With the seventh trumpet the mystery of God was to be finished. Chapter Revelation 10:7. This has already sounded, and "the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ." Chap Revelation 11:15. We cannot therefore, with any degree of probability, suppose that the lon... [ Continue Reading ]
TRAVAILING IN BIRTH; a symbol of the fruitfulness of the church in times of great trial. Compare Isaiah 54:1; Isaiah 66:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
A GREAT RED DRAGON; the pagan Roman empire, considered as the agent of the devil, and animated with his spirit. Red or purple was the distinguishing color of the Roman emperors, as it has since been of the popes and cardinals. SEVEN HEADS; explained in chap Revelation 17:9, to mean the seven hills... [ Continue Reading ]
DREW THE THIRD PART OF THE STARS OF HEAVEN; probably representing the subjection of the kings and rulers of a large part of the world to the Roman power. The enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent, Genesis 3:15, has always existed, and has been manifested in various ways, e... [ Continue Reading ]
A MAN - CHILD; this man-child is Christ, the seed of the mystic woman, considered as the head and representative of all his disciples. It includes, therefore, not only him, but all who are through faith united to him. CAUGHT UP UNTO GOD, AND TO HIS THRONE; representing the exaltation of Christ, and... [ Continue Reading ]
FLED INTO THE WILDERNESS; spoken here by way of anticipation. See note to verse Revelation 12:14. God is mindful of his people in all their trials, kindly provides for them all the blessings which he sees best, and will one day give them dominion over all the earth. Daniel 7:27.... [ Continue Reading ]
WAR IN HEAVEN; representing the conflict for supremacy between the truth of Christianity and the old system of pagan delusion. Michael seems here to represent all the agencies employed by Christ, as the dragon does the devil acting in and through his agents, especially the persecuting emperors and t... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS CAST OUT; truth and its friends prevailed, and idolatry was overthrown. WAS CAST OUT INTO THE EARTH; excluded from his former position of power and office. The dragon in heaven is thought by many to mean the devil enthroned in the chief place of power; the dragon on earth, to mean the devil cas... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ACCUSER OF OUR BRETHREN; Satan, who, so long as he retained his place of power, persecuted and destroyed Christ's servants by false accusations. In the name here given to Satan, there seems to be an allusion to the manifestation made of his character in the case of Job, chap Revelation 1:9-11; R... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB-BY THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY; not by carnal weapons, but by faith in the efficacy of Christ's atonement, and their faithful testimony to his truth. LOVED NOT THEIR LIVES UNTO THE DEATH; would not renounce the truth to save their lives. The children of God will be triumpha... [ Continue Reading ]
GREAT WRATH; at his overthrow in heaven. A SHORT TIME; his time to persecute God's people and hinder the truth. The twelve hundred and sixty days that remain to him are short absolutely, and short in comparison with the ages during which he has been the god of this world.... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO WINGS OF A GREAT EAGLE; representing the assistance granted by God to his church, to escape the rage of her persecutors, or to endure and survive it. THE WILDERNESS; the sojourn of the church in the wilderness agrees with the prophesying of the two witnesses in sackcloth. It is another represen... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SERPENT CAST OUT OF HIS MOUTH WATER AS A FLOOD AFTER THE WOMAN; thought by many to represent the inundation of northern barbarians, by which Satan hoped to overwhelm Christianity.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EARTH HELPED THE WOMAN; these pagan hosts, instead of destroying God's church, in many ways befriended her. They settled down in the regions conquered by them and embraced Christianity.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REMNANT OF HER SEED; representing those who remained faithful to the truth of the gospel. The manner in which he made war upon them is immediately set forth in the following chapter. Sin unrestrained is outrageous, cruel, and persevering. When the agents of Satan are foiled in one way, they try... [ Continue Reading ]