“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” (Revelation 19:17,18).

Let it be borne in mind that the vision described in these words is closely associated with, indeed is a continuation of the one described in verses 11–16. It will be recalled that the symbols employed in that part of the vision are descriptive of a great warrior and his armies who were about to engage in deadly conflict. This conquering warrior and his armies, as we observed, represent our Lord Jesus Christ and his glorified Church. However, before St. John saw, or at least before he described the enemy forces, his attention was drawn to the strange and startling scene of an angel who appears to be standing in the sun, and who in a loud voice utters the words quoted above.

The import of the language implies that whoever may be represented by this angel, foresees or anticipates the result or outcome of this terrible battle. The assembling of the birds in response to the angel’s call evidently refers to what is frequently the case after a great battle, namely the assembling of vultures and other birds of prey over a battlefield to feed on the flesh of the dead and disabled wounded. The words of the angel, therefore, indicate that the symbols are drawn from a most sanguinary and cruel battle in which the carnage and slaughter is most terrible, and the bodies of the dead are left unburied for the birds of prey. This great battle is symbolical, and is quite generally understood by expositors to be identical with the closing scene of the one called in Revelation 16:14,16, “the battle of that great day of God Almighty”; and further described in the words, “He gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue, Armageddon [Mount of Destruction].” The words of this symbolic angel are in themselves sufficient to show that the description in the closing verses of this nineteenth chapter is that of one of the final destructive acts of the judgment of Christendom.

It will have been noted in our expositions of the visions relating to the harvest period that we considered one very significant gathering (which of course preceded the one of this vision), namely the gathering out of the rejected, religious systems, the Elect, the wheat class, the overcoming saints (Revelation 14:14–16). This gathering will have been completed and these overcomers it would seem will have entered into glory with their Lord before the vision we are now considering meets its fulfillment. Another, a second gathering, will have been completed before this vision meets its fulfillment; this is the one described as the gathering of the ripe clusters of the vine of the earth, preparatory to their being cast into the great winepress of the wrath of God (Revelation 14:18–20).

The gathering or assembling referred to in the words of the angel standing in the sun is that of those represented by the birds of prey, the vultures, which will of course take place at the conclusion of the great winepress feature of the time of trouble. While this great battle is undoubtedly a symbolical one, and the great slaughter is more especially designed to portray the destruction of the various governments, systems, and organizations that will then be found in opposition to the establishment of God’s Kingdom of truth and righteousness, yet there can be no question that there will be a most dreadful and appalling slaughter and loss of human life in connection with the destruction of these systems. It seems to be one of those visions that combine both symbolical and literal statements.

The Angel Standing in the Sun

Coming to the consideration of the symbols of the vision more particularly, we inquire first, Who or what is represented by the angel who is seen standing in the sun? It is of interest to note that nearly all commentators who wrote before 1890 quite generally understood this angel to be one of the spiritual, heavenly messengers. Mr. Lord, who wrote in 1846, is a notable exception, and seems to us to come much nearer to the truth in his exposition. In the light of the events of history unveiling more clearly these Revelation visions that embrace the closing scenes of the age — the harvest and the vintage — his explanation is indeed remarkable and convincing and constitutes a basis for invaluable assistance at the present time in obtaining a clear insight into what seems to be the true and correct interpretation. It was his understanding that the angel stationed in the sun, who summons the birds of prey to assemble to the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of the anti-Christian host, is a symbol of either one conspicuous person or a class of persons that have been made aware of the impending destruction and are in a position of close observation of the great leaders of this vast anti-Christian host, although not of their number. This person or company of persons are to warn these of their impending destruction.

The interpretation that this angel represents a class of persons living on the earth at the time of Christ’s manifestation with his saints in judgment seems to us to be the correct one. The angel, then, would represent a company or class who, after the glorification of the Church, the joint-heirs of the Kingdom, have knowledge of the fact that the destruction of this great anti-Christian host is at that time to immediately occur. It seems quite clear, then, that in the Divine order and chronological arrangement of the associated visions, all the Kingdom class have passed beyond the veil at the time of this angel and his proclamation; indeed, the Kingdom class are seen in the preceding part of the same vision as the “armies of heaven,” who are following the symbolical personage seated upon the white horse. We have seen that this personage represents Christ as he is about to execute the final judgment on his enemies, the anti-Christian host.

The sun, to our understanding, is in all the Revelation visions a symbol of the light of God’s truth. 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, whoever this company may be, it seems evident that it 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 then that this vision meets its fulfillment in the very closing period of the great time of trouble, the great tribulation (Daniel 12:1, Revelation 7:9,14), and after the glorification of the Church, would it not seem to the careful student of the 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 Revelation 7:9 the “Great Multitude [Company].” It is quite generally understood by those who have given this matter careful study that the class referred to in Revelation 7:9 is comprised of certain devoted and consecrated Christians who are left on the earth, after the Little Flock class have all been changed, to complete the development of their character and fit them to participate in the celebration of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. One feature connected with the crystallizing of their characters would most naturally seem to be the giving of just such a testimony as is symbolized in the calling of the birds of prey to gather to “the great supper of God.” It is from out of this great tribulation that these are represented as coming in Revelation 7:9–14.

It will have been noted that in connection with the pouring out of the seventh vial judgment, there is heard a voice proceeding from the nominal temple, saying, “It has been done.” We cannot fail to notice a close connection between the words of the angel who is seen standing in the sun with the words of this voice. It will be recalled that Mr. Russell applies the words, “It has been done,” as proceeding from the Great Company, uttered in connection with the fall of the ecclesiastical systems. We quote his words: “But now, when the seventh has been poured out, we hear the nominal temple saying, ‘It has been done’ … This temple class, which finally recognizes God’s dealings when these systems are entirely destroyed, is the same which we have found elsewhere mentioned in Scripture, and which we have designated the second company, who, though losing the prize promised to overcomers of the beast, etc. (Revelation 20:4), are ‘saved so as by fire [these severe judgments] in the day of the Lord Jesus.’ ”

In strong symbolical language the utter defeat and overthrow of the opposing forces is next recorded (verses 19,20), following which we have the statement of St. John that “all the birds were satiated with their flesh” (verse 21). We inquire, Who are represented by these “birds” of prey? A very interesting and clear interpretation of this symbol is given by Mr. Russell. His explanation is that these birds, vultures, represent Communists, Infidels, Socialists, Anarchists and Nihilists.

“All these fight in the battle of the great day, though ignorant of him whose Kingdom they help to establish. These are the vultures of Revelation 19:17,18,21, who battle for plunder and get their fill [eat of the supper] 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 (Revelation 19:15 and 11:17,18), preparatory to the establishment of everlasting peace upon the only firm foundation of righteousness and truth.

“Meantime, while those who are in opposition to the Kingdom of God and its scepter of righteousness, impartiality and justice, are being gathered [not after they have been gathered as described in the vision under consideration] to the great slaughter referred to above (See Luke 19:27), the Lord’s professed Church is having its trial completed.”

We next inquire, Who are represented by the kings, commanders, etc., the flesh of whom will satiate these symbolical birds of prey? The answer is found in the following comment:

“The ecclesiastical kings and princes, with their retinue of clergy and faithful adherents, will be gathered in solid phalanx — Protestant and Catholic. The political kings and princes, senators, and all in high places, with their henchmen and retainers, will follow in line on the same side. The financial kings and merchant princes, and all whom they can influence by the most gigantic power ever yet exercised in the world, will join the same side, according to this prophecy. [Revelation 16:12–16.] They do not realize, however, that they are coming to Armageddon [Mount of Destruction].”

Developments that Must Precede

We should bear in mind that this Armageddon conflict will have been going on for some time before the events of the vision we are considering meet their fulfillment. The gathering of the forces to this conflict has been in process of fulfillment for some years past and occasional skirmishes have occurred in connection with the strikes, lockouts, etc., of the capital and labor troubles. The real Armageddon conflict, however, is from our present viewpoint still future, as has been pointed out:

“The image of the beast must yet receive life — power. It must be transformed from a mere mechanism to a living force. Protestant Federation realizes that its organization will continue to be futile unless it receives vitalization — unless its clergy directly or indirectly shall be recognized as possessed of Apostolic ordination and authority to teach. This, the prophecy indicates, will come from the two-horned beast, which we believe symbolically represents the Church of England. Highhanded activities of Protestantism and Catholicism, operating in conjunction for the suppression of human liberties, await this vivifying of the image. This may come soon, but Armageddon cannot precede it, but must follow — perhaps a year after, according to our view of the Prophetic Word.”

Since these words were written events have occurred that seem to confirm this interpretation of Scripture concerning how Federated Protestantism will receive Apostolic ordination (?). The following from the Literary Digest of September 25, 1920, under the title, “The Lambeth Plan for Church Reunion,” is very significant in this connection:

“From solemn contemplation of hates and misunderstandings engendered by the World War the Lambeth Conference [held in London], composed of 252 Anglican [Church of England] and Protestant Episcopal bishops from the British Isles, America, and other parts of the world, turns to a proposed union of all Christendom as the chief hope against the forces of disorder. On the question of ordination the Conference suggests that ‘if the authorities of other communions should so desire, we are persuaded that, terms of union having been otherwise satisfactorily adjusted, bishops and clergy of our communion would willingly accept from the authorities [other denominations] a form of commission or recognition which would commend our ministry to their congregations, as having its place in the one family of life.’ In return the signers of the manifesto assert their ‘hope that the same motive would lead ministers [of other denominations] who have not received it to accept a commission through episcopal ordination, as obtaining for them a ministry throughout the whole fellowship,’ and their belief that ‘in so acting no one of us could possibly be taken to repudiate his past ministry.’ Such resolutions as these ‘can only have been inspired by Christian charity at its highest,’ says the London Guardian, official organ of the Church of England, and it fervently declares:

“ ‘It will be forever memorable that at this moment when doubt and uncertainty are clogging the energy and obscuring the ideals of the nation, and when the very foundations of civilization are being threatened by the forces of disorder, the bishops of the Anglican communion have shown the way to strengthen and unite the only power by which they can be combated.’ ”

It would seem as though in the settlement of this question of so-called Apostolic ordination by the union of the Church of England with the other Protestant denominations, we have the explanation of the change in the symbol “image of the beast,” to that of the “false prophet”; the latter symbol being more expressive of its authoritative teaching characteristic. Papacy, already united, may in the near future, we believe, gain for a brief space of time a powerful influence in the world, and become allied to the civil powers and Federated Protestantism in a vain attempt to keep down the masses in their efforts to seek relief from oppression, fancied and real. This, the Scriptures teach, will fail, and a disruption of this “triple-alliance” will take place. The Armageddon destruction will then immediately begin, and the first system to go down will be the great “Mother of Harlots,” which we understand to represent the Roman Catholic hierarchy located at Rome. This, as we have endeavored to show, indeed, as portrayed in the order of the visions themselves, will occur before the Marriage of the Lamb, which represents the glorification and union of all the elect Kingdom class with their Lord. That solemn and significant event, the downfall of the great mother system, leaves the kingdoms of the earth in a state of threatened disintegration, yet still standing, but fearful that their destruction is also near. These kingdoms in this distressing condition gradually merge into the last or eighth form of the fourth beast — the last of the four great empires of Daniel’s visions. The Protestant Federation, called in the vision under consideration, the “false prophet,” is also left for a time after great Babylon, the mother system, falls. It is at this stage of the Armageddon battle that the vision of verses 17–21, chapter 19, seems to meet its fulfillment. It will be shortly after this time that the world will become aware that Christ has assumed the reins of authority. This stupendous event, we believe, will be first manifest in Israel’s land, outside of Christendom.

“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” (verses 19–21).

Do we once more inquire, What is symbolized by the “beast,” the “kings of the earth and their armies,” and the “false prophet”? Then let us briefly review:

Considering these in their order we will take up first the beast symbol. As we have traced its long dark career down through the ages, we have found its complex history in brief, as follows:

Primarily and in a general sense it represents the fourth universal power, Rome, that in the vision of Daniel 7 is represented by the fourth nondescript beast, from its beginning in prophecy about 31 BC, down through its various aspects or changes to its last form, in which it is destroyed. This destruction is portrayed in the vision of Revelation 19:19–21. Daniel describes it first when it rules from the city of Rome over all the civilized world, from its beginning until about four centuries after Christ. He describes it next at a time when its universal sway ceases, and its ruling authority is distributed among the ten kingdoms into which the great empire became divided about the Fourth Century. He sees it again when these governments into which its territory became divided are dominated over by Papacy — the “little horn” (power) that rose up among the ten about the Sixth Century. He describes it next when the temporal dominion of the “little horn,” Papacy, is taken away. This was fully accomplished in 1870; although its power to persecute, “to wear out the saints of the Most High” (Daniel 7:25), ceased in 1799. Daniel finally sees it after the Papal hierarchy, the mother system is destroyed — he “beheld till the beast was slain and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.” This is the final picture and is the one referred to in the vision under consideration. “And the beast was cast alive into the lake of fire” (Revelation 19:20). All these aspects are portrayed in Daniel 7:7–28.

St. John in the Revelation was given visions of this same fourth power. These visions describe the same things that Daniel saw under other striking symbols. In addition, the Revelation visions describe more fully and in greater detail the history of the beast. One striking difference is that in the Revelation the beast is represented as having seven heads. These seven heads represent the seven successive ruling powers, beginning about 31 BC, all of which have exercised authority in and from the city of Rome. The most noted and important one of these heads or successions (frequently called the beast) in its relation to the saints, is the beast under its Papal head. This head exercised a ruling influence to a greater or less extent for more than twelve centuries over the saints and also over the nations of Christendom. In the sense of exercising temporal authority this Papal head is identical with the “little horn” of Daniel 7, and passed away in 1870. It is because of Papacy’s dominating influence over the saints and kingdoms of Christendom that it is frequently denominated “the beast.” The seventh head is the Victor Immanuel Dynasty, now ruling, and it is said of this head that it would continue but a short time (Revelation 17:10). This seventh or last head will be followed by the last or eighth form of the beast, which is that described in the vision we are now considering — the nations of Christendom in a state of disintegration, bordering on anarchy. While it seems to us the Papal hierarchy will never gain temporal dominion again, it will, however, gain a temporary rise to power and influence in the affairs of the nations. It is in the exercise of this power and influence amongst its followers, in union with the civil powers and federated Protestantism, that it continues to be referred to as the “beast” in Revelation 16:13. In connection with the using of its power in this triple-alliance in a dominating oppressive sense it is destroyed. This, as we have seen, will probably be accomplished by an Italian uprising. At this time the last form of the beast fully comes into existence, and as described in both Daniel and the Revelation, is destroyed in the fire — anarchy — Daniel 7:11, Revelation 19:20.

The kings of the earth who, in association with the beast, make war against him who sits on the horse are, as explained foregoing, the ecclesiastical leaders, the clergy and their faithful adherents — Protestant and Catholic; the political kings, princes, senators and retainers; the financial kings and merchants, and all whom they can influence by the most gigantic power ever exercised in the world.

The “false prophet,” it would seem, is another symbol of Federated Protestantism and refers to the image of the beast when it receives life or authority to act with Papacy and the civil powers in an oppressive authoritative manner. This union will seem to be an absolute necessity on account of the revolutionary conditions that will prevail — conditions which will then be threatening the overthrow of the present order, as has been observed:

“In Revelation 16:13 we find mention of the false prophet, another representation of the image — the vitalized product of the Evangelical Alliance, which has taken the form of Church Federation, and has today a great deal of vitality.”

The Last Great Battle

We inquire next, In what sense will those referred to by the beast, and the kings of the earth and their armies, be making war against the one seated on the white horse and against his army? A reasonable answer to this is that as the time at last draws near for Christ’s Kingdom to be established, these referred to in the vision as opposing the victorious Rider will be found trying to uphold the present order and hence will be in opposition to God’s will. It should be kept in mind, however, that this vision we are now considering refers to events subsequent to that phase of the Armageddon conflict referred to in chapter 16:13, which at first is followed by the downfall of the mother system, the Papal hierarchy (Revelation 16:19, 18:21). The beast, therefore, in this vision, as we have endeavored to show, represents the last form of the fourth empire, the nations of Christendom ready to disintegrate in anarchy. In regard to the sense in which these great systems are found warring against Christ, one expositor has thus briefly explained the matter: “We are no doubt to interpret this according to the Lord’s words to Saul of Tarsus — ‘Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?’ ” Saul was ignorantly opposing Christ by persecuting his followers; and likewise these nations, etc., will be ignorantly opposing God’s purpose in endeavoring to uphold the present order.

“Many noble people in this great [earthly] army will assume an attitude quite contrary to their preference. For a time the wheels of liberty and progress will be turned backward, and medieval restraints will be considered necessary for self-preservation — for the maintenance of the present order of things and for the prevention of the new order which God has decreed, the due time for which is at hand. Even those who may be God’s people do not stop to consider whether it is his will that things should continue as they have been for the past six thousand years. The Bible says that such is not God’s will, but that there is to be a great overturning, that a new order is coming in.”

As having a further bearing on this matter, it is necessary to keep in mind that there are two great forces that have been gathering for this Armageddon conflict — the one, the triple alliance, will seek to uphold the present order of things; and the other, the masses of the people united against this alliance, will seek to overthrow it. It will readily be seen that those forces that are seeking to overthrow the present order, though operating more or less selfishly and ignorantly of the Divine Plan, will work out God’s will and purpose. This force or army will be the masses of the people comprising many different classes. These have for some time past, and with a large measure of success since the great war, been mustering their various forces and elements into one great federated union. The battle lines are daily becoming more distinctly drawn. These have been seeking relief from wrongs, real and fancied, through legislation. As expressed by another: “The masses will seek relief through the ballot and the peaceful readjustment of earth’s affairs for the elimination of evil, for the placing of monopolies and utilities and the supplies of nature in the hands of the people for the public good. The crisis will be reached when the hitherto upholders of the law shall become violators of the law and resisters of the will of the majority as expressed by the ballot. Fear for the future will goad the well meaning masses to desperation, and anarchy will result when Socialism fails.”

It will be through these causes that the present order of things will begin to go down. As the time will have then come for Messiah’s Kingdom to be fully established, it will be seen that these masses of the people will, though unaware of it, be accomplishing God’s purpose and can properly be said in this sense to be on the Lord’s side.

“The very thing which they [the powers, civil and ecclesiastical] sought to avert by their union, federation, etc., will be the very thing that they will hasten. Other Scriptures [the principal one being that under consideration] tell us that God will be represented [in this final conflict] by Messiah, and that he will be on the side of the masses. ‘At that time shall Michael [the God-like one — Messiah] stand up.’ (Daniel 12:1). He will assume authority. He will take possession of his Kingdom in a manner little looked for by many of those who erroneously have been claiming to be his Kingdom, and authorized by him to reign in his name and in his stead.

“Our Lord Jesus declared, ‘His servants ye are unto whom ye render service.’ Some may be rendering service to Satan and to error, who claim to be rendering service to God and to righteousness; and some may serve ignorantly, as did Saul of Tarsus, who ‘verily thought that he did God service’ in persecuting the Church. The same principle holds true reversely. As an earthly king does not hold himself responsible for the moral character of each soldier who fights his battles, so the Lord does not vouch for the moral character of all who enlist and fight on his side of any question. His servants they are to whom they render service, whatever the motive or object prompting.

“The same principle will apply in the coming Battle of Armageddon. God’s side of that battle will be the people’s side; and that very nondescript host, the people, will be pitted at the beginning of the battle. Anarchists, Socialists, and hot-headed radicals of every school of reason and unreason, will be in the forefront of that battle. He who has any knowledge of army life knows that a great army is composed of all classes.”

Indeed, this host is in Joel 2:11 called the Lord’s (Jehovah’s) army. His army will be made up of all those who see the errors, etc., in the civil, ecclesiastical, political, social, and financial world, and who engage in a world-wide crusade to right them. This army will be made up of patriots, who love their country; reformers, who, seeing many of the social and degrading evils, will first discuss them, and then seek to root them out by legislation; socialists, who mistakenly see in their theories a remedy for these evils; anarchists, who have but the one purpose, the overthrow of the whole present governmental orders; the ignorant and hopeless masses, who comprise the majority, and who are ready to join any movement that may seem to them would better their condition.

A Day of Recompenses

However, we must not get the impression that this nondescript host has God’s sanction in their course. It is simply a case in which “He makes the wrath of men to praise Him.” These shall not escape their share of punishment. This is plainly taught in another Scripture (Zephaniah 1:7–9,14–18) that describes this day of trouble under the same symbol. Mr. Russell thus quotes and comments on this prophecy:

“The Lord hath prepared a slaughter, He hath bid His guests. [Compare Revelation 19:17.] 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 I will inflict punishment [also] on all those [marauders] who leap over the threshold on that day, who fill their masters’ 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.]’ …

“The attitude of the people of God [who will witness the beginning of this conflict] should be that of great thankfulness to the Giver of every good. They should make provision for the great storm that is coming and keep very quiet, not unduly interested in the side of either rich or poor. We know in advance that the Lord is on the side of the people. He it is that will fight the Armageddon Battle, and His agency will be that peculiar army — all classes.”

On the side of the triple-alliance will be those who will seek to uphold the present order, some actuated by policy, some by selfishness, and some sincerely, not seeing how a better order can be instituted. All these things have been for some years gradually shaping themselves for this final great Armageddon conflict; and a knowledge of them enables us better to comprehend the symbolic vision under consideration, describing the unseen, supernatural forces operating in this great work of overthrowing apostate Christendom.

In connection with the seventh vial St. John is shown in vision the breaking up of this triple-alliance or league; probably caused by its failure to accomplish its purpose of holding in check the turbulent masses. This is described under the symbol of the “great city,” Christendom, becoming divided into three parts (Revelation 16:19). It is necessary to keep in mind that it is in connection with or immediately following the disruption of this triple-alliance, that great Babylon, the mother system, in its governmental aspect, frequently designated the “beast,” comes in remembrance before God and is destroyed (compare Revelation 16:19 with Revelation 18:21). It is our thought that this great event is brought about, doubtless, by a revolutionary uprising of the Italian peoples. Those who are carefully watching recognize that the present condition of affairs in Italy is gradually approaching a crisis which shows the trend of events in this direction. The following from a secular paper is very significant in this connection:

“In Rome, which has just passed the fiftieth anniversary of the city’s existence as capital of united Italy, there are problems more difficult than those faced by England with her labor and Irish troubles, or by Germany with the load of defeat on her back. The most serious Italian trouble appears to be an outbreak of the most radical element against religion and all that represents it, as shown in the effort to break into the churches. There is more danger of trouble, serious and not to be remedied, from that direction than from any outbreak of ‘Sovietism’ in the factories.”

In the interview that the Knights of Columbus were permitted to have recently with Pope Benedict, the Giornale d’Italia said: “The Knights of Columbus gave the Pope to understand that if grave troubles should arise in Italy, he could find protection and hospitality in America. After Rome was occupied by Italian troops in 1870, a French vessel awaited the orders of Pope Pius for a year at Civita Vecchia, and the Knights said that in the event of a new crisis an American ship would take a similar position.” All three of these events — the completion of the triple-alliance, the breaking up of the same, and the fall of the Papal government — are yet future, and must meet their fulfillment before the conditions in Christendom described in the vision under consideration will have obtained. In other words, it is our understanding that these three great events meet their fulfillment before the Marriage of the Lamb takes place, and of course, before the manifestation of Christ in judgment against the present order, which we understand is described in the vision under consideration. It would seem that all the various features of the great Armageddon conflict, until that stage of it described in this vision as the casting of the beast and false prophet into the “lake of fire,” will be looked upon by the world in general as natural occurrences, indeed, as in no sense to be understood as specially directed by God, or the result of Messiah’s exercising his great power, any more than have all similar occurrences of past history.

It will therefore be seen that if we are correct in our interpretation of the order of these coming events, then the beast in the vision we are considering represents the fourth power of Daniel’s vision (Daniel 7) about to assume its last or eighth form. Keeping in mind the several forms or aspects assumed by the one symbolic “beast” in its long career of deception and blood, will enable us to understand better the words of verse 20. Thus we would read these words: “And the [fourth] beast [of Daniel 7 in its last, eighth form] was [at last] taken, and with him the false prophet [Federated Protestantism] that [in its aspect of the two-horned beast] wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image.”

As St. John in vision watched with burning and absorbing interest the checkered career of this beast in its various forms and aspects as it warred against the saints of God, persecuting them unto death, and deceiving and blinding the people of the world respecting God and His character, we can imagine something of his feeling of rejoicing when he saw the “beast” at last captured, and cast alive into the symbolical “lake of fire.” And likewise it is the privilege of the saints of God at the present time, to rejoice, as they look back in history and recall the black and dreadful crimes of the power symbolized by this beast in its varied forms, and realize that its career and dominion will soon be ended, that it is soon to be destroyed forever, and give place to the Kingdom of God’s dear Son and his Bride. Then the blessings of Messiah’s rule will begin to come to those who once ignorantly upheld and blindly worshipped at the altars of the beast and its image.

We inquire finally, What is symbolized by the “lake of fire,” into which these civil and ecclesiastical hosts shall be cast? We answer, The “lake of fire,” like the other features of the vision, is symbolical:

“And ‘the beast and the false prophet,’ the great false systems which have long oppressed and misled nominal Christendom, shall never escape from it. These systems [not both at the same time but at different intervals] are said to be cast ‘alive’ (that is, while they are still organized and operative) into the lake of fire burning with brimstone (Revelation 19:20).

“The great time of trouble, the Lord’s judgment, which will utterly destroy these systems, will undoubtedly cause great social, financial, and religious difficulty and pain to all those identified with these deceived and deceiving systems, before they are utterly destroyed.

“The beast and false prophet systems, which during the Gospel Age have deceived and led astray, 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.”

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 were explained to be 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 after 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.

This great destruction is closely associated in point of time with Jacob’s trouble which takes place in Israel’s land. Let the reader note the following words respecting this matter and at the same time bear in mind the significant events that have occurred since these words were written, namely the capture of Jerusalem, the liberation of the land of Palestine from Mohammedan control, and its being given to God’s ancient people for the purpose of forming a Jewish State:

“Still another thing intervenes. Although the Jews are gradually flowing into Palestine, gradually obtaining control of the land of Canaan, and although reports say that already nineteen millionaires are there, nevertheless, prophecy requires an evidently larger number of wealthy Hebrews to be there before the Armageddon crisis be reached. Indeed, we understand that ‘Jacob’s trouble’ in the Holy Land will come at the very close of Armageddon. Then Messiah’s Kingdom will begin to be manifested. Thenceforth Israel in the Land of Promise will gradually rise from the ashes of the past to the grandeur of prophecy. Through its divinely appointed princes, Messiah’s Kingdom, all-powerful, but invisible, will begin to roll away the curse and to lift up mankind, and to give beauty for ashes.”

These stupendous events are rapidly hastening to their culmination, and when accomplished will have prepared the way, so far as human opposition is concerned, for the thousand-year reign of Christ and his glorified saints. These enemies being removed there will still remain one more enemy to be disposed of — the “dragon,” expressly stated in the next chapter to be that serpent of old, Satan, the Devil (Revelation 20:1–3).