the Hill Megiddo. Upon the hill Megiddo was fought the battle in which King Josiah was slain. It was in the midst of the battle-ground of Israel. The plain of Esdraelon, the depression between Judea and Galilee, was tracked with armies. Philistines, Midianites, Syrians, Assyrians, and Egyptians contended with each other and with Israel. Upon this plain arose the hill of Megiddo. It may be that the last conflict before the fall of Babylon and the ushering in of the Millennium will be upon this ancient battleground. If Ezekiel 37:8-17 is understood literally it signifies that Palestine shall be the theatre of his struggle, but of all these passages. am inclined to believe that they have. spiritual signification. The Israel of Ezekiel represents the church, the true Israel. Armageddon, the battle-ground of Israel, is used metaphorically to describe the great conflict of the Israel of God.

But against whom are these wicked powers arrayed? Revelation 19:11-16 describes him. Christ is the leader. The conflict is with the true church. The word of God is the instrument of offense. Christ rides upon the white horse of triumph and in righteousness doth he judge and make war. The splendid description of chapter 19th, is. fuller presentation of chapter 16:14, where the conflict is described as the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

As this conflict was waged the seventh angel pours out