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CHAPTERS 8 AND 9

I have not much to remark on here, not admitting that all the flock of Jesus are those who are come out of the great tribulation. It seems to me somewhat strange for the church to have a conversation about themselves, and describe themselves as a class of persons, explaining who they were. That very different symbols may represent; or that a symbol and that an historical statement may both be used of, the same persons, I fully admit; or that the Lord should present a man’s history to himself in a parable: all this I conceive easily. But if the elders are the church (which I do not combat), and the great multitude is the whole church, too is it not somewhat extraordinary that they should thus, as one looking on, ask the seer, Who are these? when they were themselves? and then, when the latter referred it back to him as knowing, should give a special description of them, and what was to happen to them?

If they were a special and exceptional class, I could understand it, when those who as a body made up the twenty-four courses of priests, were already brought in in blessing. It would have to be explained, who they were, and whence they came; and their salvation, and no more, being ascribed to God on the throne and the Lamb, would answer to the character of those who would be delivered under the circumstances of this book — at any rate, of the greater part of them. And they sing no more than their own salvation and deliverance — nothing of the special blessedness and title of Christ, as the previous song did: and their blessing is all in contrast with previous trial and sorrow.

^[p. 124] I am not prepared to recognise a cry, not unheeded without intercession, and answered when intercession comes. “If we know that he hear us, we know that we have the petitions.” And it seems to militate against the force of “I say not that I will pray the Father for you: for the Father himself loveth you.” If then saints below were the church, and this book takes the ground of the church, this statement can hardly be true.

The note, also, I believe to be a mistake as to the “right translation.” I think it will be found that didomi is used in the Revelation in a peculiar manner, signifying ‘give efficacy to something already subsisting.’ Thus, in Revelation 11: 3, which is exactly the same form, ‘I will give [power, or efficacy] to my two witnesses.’ So here, ‘that He might give [efficacy] to the prayers of the saints.’ However, this is not of much moment.

To the rest of the statements I demur also. First, there is nothing particular stated, as to Israel, in the first trumpets. There is more reason for it in the woe trumpets — at any rate in the first, so that there I leave the remark uncommented upon. But smiting earth, seas, fountains, rivers, heavens, if taken really and literally, as is supposed here by the author, must surely be more than Israel, and not Israel particularly. Besides, Tyre and Babylon are not Israel; so that page 104 and the first note do not agree.

The author says these several parts of nature will be literally smitten⁺ (page 112): but it is rather a loose way of getting over it to say “when the sea shall cease to supply its riches,” when it is said “the third part became blood”; and of what sea, if literal? And how does a great star fall literally from heaven, its name being Wormwood, so that a third part of the waters became (literally?) wormwood? And think of the key of the bottomless pit being literally given to a star falling down upon the earth! And what then is the description of the locusts that came out of the bottomless pit? — is this literal too? And if not, why suddenly draw a line, because the absurdity becomes too palpable? And why, if a third part of the sun was literally smitten, should the day not shine for a third part of it? It is easy just to pass over all this by talking of “waters changing their refreshment into bitterness, and the heavens in their revolution beginning to minister darkness instead of light.” But then for a literal explanation, we should have something more precise. Nor am I aware why it should apply to Israel.

⁺If all this judgment goes on, how comes it that all is so resplendent and full of comfort during the reign of Antichrist, as is alleged?

^[p. 125] It is a still stranger comment to say that these locust powers of darkness wore chaplets the same as on the head of the Lord Jesus: “for the commission of Apollyon is equally from God.” How is a chaplet the sign of a commission from God? and what shewed it in the rider of the white horse? And are those who come out of the bottomless pit crowned the same as Christ, because they have equally a commission? I have already noticed in its place the inconsistency of explaining the men’s faces here (”the same characteristic we find in the cherubim”) as marking “wisdom and sagacity” — when, in explaining it in the cherubim, it was declared not to mean it (page 55). And why woman’s hair signifies joy would be hard to tell. That a woman’s shaving her head may signify grief (being a shame, and her ornament gone) I understand; but why a man putting on woman’s hair should be joy, is, I confess, beyond me. I am not prepared to combat it, because I am not clear about the point myself.

Nor do I admit the two witnesses to be during the last three years and a half.⁺ But how if they are (and they are introduced during the sixth trumpet, or second woe, which closes after the end of their history) does the author bring the first five trumpets into the three years and a half, which three years and a half are occupied in his system with the witnesses who are found in the sixth, and not till then? I put this not as an objection, but as a difficulty that requires solution.

As to the note (page 112) on the Jews, it is a thought long since promulgated — the gradual breaking down of the Jews, and their sanctifying by the gradual progress of morally unbearable evil. But if “humbled,” “thoroughly broken (conscious of the truth respecting the past, and correctly anticipating the future” and that by the testimony of God), surely they are converted. And it cannot be said that they were like John’s disciples, and that there was no testimony of Jesus when Christianity was withdrawn; because John’s was decidedly a testimony of Jesus. And if they were conscious of the truth respecting the past, what was that about? Was there no Jesus in that past? Were they not believers that Jesus was the Christ, and yet not in a church standing? And, if they are servants of God in Isaiah, they love His name and take hold of His covenant; and say in Psalm 80, “Let thy hand be on the son of man,” etc. (See Isaiah 56 and Psalm 80.) “John’s disciples before they were brought to Jesus” avoids the question. Was there no testimony to Jesus by John? These persons are converted and know that Jesus is the Christ, and are waiting for His appearing: and they are not the church. Let the reader note this.

⁺My present thought [1868] is that there is only one half-week in the defined periods of the Revelation. I confess I have been surprised at the clearness of these pages; and have a deeper sense of the evil of the author’s system than ever I had before. The guarded enquiry here has comforted me, as not going beyond assured ground at the time [1844-5].

^[p. 126] I suppose the repentance of a person thoroughly broken through the testimony of God proves him converted; and this testimony was of Jesus rejected and coming. And is it not a strange thing to say that the Spirit of God has provided them with inspired expressions for their self-righteousness? That He prepares the utterance of the complaints of God’s people, is true. That He prophetically declares by the Spirit what the wicked will do, putting it as a complaint in the mouth of Christ, as in Psalm 22 and 69 (”They wag their heads, and say,” etc. “They gave me gall,” etc.), or sometimes in that of a godly remnant, is true also. But can the Spirit of God prepare an abundance of touching appeals to God for self-righteousness, and sanction them by inspiring them beforehand? Is it not a monstrous supposition? Yet this is the theory of the writer, in order to make good his prophetic system and reconcile the Psalms with his theory of Israel’s state. And if not, it all falls: for otherwise there is a remnant of Israel after the church is gone, converted and turned to God; and yet fed by Jewish hopes, and sustained by testimonies of the Spirit adapted to them. And there is recognised as of God on the earth what is not the church.

I have not much to say on the numbers: I think them mistaken, but immaterial. Seven and twelve are alone important. Seven is clearly wrong. Are seven devils rest? or seven heads on the dragon? or even seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth? or seven vials? or seven trumpets? It seems to me seven is used for completeness in spiritual things, twelve in human associations. But others can judge of this. Surely agency towards others in blessing is not specially the character of the heavenly city. I do trust we may get a little “rest” there; yet I do not remember any sevens in the city. There is agency, it is true; but is dwelling with God and the Lamb, where there is no temple, an inferior part of the blessing? The twelve loaves of show-bread, what agency had they? Twelve stones set up by Joshua as a memorial? The twelve tribes of Israel, even, what agency had they?

^[p. 127] Is it not rather a singular thing (if seven means rest, and twelve agency) that all that part of the Revelation which describes the actings, whether of Satan in mischief or of God in judgment, is identified with the number seven, and the result in the city of glory with the number twelve?

I believe the one hundred and forty-four thousand of chapter 7 are distinct from the one hundred and forty-four thousand of chapter 14; but I do not believe the second a heavenly company.

And why in the next note does the fact of a multitude coming out of all nations, and the elders and cherubim also coming out of them (assuming them so to do) prove they are the same body? And what proof is there that the one hundred and forty-four thousand of chapter 14 come out of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues? There is absolutely none.

As to the instruments of action: why, if all be literal, is blood a symbol? All this description of agents assumes the statements of the chapter which we have considered (and which seem to me quite untenable), or they are mere fancy. But I do not feel they involve any principle so as to discuss them at length. But as to the stars (page 115), “the third of these divisions” (where is all this found?) — “they are continually employed to represent the saints in their resurrection glory.” Where? This is all a preparation (as we shall find) for statements elsewhere founded on it as if it were a truth; but would it not be better to adduce one passage as a proof than to say “they are continually employed”? Believing stars to be inferior authorities, I admit they may clearly be employed to denote the millennial state of the saints; and of course it win be unearthly and superhuman then. But I demur altogether to the general statement. Here too we have a most easy way of getting out of the difficulty of interpreting the terms used in the trumpets: “I doubt not that the waters, and all that they symbolise, will be found bitter.” This saves all difficulty certainly; and you can hardly be wrong, at any rate, but by excess. But then how is it consistent with the note in page 112, which seems to shut totally out “all that they symbolise”? There they are literally smitten, and do not mean spiritual blessings. “The gifts of God in creation, and the artificial constructions of man,” are the things judged.

^[p. 128] However, to pass on. Who says that the host of the high ones on high, and the great ones of the earth, are punished together? Scripture does not: for it is said, “the host of the high ones [that are] on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.” So that it is not together; for the high ones are punished on high (if these be taken for spiritual wickednesses, which I do not combat), and the kings of the earth on the earth.

As to time, “it comes to pass in that day”; but this proves no identity. The whole chapter (Isaiah 24) speaks of a certain period, as in many other places. Chapters 25 to 27 are all “in that day” also; and the four chapters clearly represent a series of events — the wasting and desolation of the earth, continuing some time — the resurrection — the full blessing of Israel — and the judgment of Satan, and the gathering in all the outcasts from every quarter, one by one — all “in that day.” So, in chapter 7, “that day” is clearly used for a continuous time, characterised, however, by the same event or its consequences.

But when the author says, “the expulsion of Satan from the presence of God in heaven (see chapter 12) is carefully to be distinguished from the possession of the authority of the air,” it is really pushing the slighting of scripture for a system too far. Why is it to be carefully distinguished? On what scripture is this founded? The prince of the power of the air is the spirit that now worketh; and the expression is found in the Ephesians, where the evil spirits are called “spiritual wickedness in heavenly places,” where our blessings are said to be, and where we are said to sit. Now in Revelation 12 we read, “There was war in heaven; Michael the archangel fought, and his angels; and the dragon (who dragged with his tail the third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them to earth) fought, and his angels; and prevailed not, nor was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out... he was cast out into the earth,” etc. Hence they cry in heaven, “The accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down to you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth,” etc. Now, is not his casting entirely out of heaven and down to the earth, so that his place was not found any more in heaven, identified with his being no more before our God — the latter being celebrated, because the former was accomplished? Just as the Epistle to the Ephesians, where he is called prince of the power of the air in connection with his worldly power, is the only place where he is said to be in heavenly places where our blessings are. And how, if cast from heaven to earth, was he still the prince of the power of the air?

^[p. 129] I leave the other two notes; though they seem to me, one very unwarranted (certainly it is not yet proved that Babylon and the Euphrates are to be the world’s centre), and the other most strange. It is strange to say the blue flame of the pit, or of burning brimstone, is a result of the same holiness of God as the blue of heaven: specially when there was no smoke which darkened the sun, and no flame at all; and the blue that was found here was of breastplates on the demons. I suppose this was not the holiness of God, nor much to do with it, nor with the flame of brimstone either, that I know of. It is all summed up in one word — imagination. Blue is in heaven — blue is in brimstone — blue was in the priestly robes — and blue was on the breastplates of demons.

The distinction between Satan’s possession of the authority of the air, and his being in the presence of God, is made because the system needed it; for this reason — it was determined to keep the church properly speaking on earth till the end. Now, it is certain that Satan is cast down from heaven three years and a half before this: and therefore, if there was not such a distinction made, it would be impossible to consider the church as in its original condition. The whole scene of its existence being totally changed spiritually, and it called upon to rejoice because it was so, its spiritual combats would have ceased, viewed (as the Ephesians view it) as inhabiting heaven, and as Revelation 11 does view this class of saints, calling on them to rejoice because the kingdom and salvation were come as to heaven. But then this upsets all the system; and therefore this distinction is introduced here, and left to have its force without any explanation or any proof.

As to the “Thoughts” on chapters 10 and 11, I have already discussed the order. I only recall that the close of the little book of chapter 10 is clearly connected in order of time with what precedes: for the sixth trumpet is declared to close after it finishes; and then comes the seventh of these trumpets, which come in succession; while the announcement of the angel who gives the book refers to the seventh trumpet, which clearly closes everything, though its contents be not given as such. Chapter 12 begins, after this, quite a new subject, not embraced in the trumpets, but connected with the episode of the little book (through the allusion to the beast who slays the witnesses) introduced there to find its place in the general and comprehensive order of the trumpets, which embrace the whole series of judgments historically; though the grand moral evil of the latter day must be brought out in its sources, character, and judgment, distinctly.

I believe a part “immediately precedes,” then, and a part not, the time of the Lord’s power. This is a very fair subject for enquiry. I think I shall shew that there are untenable statements; but I can readily allow for this kind of error, as such as we may all fall into, though it be right to shew it.

In page 113, there is a statement which is unallowable, because it is based on the system the writer is pleased to maintain in direct contravention of the scripture. “Drunk (he says) with the wine first mingled by the harlot, and finally ministered through the beast.” Now, this is altering Scripture, not interpreting it. Where is the wine said to be ministered through the beast? “She,” Babylon, “made all nations drink of the wine” (chapter 14: 8). She had the “golden cup in her hand.” They were “drunk with the wine of her fornication” (chapter 17: 2, 4). So chapter 18: 3. She “corrupted the earth” (chapter 19: 2). Nor do I find a trace of anything else. But here Scripture, on a very material point (namely, who and what is to be watched against as rendering men morally and spiritually drunk), is altered and set aside; because the system of the author sets the ruling power of Babylon aside as a system at the beginning of the three years and a half, and transfers all activity to the beast, and therefore puts the cup in its hand. But is this right?

^[p. 131] As to the presence of Christ asserting His title to all (earth and sea) here below, and announcing the closing of the mystery of God, I have only to remark that, as to the time particularly noticed in the little book, the church has not, according to the author, “to watch, testify, and endure, many days.” I suppose we must consider the three years and a half of the witnesses the special object or period presented in that which was before this mighty angel, as it was the period contained in the little book He gave, of which the knowledge is “so easy to be grasped.” But during this period, according to the author, the scene of the church’s earthly service is closed. So that it certainly had not to testify. Hence the light of this vision cannot shine upon its service as to the period spoken of in the vision. And yet this is not to my mind the saddest part of this statement. It is its consistency, not its inconsistency. Earthly deliverance, an earthly power of Christ, is that which is always presented as the hope and relief of the church. His title in the world is the object here. I agree in this. But is it in the strength of this knowledge that the church has to watch, testify, and endure? That earthly deliverance and Christ’s earthly power should be Israel’s hope, or the remnant’s hope, rightly or wrongly apprehended, I well conceive; but is this the church’s strength? Rest with apostles and prophets, being caught up to be for ever with the Lord — I should have thought to have been more the coming hour, and that knowledge, the strength of which would have taught the church to endure and to testify. The church does know that God shall destroy those that destroy the earth; and it is a relief to the oppressed spirit. But in this it knows that the earth is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God — for that part of the deliverance at least which can be accomplished while earth remains. Its hope and faith surely precedes, and rises higher than all this, in being with Him who shall accomplish it, though it own the other.

I have only to add that pages 120, 121, just follow on in this train. This is our future glory together with the Lord, and the sorrow of the Lord was only sorrowful testimony, and testimony, prophetic testimony, against peoples, etc. Is this the sum or nature of His highest and deepest sorrow? Is testimony against the world our⁺ proper place, or testimony to sinners of His and the Father’s love? I understand well the place taken, sons being made servants, and the church made prophet of, instead of the bearer and witness of, grace to the Gentile world. This was what made, we found before,⁺⁺ the only efficient practical testimony in the earth; the Gentiles were to be viewed as beasts under God’s judgment, and it was having these things clear that gave the testimony power! Was it Paul’s testimony in preaching, or was the gospel of the grace of God? I appeal to the word, and call upon the conscience of my reader to answer. That he instructed the church in these things, according to its need, is true. That he told generally that there was a judgment of this world at Christ’s coming, is also true; but was that which he presented grace and salvation, or not? Is the gospel and heavenly glory to be given up for prophecy of earthly deliverance as the hope and strength of the church? Is our sorrow to come from testifying against people? The prophetic judgments of God I admit. It is well known I have taught, and that far and wide, these judgments. But the hope of the church is another hope, and the sorrow of the church and of the Saviour is another sorrow. Besides, whatever sorrow may accompany the testimony, the coming of the things themselves is to cause joy in the hearts of those who listen to the Lord. “When these things begin to come to pass, then lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

⁺The witnesses may thus testify; but then the church’s testimony is over.

⁺⁺Pages 92, 93, of the “Thoughts.”

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