With the examination of the vision of the “two witnesses,” this volume of the exposition is concluded. (The content of this single book was originally published in two volumes.) We trust that it has not been in vain that the reader has thus far with us traced on the pages of history the fulfillment of these sublime visions.

As was pointed out in the early portion of this volume, the object of this exposition is to demonstrate that the visions of this most holy and sanctifying book have been having their fulfillment in connection with the eventful career of the true Church of Christ in its witnessing to the truths of God’s Word, and in its encountering the opposition of the world, but more especially the opposition of the false, counterfeit profession of Christianity, which has existed since the early centuries of the Gospel Age. The more familiar we become with the general outlines of the history of Christianity, the more we are moved to exclaim, What a marvelous exhibition of Apocalyptic pictures we have had pass before our eyes, disclosing indeed the great Drama of all time! What a wonderful unfolding in symbol of the career of the Church of Christ has been disclosed to our vision! How vast and unbounded are the great and important events of human history that have been crowded into these remarkable symbolic pictures! How great has been the number of historical books necessary to record the fulfillment of what was forecast in only eleven brief chapters! None but the Divine mind could have chosen and employed the symbols that have portrayed so many important events! This is, in itself, an evidence of the Divine authenticity of this most remarkable book.

We have found in these symbolic visions, a faithful and true forecasting of the history of the footstep followers of Jesus Christ as they have endeavored to obey the command of their Divine Lord and Master, “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” We have had disclosed to our view in the varied and stupendous events which have fulfilled these strange and startling visions, the fulfillment of the Master’s promise to his Church, “Lo, I am with you all the days even unto the end of the age.” Most vividly do we have described in some of these visions the great dangers the true Church has encountered; the many searching trials she has experienced; the terrible conflicts she has been engaged in with the unseen powers of evil and of darkness. We have seen how she has been encouraged and upheld by the imparting of Divine knowledge and power, without which she would have been unable to meet with courage and fortitude,the great trials and difficulties encountered in connection with her witnessing to her Lord. We have had described in a number of these wonderful pictures, the severe persecutions she has encountered, and the terrible sufferings she has endured, the trying situations in which she has at times found herself, in the fulfillment of her Divine mission. We have beheld the faithful followers of Christ living in the very midst of the apostate system, endeavoring to bring about a reform of the same. We have beheld them discouraged, disheartened, laboring, in the midst of worldliness, formalism, and apostasy, to hold fast the profession of their faith without wavering. We have seen the true saints seemingly entirely defeated, “worn out” — with but a few names left, and these giving no open testimony to the truths of the Gospel; and in the vision just considered, we have beheld the Divine Lord and Master come to the aid of his followers, and raise up special ones to help them in their hour of extremest need.

As we have watched the progress and development of the Divine Drama, we have felt and appreciated that bond of union that unites the true followers of Christ today with those of past generations. We have more fully realized that these faithful witnesses of past generations were our brethren in Christ. We have sympathized with them in their trials and sufferings, even as though the whole Divine Drama were being enacted on the stage of the present day. We have rejoiced as we have witnessed their victory unto death secured, even as our own, through faith in “the blood of the Lamb” and by the word of their testimony; and we have been encouraged in that they loved not their lives unto death.

As we consider and meditate upon these most remarkable visions that the aged Seer of Patmos beheld and recorded in so brief a space of time, and as we cast our eyes back and note the long period of time that it has taken to fulfill them, we are filled with awe and reverence, and find it impossible to doubt that he who said that they were designed to “show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass,” has kept his promise and disclosed their fulfillment to his faithful Church. The hidden things of the sealed scroll, the meaning of which was first disclosed to Christ, has little by little, been revealed to those who “have ears to hear.” Other parts of Scripture have revealed the meaning of the symbols; and the events of history have disclosed their fulfillment.

The parenthetic visions recorded in chapters ten and eleven, close, as we have seen, with the one referring to the French Revolution and its effects since on the nations of Christendom. With the words of verse 14, “The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly,” the vision of the trumpets is taken up again. It has required only eleven brief chapters to unfold the Divine Program of centuries and to disclose the Drama of the Ages. The closing verses of chapter eleven sum up in a few words the events of the seventh trumpet, the consideration of which, including the remaining portion of the Apocalypse, will be taken up in the succeeding volume.

The most significant, the most startling, and indeed the most solemnly important matter disclosed to us in the unfolding of this great Drama thus far is, that we are most certainly living in the last times — in the very closing hours of this dispensation, and on the eve of the most stirring and colossal events that this earth has ever witnessed — events which will be none short of the fulfillment of the prayer of our gracious Redeemer — “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

Preface (To Volume Two of the original edition)

Progress in the study of the Book of Revelation as in all other portions of the Divine Message, brings increasing interest and joy. Indeed the devout and reverent child of God realizes as he looks upon this great symbolic drama and sees the stately steppings of God — sees unmistakably that blessed and happy goal toward which the Divine Plan is leading — that he is brought more closely in touch with those spiritual and hallowed influences that give energy, support, and perseverance in the Christian life.

And is not this in full accord with the prayer of the Master in behalf of his followers on the eve of his death, “Sanctify them through Thy Truth: Thy Word is Truth” (John 17:17). And is it not also in line with the prayer of St. Paul: “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power” (Ephesians 1:17-19).

In sending forth this second volume of the Revelation series the Publishers are deeply gratified in stating that messages have been received from all parts of the civilized world assuring them that the reading of Volume 1 of this series has brought genuine gladness, peace, and joy, and a better understanding of those great and mysterious truths — “mysteries of the Kingdom,” that Jesus promised would be revealed to his followers. We thank the Giver of all good for this evidence of His blessing. These messages from far and near have truly been appreciated and have been an inspiration in the labor and task of preparing this second volume that is now placed in the hands of the Lord’s people.

For many years there has been an increasing conviction, derived both from experience and from observation, that these wonderful visions of St. John were not only given to comfort and encourage God’s faithful people, but are, in these days, specially necessary to their establishment and growth in grace. Indeed, history has demonstrated that they have been this in a large measure throughout the entire Gospel Age. Even at the very beginning of the age its principal visions were measurably understood, and it was seen that they were in a very important sense associated with the visions of Daniel; indeed a continuation and development of those of this Prophet. The interpretations of some of its visions by those who were associates of St. John, have formed a basis of interpretation upon which the whole system of the Historical school has developed.

In the production of this work, access has been had to writings that were made when St. John himself was alive, containing comments on some of the visions of the Revelation. In fact quotations have been freely made from writers who have lived in practically every generation of the Church’s history from St. John’s day down to the present. It has been found, just as would be expected, that the understanding of the visions has been on the increase until this day. The events of the Sixteenth Century Reformation began to throw strong rays of light on many of its visions; and since then Apocalyptic literature has increased in a most remarkable degree. Herein the reader has the benefit of these writings.

It is the conviction of not a few of Christ’s followers that we are now living in the period referred to in Divine prophecy as “the time of the end” — the period in which there would be given increased knowledge on all the various features of Divine revelation. As the visions of the Apocalypse constitute the last word of Christ to his Church, we would most naturally expect to find in them that which the “wise” of his people need in order to assist them in finishing their course.

Many sober and devout men have come to believe that the answer to the prayer, “Thy Kingdom come,” is about to be realized. It will be in the establishment of this Divine rule and authority over the world that the next petition of this inspired prayer, “Thy will be done on earth, even as it is done in heaven,” will begin to be realized. The complete establishment of this Kingdom will not be accomplished in a moment, nor without a tremendous disturbance of the present order of things. The present arrangements, civil, religious, and social will form no part of the new order. Their removal will be, as the Scriptures teach, in connection with great revolutionary disturbances, tumults, and disorders in church and state, as also in the social arrangements. These upheavals will cover a considerable period of time, and will be taking place while statesmen and religious leaders and law- abiding people will be seeking remedies, which they hope will prevent the utter collapse of the present civilization. It would be expected that the whole civilized world will be in the throes of revolutionary troubles incidental to the birth of the new order, and will be wholly unaware of what the disturbances and troubles portend. The day of the Lord is to come in “as a thief in the night.” The change of the Church, both of those who have fallen asleep in Christ, and those who will be living at that time, will be taking place while these things are transpiring, but this will be known only by the few. A large portion of the expositions of this volume have to do with the visions that describe the events of this transition period. It seems clear that the transfer of earth’s dominion will be of a character entirely different from what has been generally understood.

The sublime purpose in the Divine mind in the establishment of this Kingdom over the earth should be borne in mind. That purpose is expressed in the writings of all the holy Prophets since the world began. It is briefly summed up in the words of inspiration: “The Lord will make bare His holy Arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”

The great Resurrection Age will be ushered in when all those who have died throughout the long centuries of human history will be awakened from the sleep of death. The Divine object to be accomplished in this reign of righteousness will be to give all mankind an opportunity, with full light, to attain unto life eternal in an earthly paradise. Indeed, that will be the great Age of Probation; the saints, the elect Church of this Gospel Age, having already passed their time of trial and probation, will at that time be associated with Christ upon the heavenly, spirit plane in the work of rescuing mankind in general. That future age will accord to all the full benefits secured by Jesus Christ by his ransom sacrifice. That age of Probation is called the “times of restitution.” It constitutes the chief theme of all God’s holy Prophets of old. The symbolic visions of the last three chapters of the Apocalypse describe these glorious scenes.

Those who understand that Christ, since his ascension and appearance in the presence of God, is in no sense or degree a human being, but rather a Divine, spirit being, are better prepared to understand those Scriptures that portray the overthrow of the present order, as well as the inauguration of the new order. Such will not expect that Christ will be visibly present on the earth during the period of his reign. Indeed, while the marvelous effects of his rulership will be in evidence everywhere, and it will be known to all earth’s inhabitants that these effects proceed from his Kingdom, nevertheless, he, in person, will neither be on the earth, nor yet be visible to human beings living on the earth.

Some of the expositions contained in this volume have reference to the manner that present institutions, political, and ecclesiastical, will be overthrown. We acknowledge of course that the events of the future alone will determine their correctness.

And now, the Publishers place this volume, like the preceding one, in the hands of the truth-seeker, in the confidence and with the earnest prayer that the Divine blessing may richly attend the ministry of the Word herein presented, and cause it to bring forth fruitage that may indeed be to the praise of the glory of His grace, and give inspiration, true solace, and consolation to His faithful children in their earthly pilgrimage as onward they press toward the City of God.

R. E. STREETER