19:1-3 – “And after these things, I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia, Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia, And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.”
The “much people” with the “great voice … in heaven” surely has reference to that “great multitude” – a spiritual company – whose place will eventually be “before the throne” (Rev. 7:9), which, on seeing, in the end of the Gospel age, the overthrow of that great system (Babylon, Christendom, Churchianity), will feel itself called upon to praise Jehovah God.
“Even in ‘the harvest,’ while the living members of the Bride are being separated from others (this class) will be dull of hearing. They will be slow to act in that time of separation. They will, no doubt, be greatly dismayed when they afterward realize that the Bride has been completed and united to the Lord, and that they, because so listless and overcharged, have lost that great prize; but the beauty of God’s plan, which they will then begin to discern as one of love, both for them and for all mankind, will quite overcome their grief, and they will shout ‘Alleluia!’ for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” (A240)
“We think there is good reason to believe that a considerable number who have made a consecration are still in Babylon. We do not know this, however. We are near to the battle of Armageddon, near the time of the overthrow of Babylon; and we are seeking to give the Message of the truth as wide a circulation as possible, to the intent that this class may hear and come out, even though too late to win the great prize. That they are considerable in number is intimated in the 19th chapter of Revelation, where we are told that when Babylon falls, the number of those released at the time will be a great multitude, that the voices of these will be ‘as the voice of many waters’.” (R5411:6)
As has been suggested, this class will have much to praise Jehovah for; but it would seem their first great shout of praise unto him will be because of the overthrow of that system that had so long held many of God’s true saints in bondage and oppression. The Revelator seems to indicate this, when for the second time he puts the word “Alleluia” into their mouths, following it up with, “and her smoke rose up for ever and ever.”
This “Babylon” while including both Catholicism and Protestantism, has for its chief offender, the Papacy, here called “the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication.” This Papacy is already identified by the Revelator, when he speaks of her as “the mother of harlots” (Rev. 17:5), having particular reference to the fact that she has Protestant “daughters” who have followed closely in her footsteps!
“… a harlot, a fallen woman (an apostate church – for the true Church is a virgin), exalted to power and dominion, and backed to a considerable degree by the kings of the earth and civil powers, which are all more or less intoxicated with her spirit and doctrines. The apostate church lost her virgin purity. Instead of waiting, as an espoused and chaste virgin, for exaltation with the heavenly Bridegroom, she associated herself with the kings of the earth and prostituted her virgin purity–both of doctrine and character – to suit the world’s ideas; and in return she received and now to some extent exercises a present dominion in large measure by their support, direct or indirect.” (D25)
“Her Smoke”
“Rev. 19:3, speaking of one of these systems, says, ‘Her smoke rose up forever and ever.’ That is to say, the remembrance (‘smoke’) of the destruction of these systems of deception and error will be lasting, the lesson will never be forgotten – as smoke, which continues to ascend after a destructive fire, is testimony that the fire has done its work. (Isa. 34:8-10)” (R2609:6)
19:4 – “And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts [living ones] fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.”
The twenty-four elders – the personification of the testimonies of the twenty-four prophets who foretold the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God (R529:4), and the four beasts (living ones – Emphatic Diaglott) – the personification of the four cardinal attributes of God, viz., Justice, Wisdom, Love and Power (R529:6), seemingly rejoice over the wonderful display of Jehovah’s glorious character and his triumph over the forces of evil, cry aloud, “Amen,” and “Alleluia!”
19:5 – “And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.”
This, it would appear, would be the voice of The Christ – the glorified saints, then seated upon the throne (Rev. 3:21), calling for all of God’s creatures who reverence him now, also to break forth in his praise.
19:6, 7 – “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 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.”
The voice of the “great multitude,” is surely that of the Great Company, as the voice of “many waters.” (See R5411:6)
The Voice of Many Waters: A Shout!
“… ‘great company’ begotten of the Spirit, but who have built with wood, hay and stubble – wheat, but not fully ripened at the time of the gathering of the first-fruits … lose the prize of the throne and the divine nature, but will finally reach birth as spirit beings of an order lower than the divine nature. Though these are truly consecrated, they are overcome by the worldly spirit to such an extent that they fail to render their lives in sacrifice.” (A240)
“A beautiful picture of this is given us in Rev. 19:6-9. There also, we are told of the Great Company who will praise God eventually that the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made herself ready – even though they will not be part of the bride class. Awakened from their slumber and stupor, and separated from Babylon the Great by its fire, these, finally recognize what they have missed; but they thank God that his plan, so full of blessings, will be carried out, though the true bride class have gone before. Then the Lord gives to them the precious Message, ‘Blessed are they who can go to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ But they can go to that marriage supper of the Lamb only through much tribulation which will test their full devotion to the Lord – even unto death.” (R5865:6)
The Bride … Made Ready
“The Gospel Age makes ready the chaste virgin, the faithful Church, for the coming Bridegroom. And in the end of the Age, when she is made ‘ready’ (Rev. 19:7), the Bridegroom comes, and they that are ready go in with him to the marriage – the second Adam and the second Eve become one, and then the glorious work of restitution begins.” (OV224)
The Tribulation Saints (the “Great Company”)
Rev. 7:9, 13, 14 – “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.… And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to 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.”
“‘Foolish virgins!’ They let slip their opportunity for becoming members of the Bride; but they are, nevertheless, virgins, pure in their heart intentions. They miss the prize, but gain later, through severe testings, a share at the nuptial feast with the Bridegroom and Bride as ‘the virgins her companions that follow her’; they also shall be brought near before the King. ‘With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought; they shall enter into the King’s palace.’ (Psa. 45:14, 15) As Levites they have failed to get the prize of Royal Priesthood, but they are still Levites and may serve God in his glorified temple, the Church, though they cannot be either ‘pillars’ or ‘living stones’ in that temple. (Rev. 3:12; 19:6,7)” (F127)
“In the tribulation time which will follow the church’s glorification we anticipate crucial tests upon all the Lord’s true people, and faithfulness then will mean ‘great tribulation’ ending in death, which to these will signify change to spiritual conditions. On the other hand failing to meet the trials devotedly will mean full, intelligent rejection of Christ, and will bring the full penalty of such a course; viz., second death.” (R3089:5)
Isa. 34:6, 8 – “The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats … for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea. For it is the day of the LORD’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.”
Psa. 45:14, 15 – “… the virgins, her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the King’s palace.”
19:8 – “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”
John, the Revelator, breaks off here for a moment as it were, to comment on the vision he has had of the Church, the Bride of Christ, in her glorious garments. How exquisitely beautiful must have been this vision. No longer was her righteousness an imputed one – the righteousness of her blessed Lord and Master; but now, she was granted to have a righteousness all her very own!
“Under the symbol of white raiment the Lord throughout his Word represents the righteousness of those whom he accepts as his people. Their righteousness in the future state will be personal righteousness or holiness; and the guarantee of this is the promise that all who are accounted worthy, as ‘overcomers’ of the world to be joint-heirs with Christ in the heavenly kingdom, will in the resurrection be granted new, perfect, spiritual bodies, free from sin and impurity of every kind, and fully in harmony with their new wills or characters developed during the trial-time of this present life. That will be the time of which the Apostle speaks, saying, ‘When that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.’ Those who attain to that glorious condition are symbolically represented as being clothed in white linen, representing their personal purity, completeness and perfection at that time: as it is written, ‘to her (the bride, the victorious church) was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.’ (Rev. 19:8)” (R2159:3)
“… we are to prove ourselves overcomers ‘more than conquerors.’ The Lord has arranged that at the conclusion of our trial, at the end of the present life, all the overcomers shall receive the new body. This new body will be a body of actual purity. Thus, the Apostle says, we shall ‘be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven.’ So our raiment will be changed from a garment of imputed perfection, our justification by faith, to that which represents actual perfection. At the resurrection we shall receive that body of inherent purity, without blemish, without spot, which is here pictured as ‘white raiment’!” (R5669:2)
Anent: The Bride-to-be’s Garments (Psa. 45:14)
“‘She shall be led unto the King in raiment of needle- work.’ This word ‘led’ properly enough applies to the present life. All through this Gospel Age, from Pentecost until now, the Lord has used various instrumentalities to call out from the world this peculiar people; and by various instrumentalities He has led them from grace to grace, from knowledge to knowledge, and changed them from glory to glory, to prepare them for their final acceptance, in the First Resurrection, of the clothing of gold – glory, honor and immortality.
“It is in full accord with this that the Scriptures represent that all accepted of the Lord throughout this Gospel Age have been granted a wedding garment clean and white, ‘pure linen which is the righteousness of the saints.’ (Rev. 19:8) That robe figuratively represents justification, the covering of our blemishes; and it is a wedding garment because it constitutes a basis of our ultimate acceptance by the Lord in the end of this Age, when the marriage of the Lamb shall come. These espoused ones are cautioned that their treatment of the robe will determine whether or not they will ultimately be of the Bride class: (1) They must keep their garments unspotted from the world (Jas. 1:27), and (2) must embroider them with fine needlework. Painstakingly they must endeavor to fix and establish in their robes the glorious pattern outlined for them by the word and example of their Bridegroom and His mouth-pieces, the Apostles.” (SM254)
Another thought Anent: The Bride’s Raiment (Rev. 19:8; Psa. 45:13, 14)
During the Gospel Age, the Church, as the espoused Virgin has been arrayed in white garments – the imputed righteousness of Jesus. This she has been privileged to “embroider” with fine needlework, so that by the time she experiences her change to the divine nature, it will no longer be considered an imputed righteousness, but her very own. (Rev. 19:8) However, these will not be the garments in which she will be married; but merely the garments in which she is brought or led, as the King’s (Jehovah’s) daughter, “unto the King” – her Lord Jesus, the heavenly Bridegroom: for the garments she will then wear will be of “wrought gold.” (Psa. 45:13)
“‘She shall be led unto the King in raiment of needle- work.’ This word ‘led’ properly applies to the present life. All through this Gospel Age, from Pentecost until now, the Lord has used various instrumentalities to call out from the world this peculiar people; and by various instrumentalities He has led them from grace to grace, from knowledge to knowledge, and changed them from glory to glory, to prepare them for their final acceptance, in the First Resurrection, of the clothing of gold – glory, honor and immortality.
“That robe figuratively represents justification, the covering of our blemishes; and it is a wedding garment because it constitutes a basis of our ultimate acceptance by the Lord in the end of this Age, when the marriage of the Lamb shall come.… They must keep their garments unspotted from the world (Jas. 1:27), and must embroider them with fine needle- work. Painstakingly they must endeavor to fix and establish in their robes the glorious pattern outlined for them by the word and example of their Bride-groom and His mouthpieces, the Apostles.
“We shall not be married in these robes. These are merely the ones in which we are being led to the marriage. More and more they should show our love, our zeal, and patient endurance. As the Master examines the work will He not expect to find the last better than the first, even though none of it be perfect? Will this not be the basis of His approval of our endeavors and on account of which He will be willing to give us the new robe of gold?
“So it is with the matter of embroidering of our robes. If we become heedless, careless, indifferent, overcharged with the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches and the affairs of this world, our robes will show it. Little embroidering will be done and it will be of poor quality. Spots will get on; and we shall neglect to have them cleansed away. Soon our robes will be entirely unfit for the Inspection of the Lord or for marriage. It is time, dear friends, that we awake to the responsibilities of the hour, that we realize the Bridegroom is nigh, even at the door; that the last of the wise virgins will soon enter into the marriage and the door will be shut; and that the choicest blessings of all time will soon be won or lost as far as we are concerned. (Matt. 25:1-13; Eph. 5:15-17)” (SM254; 258)
And then, as if calling John back from the contemplation of the Bride’s beautiful garments; the Lord, through an angel-messenger, instructs him to write, as it were, for the comfort of those who failed to attain membership in the Bride class – the Great Company:
19:9 – “And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.
And he said unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”
This Great Company class, are to be the Bride’s companions, and as such will be privileged to come into the heavenly Father’s presence, yea, unto the marriage supper of the Bride of the Lamb. (Psa. 45:14, 15)
“… a ‘great company,’ although following in a measure, and in that measure satisfactory to the Lord, are not up to the divine standard of love and zeal. Nevertheless, since they exercised a sufficiency of faith to leave the world behind with a view to accepting God’s favors, he will not permit them to suffer loss, but will give them also a share in the feast, though not in the chief seats of honor and distinction with the heavenly Bridegroom and the 144,000 constituting the bride. The ‘more than conquerors,’ we are assured, shall in this feast sit with the Lord in his throne and share his glory, honor and immortality: but to the great company, after a certain purifying and washing, tribulation, there will be granted the honor of association, not in the throne, not wearing crowns but bearing palms, not constituting pillars and living stones in the Temple, but doing service in the Temple in humbler positions. All of these are represented in Rev. 7, and again in Rev. 19, we have the intimation that although this feast is specially the nuptial feast of Christ and the church, nevertheless the ‘great company,’ (Rev. 7) the virgins, the bride’s companions, will be invited to share this nuptial feast – ‘Blessed are they that are invited to the marriage-supper of the Lamb.’ (Rev.19:9; Psa. 45:14, 15)” (R3834)
The “Guests” at the Marriage Supper
“After the marriage, in joyful praise a ‘great company’ of the bride’s loved companions shall say, ‘Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him (God), for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made herself ready.’ (Rev. 19:7)
“These, though not of the overcomers, not of the Bride, are nevertheless beloved of both Bridegroom and Bride. They are the great company of Rev. 7:9 and in Psa. 45:14, are called, ‘the virgins, her companions which followed her,’ who also shall come into the palace of the King with gladness and rejoicing. (Psa. 45:15) These will be the guests at the great supper, and after the marriage is accomplished, they shall enjoy the feast with the Royal Family, as it has been written to them, ‘Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ (Rev. 19:9)” (R343)
John is so overcome by this great glory, that instinctively, he would bow down; yea, to worship the messenger. And thus, we read:
19:10 – “And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
All who are engaged in the ministry or service of Jehovah God, are by virtue of this fact, fellowservants, whether they be men or angels! Thus it was not amiss for this messenger (of the Lord Jesus Christ) to call himself a fellowservant with John. And, since the holy angels too are sons of God, are they not in a sense “brethren”? At least, this is a reasonable inference from the words here addressed by the messenger to John. Both were ministers or servants of Jehovah God, and of his Christ, and, it would not be right for either of them to bow down in worship or praise of the other. Worship and praise, belong to HIM, for His is “the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty for all that is in the heaven and in the earth … thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.” (1 Chron. 29:11) While we are to appreciate the servants of the Lord, it is not ours to worship them!
“… such are to be appreciated only as they are faithful and loyal to him. Repeatedly during the last thirty years we have reminded the Lord’s faithful of the experience of John on the Isle of Patmos. When receiving revelation of divine things, he fell down before the angel that showed him these things, to worship him. The Apostle John in a measure represented the faithful of the Lord’s people in the end of this age. The more wonderful things of the divine plan are being revealed; and some might be in danger of worshipping the angel through whom the enlightenment was sent. It is well that all should remember the lesson given in that connection, in which the angel of the Lord rebuked anything that would be in the nature of personal idolatry, saying, ‘See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant … worship God.’ (Rev. 19:10)” (R4199:6)
The “testimony” of, or concerning, Jesus, is really God’s own testimony; and in the ultimate, this is the spirit of all prophecy! Jesus could say to those of his day, “Ye search the Scriptures … and these are they which bear witness of me.” (John 5:39; A.S.V.; Matt. 3:17; 17:5)
Judgment Beginning with the House of God
“The judgment or trial of the New Creation must take place during this Gospel age, before the Millennium shall have been fully introduced; because it is the New Creation, Head and body, which is to do the work of the Millennial age. It is in harmony with this that the Lord declares that we ‘shall not come into condemnation [krises, judgment] with the world [not share in the world’s Millennial day judgment or trial], but are [already] passed from death unto life [in advance of the world],’ justified by faith and obedience as members of his body. (John 5:24) So, then, the present time, the present life, is to each of the consecrated ones his day of judgment, his day of trial, his day of testing – to determine whether or not he shall be accounted worthy of life under the terms of his call and consecration. The Apostle’s words agree with this: ‘Judgment [krima, final decision] must begin with the house of God.’ (1 Pet 4:17)” (F399)
“The Scriptures show also that the battle of the great day will begin with the church of God, and that the overthrow of the great nominal church systems will precede the overthrow of the present civil powers; for the Lord is about to shake not only the earth (the civil organization of society), but heaven (the ecclesiastical powers) also (Heb. 12:26), to the end that great ‘Babylon,’ falsely called Christendom – Christ’s kingdom – may be completely destroyed. The great counterfeit kingdom of Christ, with all its allied civil and ecclesiastical powers, must go down as a great millstone into the sea, preparatory to the final establishment of the true kingdom of Christ. Here, as in the world at large, the work of preparation is going on. The creeds, which for years have been reverenced and received without questioning, are now called up for inspection; and their inconsistencies and lack of Bible foundation is being discovered. As a consequence, the clergy, whose living and honors and worldly prospects in general are all bound up with the systems held together by these creeds, are in great trouble, and are looking about to see what can be done to strengthen the stakes and lengthen the cords of so-called Christianity. A general union of the various sects is suggested, with a simple creed formulated from the various points of agreement among them all and the ignoring of all other points of doctrine to which objection might be made by some.
“This scheme meets with very general approval from all the sects, and the trend of their efforts is in this direction. This, too, is in harmony with prophecy, which shows not only that the various sects of ‘Protestantism’ will band together as one, but that there will also be a close affiliation with Roman Catholicism. These two ends of the ecclesiastical heaven will roll together as a scroll (Isa. 34:4), the two rolls, Protestantism and Romanism, coming closer together as their power over the masses of the people decreases.” (R1355:6)
Judgment, we are told, was to begin with the House of God. (1 Pet. 4:17) This, of course, has been taking place throughout the whole of the Gospel age, and, must be completed before the Millennial age is fully ushered in. (See F399) However, there is also a mystical “house of God” – the nominal church – Babylon – whose judgment had to wait the very end of the age. This has already begun, for it is being carried out by the present Lord and Master, who is also engaged in a warfare against all the forces of evil which would oppose the establishment of Jehovah God’s Kingdom, and the doing of the divine Will on earth, as it is done in heaven. The Apostle John continues with a description of this present Lord:
19:11-13 – “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns, and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.”
The “heaven” opened – a symbolism, bespeaks the revelation of that which is spiritual; and in the vision, John beholds a “white horse” and the “rider,” now going forth to make war against the powers of evil, which are endeavoring to resist, and thwart, this righteous One. The “white horse,” as in Rev. 6:2 has reference to the pure doctrines that are to carry our blessed Lord through to the ultimate victory over all of his foes. He, the glorified Lord, is the “rider,” here identified as “Faithful” and “True” (Rev. 19:11); and subsequently as “the Word of God” (Rev. 19:13), who is also the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Rev. 19:16) As already stated, he has come to render judgment upon “Babylon,” and to make war against all the powers of evil which would perpetuate the old order, in defiance of Jehovah God.
In John’s description of him, he declares “his eyes” were as a flame of fire. Eyes, are symbols for wisdom and understanding. Our comprehension of a thing is often expressed in the words, “I see”! The eyes of the Lord have already been described as “like flames of fire” in Rev. 1:14; and 2:14; having reference, undoubtedly to their penetrating powers – in other words, to his omniscience!
“His eyes like a flame of fire tell us in symbol that our Master is all-seeing, omniscient; that he is not de- ceived by outward forms or ceremonies, but can and does read every thought and intent of the heart.” (R3569:5)
The declaration that upon his head there were “many crowns” suggests the rewards received by him for his faithfulness unto death in carrying out the many phases of Jehovah God’s plan of the ages. (Isa. 53:12; Phil. 2:9) Thus, he now wears, as it were, a crown of “glory and beauty” (Isa. 28:5; 1 Pet. 5:4); a crown of “righteousness” (2 Tim. 4:8); and a crown of “life” (Jas. 1:12); and one, such as he intends to give to the faithful overcomers of this Gospel age – a crown of “immortality.” (Rev. 2:10, 11) John also recognized that he bore a “new name” that no man knew, but himself. We do not know this name; and it is possible that it has not yet been revealed. (Rev. 2:17; 3:12)
John envisioned the Glorified Lord as clothed at this time, in a “vesture dipped in blood.” It is possible that this has reference to the work accomplished by Jesus at Calvary, when he shed his precious blood. We do know that it was because of his accomplishment of the will of God in this very way, that he gained for himself the right of (through the breaking of the seals of the scroll –Rev. 5:1-13) to carry out the remainder of the Eternal Purpose, including this eventual overthrow of all the forces of evil, and the kingdoms of this world, and the establishment of everlasting righteousness and peace in the Kingdom of God upon the earth. However, these garments “dipped in blood,” may also be a symbol for the manner in which the Lord would accomplish this latter, viz., the treading of the “winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” (See Rev. 19:15) Prophetically, this was already suggested in Isaiah’s prophecy, in which we read:
Isa. 63:1-4 – “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.”
“The symbolic Edom of Isaiah’s prophecy corresponds to the symbolic Babylon of Revelation, and of the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Thus the Lord designates and describes that great system to which men ascribe the misleading name, Christendom – Christ’s Kingdom. As all of the land of Edom symbolizes ‘all of Christendom,’ so its capital city, Bozrah, represented Ecclesiasticism, the chief citadel of Christendom. The prophet represents the Lord as a victorious warrior who makes a great slaughter in Edom, and especially in Bozrah. The name Bozrah signifies ‘sheep-fold.’ Bozrah is even yet noted for its goats, and the slaughter of this day of vengeance is said to be of the ‘lambs and goats.’ (Isa. 34:6) The goats would correspond to the ‘tares,’ while the lambs would represent the tribulation saints (Rev. 7:14; 1 Cor. 3:1) who neglect to use opportunities granted them, and did not so run as to obtain the prize of their high calling; and who therefore, al- though not rejected of the Lord, were not accounted worthy to escape the trouble as matured ‘sheep’ – called, chosen and faithful.
“The reply to the Prophet’s inquiry – ‘Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?’ – is, ‘I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.’ It is the same mighty one described by the Revelator (Rev. 19:11-16), the ‘King of kings, and Lord of lords’ – Jehovah’s Anointed, our blessed Redeemer and Lord Jesus.
“For our information the Prophet inquires further, saying, ‘Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth the winepress?’ Hear the reply; ‘I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the nations there was none with me: and I trod them down in mine anger, and I trampled on them in my fury: and their blood was sprinkled on my garments and all my raiment have I stained: for the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed was come. And I looked, and there was no one to help, and I was astonished; and there was no one to support; and then my own arm [power] aided me; and my fury, this it was that upheld me. And I stamped down the nations in my anger … brought down to the earth their victorious strength.’ And the Revelator adds, ‘He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.’ (Rev. 19:15)
“The treading of the winepress is the last feature of harvest work. The reaping and gathering is all done first. So this treading of the winepress of the wrath of God into which ‘the vine of the earth’ (the false vine, which has misappropriated the name Christian and Christ’s Kingdom) is cast when its iniquitous clusters are fully ripe (Rev. 14:18-20), represents the last work of this eventful ‘harvest’ period. It pictures to our minds the last features of the great time of trouble which shall involve all nations, and of which we are so abundantly forewarned in the Scriptures.” (D17, 18)
We are told this great warrior’s name – “The Word of God.” He had also been called “the voice” of God (Gen. 3:8; See also R5161:5); “The Angel of the LORD” (Ex. 3:2; See also E43); yet, because he was the active agent of Jehovah in all of the work of creation (John 1:3, 10) he is also called “the Word of God” (John 1:1), who was in the beginning with God. Thus, the “Word” adequately describes him, yet, not only does it describe him, but it also is his “name”! (Rev. 19:13)
The “Voice of Jehovah”
“Question: It is said of Adam and Eve, ‘And they heard the voice of Jehovah.’ (Gen. 3:8) What is meant by the ‘Voice’ of Jehovah?
“Answer: We suppose that it refers to our Lord Jesus in his pre-human condition. The Logos was a god. The Logos, Word, Voice of God, communicated with man, as the representative of God.” (R5161:5)
“It is suggested that when it is recorded that Jehovah appeared to Abraham (Gen. 18:1), and again to Moses (Exod. 3:3-15) it must have been Christ Jesus in his pre-human condition; and hence that the name (Jehovah) would be his. We answer that such reasoning is unwarranted: that if the name were applied to another, it would merely indicate that such servant was highly esteemed of Jehovah and really treated for the occasion as a steward or representative commissioned to exercise divine power as well. In Exod. 3:2, we are distinctly informed that the one representing Jehovah and using his most distinguished name, ‘I am,’ was ‘the angel (messenger) of Jehovah.’ That this honored messenger was ‘the Word’ of John 1:1, our Lord Jesus in his pre-human state, we do not for a moment question, but the highest and most honored messenger should not be confounded with the one whom he represents and in whose name he speaks and whose power he exercised and bestowed upon Moses.” (E43)
“The Word of God”!
“… our Lord, in His prehuman existence, is referred to as ‘The Word’ (Greek, Logos). ‘In the beginning was the Logos.’ Adam Clarke says, concerning this word Logos: ‘This term should be left untranslated. As every appellation of the Savior of the world was descriptive of some excellencies in his person, nature, or work, so the epithet, Logos, which signifies a word, a word spoken, speech, eloquence, doctrine, reason, or the faculty of reason, is very properly applied to him.’ The Evangelist, in his epistle, uses the same title in respect to our Lord again, denominating him ‘the Word of life,’ or the ‘Logos of life.’ (1 John 1:1)” (E85)
19:14 – “And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.”
The “armies”¹ “which are in heaven” – must not be confused with what sometimes is called “the Lord’s army.” The former is a spiritual company (Rev. 7:5-8; 17:14; 19:14); whether its soldiers are on this or the other side of the “veil.” (Psa. 149:5-9; Rev. 19:14; See also R5451:4) The latter is a heterogeneous mass of malcontents – socialists, communists, anarchists, etc., who unknowingly will be instrumental in the destruction of the old order, so that the new may be established in its place.
“It is evidently not the saints who are to constitute the Lord’s great army, referred to by the prophets for the overthrow of the kingdoms of this world: nor are the weapons of their warfare sufficient to this end. Their weapons are indeed mighty, as the Apostle says, among those who are influenced by them. Among the true people of God, who diligently apply their hearts unto instruction, his Word is sharper than any two-edged sword, truly ‘casting down imaginations (human reasonings) and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ’ (2 Cor. 10:4, 5); but not so do the weapons of this warfare operate upon the world. The army of the saints is, however, not a ‘great army,’ but a ‘little flock,’ as our Lord himself designated it. (Compare Luke 12:32; Joel 2:11)” (D543)
“Who then are with the King of Kings in this conflict? Those close to him, his ‘regular army’ are few – a little flock. Among these his followers, all faithful and true, are not many great, or rich, or mighty, according to the course of this world; but they are all rich in faith – chosen and faithful. (Rev. 17:14) But the new and rightful King has an immense army of ‘irregulars’ in every kind of uniform (except the white of the ‘regulars’). Communists, Infidels, Socialists, Anarchists, Nihilists; all these fight in the battle of the great day, though ignorant of him whose kingdom they help establish. These are the vultures of Rev. 19:17, 18, 21, who battle for plun- der and get their fill in the overturning of earth’s kingdoms; because the time is come for Messiah to take the dominion of earth and to overthrow the oppressors and corrupters of the earth (Rev. 19:15; 11:17, 18) preparatory to the establishment of everlasting peace upon the only firm foundation of righteousness and truth.” (R817:3)
19:15, 16 – “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should 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. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
“Out of his mouth,” not literally, of course, but figuratively, there goes forth a sharp “sword” – the TRUTH –with which he smites the earth, the nations, i.e., everything which in injustice and unrighteousness to this time prevailed. But let it be noted, this very “sword” will prove the means whereby all mankind will eventually be blessed.
“The sword of truth already sharpened, is to smite every evil system and custom – civil, social and ecclesiastical. Nay, more, we can see that the smiting is commenced: freedom of thought, and human rights, civil and religious, long lost sight of under kings and emperors, popes, synods, councils, traditions and creeds, are being appreciated and asserted as never before. The internal conflict is already fomenting: it will, ere long, break forth as a consuming fire and human systems and errors, which for centuries have fettered the truth and oppressed the groaning creation, must melt before it. Yes, truth – and widespread and increasing knowledge of it – is the sword which is perplexing and wounding the heads over many countries. (Psa. 110:6) Yet, in this trouble what a blessing is disguised: it will prepare mankind for a fuller appreciation of righteousness and truth, under the reign of the King of Righteousness.
“As men shall eventually come to realize that justice is laid to the line and righteousness to the plummet (Isa. 28:17) they will also learn that the strict rules of justice alone can secure the blessings which all desire. And, thoroughly disheartened with their own ways and miserable fruitage of selfishness, they will welcome and gladly submit to the righteous authority which takes the control; and thus it is written, ‘The desire of all nations shall come’ – the Kingdom of God, under the absolute and unlimited control of Jehovah’s Anointed.” (B101)
“… the second Psalm points out that the Redeemer will not pray for, ask for, the world until, at his second advent, he is ready to establish his kingdom, his church having first been gathered to glory. Then he will ask for the heathen. By the term heathen or Gentile is signified all out of fellowship with God, ‘enemies through wicked works.’ The Psalm proceeds to say that Messiah will deal rudely with the heathen. ‘He will dash them in pieces as a potter’s vessel,’ etc. This interpreted by other Scriptures, means that the inauguration of Messiah’s kingdom will bring a great time of trouble, symbolically styled fire, or fiery judgments. ‘He shall be revealed in flaming fire, taking vengeance.’ Everything appertaining to present institutions contrary to the divine standards of justice will be rudely shaken and eventually destroyed.
1 “We know not why this prophecy speaks of heavenly armies — in the plural. We merely suggest that the heavenly army may possibly be in two divisions – one on this side of the veil, the other on the other side of the veil.” (R5451:4)
“However, the Lord wounds that he may heal. The lessons of the time of trouble will be salutary; as we read, ‘When the judgments of the Lord are abroad in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.’ These judgments will not in any sense continue upon all throughout the thousand years of Messiah’s kingdom, but will be inflicted only upon those deserving them. Hence the judgments will be especially severe at the beginning. All who learn righteousness will thereby deliver themselves; and as they come into harmony with the King of kings and Lord of lords, blessings will be their portion, uplifting them gradually to human perfection.” (R5493:3)
“He who now takes his great power to reign is shown in symbol (Rev. 19:15), as the one whose sword went forth out of his mouth, ‘that with it he should smite the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron.’ That sword is the TRUTH (Eph. 6:17), and the living saints, as well as many of the world, are now being used as the Lord’s soldiers in overthrow- ing errors and evils.… But let no one hastily infer a peaceable conversion of the nations to be here symbolized; for many scriptures such as Rev. 11:17, 18; Dan. 12:1; 2 Thes. 2:8; Psa. 149 and Psa. 47, teach the very opposite.” (B100)
“It should not be a wonder to us … that the fiery judgments upon the world are the Master’s design, not for the world’s injury, but for its blessings. We read that as a result of St. Peter’s preaching at Pentecost the truths struck home to the hearts of his hearers – ‘They were cut to the heart.’ But we realize that this was a great blessing, in that it prepared them for the message of divine mercy. So here we read of the Lord’s slaying his enemies; they will be cut to the heart. A picture of this slaughter is given us in Revelation, where the Lord is represented in glorious majesty, with a sword proceeding out of his mouth, that with it he should smite the nations. (Rev. 19:15) Blessed smiting! The sooner it begins, the better for the world, we might say; and yet we remember that God’s time is best for everything.” (R5493:5)
The “treading of the winepress” probably is intended to signify the complete crushing of every element of rebellion and apostasy identified with the old order, and reflects “the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”
Treading the Winepress
“The treading of the winepress is the last feature of harvest work. The reaping and gathering is all done first. So this treading of the winepress of the wrath of God into which ‘the vine of the earth’ (the false vine, which has misappropriated the name Christian and Christ’s Kingdom) is cast when its iniquitous clusters are fully ripe (Rev. 14:18-20), represents the last work of this eventful ‘harvest’ period. It pictures to our minds the last features of the great time of trouble which will involve all nations, and of which we are so abundantly forewarned in the Scriptures.
“The fact that the King of kings is represented as treading the winepress ‘alone’ indicates that the power exerted for the overthrow of the nations will be divine power, and not mere human energy. It will be God’s power that will punish the nations, and that will eventually ‘bring forth judgment [justice, righteousness, truth] unto victory.’ ‘He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips [the force and spirit of his truth] shall slay the wicked.’ (Isa. 11:4; Rev. 19:15; Psa. 98:1) To no human generalship can the honors of the coming victory for truth and righteousness be ascribed. Wild will be the conflict of the angry nations, and worldwide will be the battlefield and the distress of nations; and no human Alexander, Caesar or Napoleon will be found to bring order out of the dreadful confusion. But in the end it will be known that the grand victory of Justice and Truth, and the punishment of iniquity with its just deserts, was brought about by the mighty power of the King of kings and Lord of lords.” (D18)
The Lord’s “vesture” is again brought to John’s attention; but this time he notes that it, the vesture, so well as his thigh, bears the name “King of kings and Lord of lords.” This name is really the title which Jehovah God, the Father, gave unto him for his faithfulness unto death, and which title gives to Jesus that preeminence, by which, “at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow.” (Phil. 2:9, 10) Charles B. Williams, evidently sensing this, renders Rev. 19:16 as follows: “On His garments and on His thigh He has this title written: King of kings and Lord of lords.”
King of kings and Lord of lords
1 Tim. 6:15 – “Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords:”
“That the passage in question relates to our Lord Jesus and designates him the only Potentate, King and Lord, does not imply any disregard or disrespect of the heavenly Father and his attributes, kingship, etc., as the same writer (St. Paul) elsewhere points out. When speaking in similar strain about Christ’s kingdom and subjugation of all things under him, he says, ‘It is manifest that he is excepted who did put all things under him.’ In other words, comparisons which show dignity and honor pertaining to Christ, Head or body, are never understood to be comparisons with Jehovah, who is beyond all comparison. (See 1 Cor. 15:27, 28)
“The correctness of this application is further at- tested by our Lord’s own application to himself of the same titles. (Rev. 17:14; 19:16)” (R2747:6)
Messiah’s Reign
“Thank God, the Bible abounds with precious promises that a better day is soon to dawn! That glorious epoch is to be inaugurated by Messiah’s kingdom, for which Jesus taught his people to pray, ‘Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, even as it is done in heaven.’ Then will come a glorious change to the world. Satan shall be bound for a thousand years. The reign of Sin and Death will cease and a reign of Righteousness and Life will begin.
“That reign is to last a thousand years. We have the words of Jesus himself that its results will be the entire removal of the curse – the freeing of mankind from every difficulty and ailment which came upon the world as a penalty for Father Adam’s sin, etc. From the very beginning of Messiah’s reign, God’s blessings will begin to come to the world through him, and correspondingly the curse will fade away; but the full blessing will not be here, and the curse will not be entirely removed, until about the close of the Millennium. It will be a grand work. The promise of Jesus is that eventually there shall be no more sighing, no more crying, no more dying; for the former things of sin and death will have passed away and he will have made all things new, as the great King of kings and Lord of lords. (Rev. 21:4, 5; 19:16; 1 Cor. 15:26, 54)” (R5779:6)
19:17, 18 – “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 the great God. 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.”
Who is this “angel” who is standing in the sun? Is it not reasonable to suppose that he represents a class of persons living on the earth at the time of Christ’s manifestation with his saints in judgment – a class, who after the glorification of the Church, have a knowledge of the fact that the destruction of the great anti-Christian host is at this time to occur? The “sun” is a symbol of the Gospel light, the Truth. (D590)
“The angel standing in the sun would therefore represent a company of persons on earth blessed with a knowledge of Divine truth – not alone the truth respecting God’s great Plan of the Ages, but also the truth respecting the very last judgment on those powers, civil and ecclesiastical, which are left after the judgments have fallen upon the great Mother of Harlots – a company who understand that this judgment is then immediately to take place. More than this … this company … it seems evident … is comprised of those who have become acquainted with the fact that the selection of the Bride of Christ is at the time of the vision’s fulfillment complete, and that all of these elect ones are glorified and with their Divine Lord. The proclamation made by this angel implies that the momentous events of that time will culminate in the complete destruction of those organizations, civil, social, and ecclesiastical, symbolized by the ‘beast,’ the ‘kings of the earth,’ and the ‘false prophet.’
“Keeping in mind that this vision meets its fulfillment in the very closing period of the great time of trouble, the great tribulation (Dan. 12:1; Rev 7:9, 14), and after the glorification of the Church, would it not seem to the careful student of Revelation that there could be but one class on earth at this particular time possessing such knowledge of the Divine plans and purposes; and may not that class indeed be the one that is called in Rev. 7:9 the ‘Great Multitude (Company)’.” (The Revelation of Jesus Christ – Streeter, Vol. 2, p. 448)
Those who constitute this spiritual class (the Great Company) which stands in the “sun” (the Gospel light – the Truth), must not be confounded with that class which is but nominally spiritual – “Babylon” – the “heavens” which is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every fowl spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. (Rev. 18:2)
“How strong the expression, ‘She is become the habitation of demons, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.’ How true it is, that the most execrable of society seek and wear the garb of Christian profession and ceremonialism, in some of the various quarters (sects) of Babylon. Every impure principle and doctrine, somehow and somewhere, finds representation in her. And she is a ‘cage’ which holds securely not only the Lord’s meek and gentle doves, but also many unclean and hateful birds. Of all the defaulters, and deceivers of men and women, how many are professedly members of Christ’s Church! and how many even use their profession as a cloak under which to forward evil schemes! It is well known that a majority of even the most brutal criminals executed die in Roman Catholic communion.” (C162)
Nor need we understand that this “proclamation” by the members of the Great Company living in the end of the age, will be one in the ordinary sense of that word:
for, it is hardly possible that they would audibly address themselves to the embattled marauders, to tell them to “feast” upon one another. Would it not be most natural for these “vultures” to do just this, without being invited so to do? We think, therefore, that the “loud voice” which John heard, was really the heavy heart-throb, the sincere yearning of this Company for the complete and utter destruction of the old order, which in itself had already been a matter of great tribulation; but by way of which tribulation these Great Company members would be able to “wash their robes … white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:14) Is it any wonder then, that they should so strongly desire the speedy accomplishment of this?
“Through the favor of the High Priest, this great company are to go into ‘great tribulation’ and have the flesh destroyed…
“This class … will be sent into the Wilderness condi- tion of separation from the world, forced thither by the ‘man of opportunity’ – unfavorable circum- stances – there to be buffeted by adversity until they learn the vanity, deceitfulness and utter worthless- ness of the world’s approval, and until all human hopes and ambitions die, and they are ready to say, God’s will, not mine be done.
“Forced into freedom by Babylon’s fall, while realizing that the great prize has been lost, these ‘tribulation saints’ will then hear the High Priest’s voice and find themselves forced into the wilderness condition of separation and flesh destruction … an enforced destruction of the flesh.” (T70, 72)
Concerning this eventful day, when virtually every man’s hand shall be against his neighbor – the Day of Jehovah, the “day of vengeance” we read:
“The Lord hath prepared a slaughter, he hath bid his guests. And it shall come to pass in the day of the Lord’s slaughter that I will punish the princes and the king’s children, and all such as are clothed in imported clothing. And I will inflict punishment (also) on all those (marauders) who leap over the threshold on that day, who fill their master’s houses with violence and deceit. (This shows not only that there will be a great overthrow of wealth and power in this time of trouble, but that those who will for the time be the instruments of heaven in breaking down present systems will also be punished for their equally unjust and unrighteous course; for the coming trouble will involve all classes, and bring distress upon all the multitude.)
“‘Nigh is the great day of the LORD: it is nigh. Nearer and louder comes the uproar of the Day of the LORD. There the mighty shall shriek bitterly! That day is a day of wrath, a day of distress and anxiety [uncertainty and foreboding, as well as present distress], a day of clouds [trouble] and tempestuous gloom, a day of the trumpet [the seventh symbolic trumpet, which sounds throughout this day of trouble – also called the trump of God, because connected with the events of this Day of the Lord] and shouting against the fenced cities and high battlements [clamorous and conflicting denunciations of strong and well-instructed governments]. And I will bring distress upon men, and they shall walk about as blind men [groping in uncertainty, not knowing what course to pursue], because they have sinned against Jehovah. Their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh shall be dung. Neither their silver nor gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’s wrath [though previously wealth could furnish ease and every luxury], but the whole land shall be devoured by the FIRE of his zeal; for destruction, yea, quite sudden, will he prepare for all them [the wealthy] that dwell in the land.’ (Zeph. 1:7-9, 14-18) This destruction will destroy many of the wealthy in the sense that they will cease to be wealthy, though doubtless it will involve the loss of many lives of all classes.” (A316)
19:19-21 – “And I 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 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. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.”
“Babylon, Christendom, has had a long probation of power, and has had many opportunities both to learn and to practice righteousness, as well as many warnings of a coming judgment. All through this Gospel age she has had in her midst the saints of God, devoted, self-sacrificing, Christ-like men and women, ‘the salt of the earth.’ She has heard the message of salvation from their lips, seen the principles of truth and righteousness exemplified in their lives, and heard them reason of righteousness and judgment to come. But she has disregarded these living epistles of God; and not only so, but her so- called Christian nations, in their greed for gain, have brought reproach upon the name of Christ among the heathen, following the Christian missionary with the accursed rum traffic and other ‘civilized’ evils; and in her midst and by her authority the true embryo kingdom of heaven (composed only of the saints, whose names are written in heaven) has suffered violence. She has hated them and persecuted them even unto death, so that thousands of them, by her decrees, sealed their testimony with their blood. Like their Master, they were hated without a cause; they were rejected as the offscouring of the earth for righteousness’ sake; and their light was again and again quenched that the preferred darkness might reign with its opportunities to work iniquity. Oh how dark is this record of Christendom! The mother system is ‘drunk with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus’; and she and her daughters, still blind, are ready still to persecute and behead (Rev. 20:4) though in a more refined manner, all who are loyal to God and his truth, and who venture, however kindly, to point out to them plainly the Word which reproves them.
“The civil powers of Christendom have been warned frequently when again and again empires and kingdoms have fallen with the weight of their own corruption. And even today, if the powers that be would hearken, they might hear a last warning of God’s inspired prophet, saying, O ye kings: be instructed ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son lest The be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little.… ‘Why do the nations rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves (in opposition), and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against his anointed.’ … But their resistance shall avail nothing; for, ‘He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh, and the Lord shall have them in derision. Then (since they persistently neglect to heed his warnings) shall he speak unto them in This wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.’ (Psa. 2:10-12; 1-5)” (D51, 52)
“This judgment against the ‘thrones’ of the present time, and against ‘the beast and the false prophet’ systems, follows speedily upon the introduction of this Millennial judgment reign. The thrones of present dominion of earth will be ‘cast down’ and the dominion transferred to the great Prophet and Judge. (Compare Dan. 7:9, 14, 22) And the systems of error will be speedily judged worthy of destruction, the lake of fire, the second death.” (R893:2)
“The Beast and Prophet are symbols of false systems, which during the Gospel age have deceived and led astray. These systems will be cast into a great consuming trouble in the close of this Gospel age. The torment of those systems will be aionion, i.e., LASTING. It will continue as long as they last, until they are utterly consumed. So at the end of the Millennial age the system of error which will then manifest and lead to the destruction of ‘goats’ will also be consumed. That deceiving system (not specified as to kind, but merely called Satan, after its instigator), will be cast into the same sort of trouble and destruction in the end of the Millennial age, as the Beast and False Prophet systems are now being cast into, in the end of the Gospel age.” (R1040:5)
“The great time of trouble, the Lord’s judgment, which will utterly destroy these systems, will un- doubtedly cause great social, financial and religious difficulty and pain to all those identified with these deceived and deceiving systems, before they are utterly destroyed. These systems will be cast in, destroyed, at the beginning of the Millennium, while Satan’s destruction is reserved until its close, when all the ‘goats’ shall have been separated from the ‘sheep,’ and they shall perish with Satan in the second death, as ‘his angels,’ messengers or servants. None of these abominable characters among men, who knowing the truth, yet love unrighteousness – none of the ‘fearful and unbelieving’ – those who will not trust God after all the manifestations of his grace afforded during the Millennial reign of Christ; nor the abominable who at heart are murderers and whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and liars: none of these shall escape from the second death, to defile the earth again. All such, after a full and abundant opportunity for reformation, will be judged unworthy of life, and will forever be cut off in the second death, symbolized by the lake of fire and brimstone.” (R2608:6)
What About The Two-Horned Beast of Rev. 13:11?
“The ecclesiastical power symbolized by the Two- Horned Beast is rapidly dissolving. The church as a governmental establishment in Ireland has already passed away, and the ablest statesmen of England concede that it is only a question of a very short time when it will be disestablished in England.
“Thus we see the Two-Horned Beast as such drop- ping from view, and we can thus account for the fact that it has no part in the struggle at its close as shown in Rev. 19:19, 20. A ‘beast’ is the symbol of a kingdom: hence the separating of the English church from the government will neither destroy the beast nor church; but since Revelation is treating of ecclesiastical beasts, it drops from view when it ceases to be an ecclesiastical Government. In Rev. 19:19, 20, its government appears among the others – among the ‘kings of the earth,’ etc., and the English church is represented among the other Protestant systems in the ‘false prophet’.” (R834:4)
“The False Prophet”
“The False Prophet is a new symbol, and takes the place of both the ‘two-horned beast’ and ‘the image of the beast,’ and, we believe, is a still more comprehensive symbol, representing all systems teaching error – those called ‘orthodox’ as well as many considered heterodox.” (R510:4)
“But in the prophecy under consideration in Matt. 24:23-25, our Lord warns us of danger from false Christs ‘then’ – that is now. In harmony with this we find in Rev. 13:14-18 a prophecy of a special combination of influence by which Protestant denominations will be unified and, though separate, yet be brought into cooperation with Papacy, in a manner that will give both increased powers, and deceive many into supposing that the new combination will be God’s instrumentality for doing the work predicted of Messiah, and that it is thus its representative.” (D581)
“The false teachers and false Messiahs who have deceived many are represented today, we believe, by some very large and very prosperous denominations which are deceiving themselves and millions of others into supposing that they are the true church, the true Messiah, the true Vine of the Heavenly Father’s right-hand planting.” (R4872:6)
Re: Revelation 19:15 and 21
“The methods of conquest and breaking will be widely different from any which have ever before overthrown nations. He who now takes his great power to reign is shown in symbol (Rev. 19:15) as the one whose sword went forth out of his mouth, ‘that with it he should rule them with a rod of iron’.” (B100)
The Warfare of the Rider on the White Horse
“A comparison of verse 21 with that of verse 18 seems to show that the supporters of the present order, the supporters of the beast power before its disintegration, are referred to.… These … the civil and ecclesiastical potentates, the great financial kings, as individuals, and those standing with them. The broad sword of truth and judgment will cause these to see that it is God’s Kingdom they are opposing, and later their complete fall from the positions of prominence, they will yield, some willingly we believe, and give allegiance to the new order.
“Thus it will be seen that this remarkable vision teaches that before the incoming of the new order, the great anti-Christian systems, and the supporters of the same, which have so long opposed and misrepresented, unwittingly to a large extent, the Gospel and its great Author, and which have persecuted the saints, must be destroyed that the masses bound up in those systems may be given opportunity to yield obedience to the Divine authority of the Kingdom. And in this great conflict of the near future, the Truth and its supporters will be as victorious as though in a literal sense the Lord Jesus Christ should wage battle with these opposing forces, overthrow them with great slaughter, capture their leaders, imprison and finally destroy them.” (The Revelation of Jesus Christ – Streeter, Vol. 2, p. 465)