66 66 The first is, That you may perhaps take notice that X have not given in every instance a definite explanation of time, numbers, weight, and measure; all of which are used as figures to represent spiritual calculations, processions, and successions; as for instance, for time, "three days and an half," or forty-two months," or a thousand years." For numbers, "six hundred and sixty-six," as the number of the beast, "twelve hundred and sixty days," or "one hundred and forty-four thousand," &c. For weight, "about the weight of a talent," a pair of balances." For measure, "furlongs," "cubits," a reed," &c. Although I have not passed them wholly unnoticed; yet, I confess, although I am confident they are figures, it is beyond my comprehension to explain them particularly, because I have not yet been able to find a "Key" to them in the rest of the Holy Scriptures. 99.66 99.66 Secondly, There are several passages in this last chapter, which have been used as proofs of the doctrine of endless pain, which are not parts of the vision, although the figures of the vision are mentioned in them, but are declarations made to St. John at the end of the vision, shewing the consequences of well-doing, and ill-doing, which all must receive. according to their works, while the contents of the vision are fulfilling before its completion. As first. Verses 10, 11, 12. Verse 10, "And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand." That is, as this vision began before the spiritual coming of Christ to judge all nations and reward them according to their works, therefore he meant that the time of his coming was at hand. And then says, verse 11, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still and he that is holy, let him be holy still." Signifying, as his spiritual coming was at hand, it was not to be expected there would be any great change in the righteous or wicked until he should come, and overturn and set things in order. And, therefore, says in verse 12, "And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his works shall be." And there is no other sense in which you can, with any color oi reason, understand this passage. For, consider Christ's coming when you will, you cannot suppose that he is willing for men to remain unjust and filthy before his coming. And, from every consideration, what I have stated is the obvious sense of the text. The next passage to be noted, is in verses 14, 15, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gates into the city." "For without, Are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth or maketh a lie." I have shown that the "city," means the church of God, or those spirits or people who are in the new Jerusalem, or ren ovated state of mind; therefore, those people who do the commands of Christ, which is, to love their fellow-men, "have right to the tree of life," which is the church, or renovated state, and they enter into the gates of the city, which are prayer and praise to God and the Lamb. But those who live in the devouring spirit of hatred, and are, therefore, called dogs; and those who are deceived by the sorcery of mystery Babylon; and those who go a whoring after false Gods; and those who worship their own inventions for idols; and those who have the spirit of hatred or murder; and those who love, and make a lie to maintain such abominations: these, I say, are outside of that holy city, or holy spirit of truth, and love, and purity; and you need not go into another world to find the truth of this, for is now fulfilled in time; and this, I apprehend, is the proper meaning of the text. The next and last text which I shall explain now, is in verses 18, 19. Verse 18," For I testify to every man that heareth the words, of the prophecy of this book, (that is, the book of Revelation,) if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book." Question, What is it to "add to the words of the prophecy of this book?" Answer, As the doctrine of endless misery cannot be found in this book, therefore, it seems, if a person says that the doctrine of endless misery is taught in this book, he adds alt that horrid, ungodly doctrine to this book. Well, how does God add the plagues to him, which are written in this book? Answer, As God, in his wise economy, has so fixed the constitution, and state of every man': mind, that he necessarily receives the fruit of his own doings; and as the man whose understanding is so blind that he adds the doctrine of endless misery to this book always entertains many inventions of the beast of false religion; therefore, when the testimony is poured out against his inventions, he is plagued according to what is written in this book, particularly in the 16th chapter Verse 19, " And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, &c. As this book evidently prophesies the complete destruction of sin and misery, and death and hell; the man who denies that it teaches this, takes away from the words of the book; yea, he takes away the principal thing which is aimed at in all the prophecy of this book. Well, how is his part taken away out of the book of life? Answer, As he does not believe that God has given him eternal life in Christ, as God's record is, which is the book of life, and, of course, depends on his own doings to turn the point of eternal life, or, if he is a Calvinist, he fears he is not one of the Elect; and, of course, at any rate, while he denies that God has given to all men eternal life in Christ, which God's record is, and which is the book of life, unbelief keeps him out of the book of life; and, although it is his part to believe the record of God, and enjoy the sweets of such a faith, yet his part is thus taken away by his unbelief; and the holy city, being that heavenly state of mind, in which those who are in it, behold through faith the restitution of all things by Jesus Christ, and rejoice in it, and pass the gates of prayer for the eter nal salvation of all men, and praise God in believing that their prayers will be answered, &c. This unbeliever, you see, has all this, his part in the holy city, (and much more than I have named,) taken away by his unbelief. Thus, I think, I have given a proper view of the sense of this text also. I shall now conclude by observing: It it obvious that the old serpent, dragon, devil and salan are the same, or all of them are used as a figure of the same thing, which is sin, that has always reigned in the world unto death. It is further obvious, that there arose, and was established in Christendom, (I think, from the second to the seventh century,) a kind of religion which has all the nature and power of the devil in it, that this is signified by a beast rising out of the sea. That this religion always had with it the teaching of lies and this is signified by the False Prophet. That this abominable religion has put forth numerous inventions, such as false doctrines, and thousands of silly and useless ceremonies, and many hateful and destructive practices. And that these inventions altogether are signified by the figures of a great city, and a woman riding on the beast. It is furthermore obviously signified in this vision, that Christ reigns over all the world in such a manner that he will destroy: Firstly. All the inventions of this wicked religion. Secondly. That he will utterly destroy this hateful religion, together with the teaching of lies. Thirdly. That he will destroy all those leading motives, and movements in the people that were exercised by that religion of the beast. Fourthly. That he will destroy all those earthly, sophistical arguments and objections, which, without any false religion, the devil himself, or sin, can raise against the truth. Fifthly. That he will destroy the devil himself, together with death and hell. Sixthly. That he will finish the old state of things, called the first heaven, and the first earth, and the sea, and make a new heaven, and a new earth, and there will be no more sea, or vain thoughts of the people. Seventhly. And make a declaration. "Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people; and God himself shall be with them, their God, And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon And he the throne said, behold, I make all things new. said unto me, Write, for these words are true and faithful, And he said unto me, it is done, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end." Now, as this vision prophesied of the revolutions, or changes in the moral world, or Kingdom of Christ, through the whole of his reign, so it evidently prophesied that the final issue, and conclusion of his reign should be the restoration of Universal Order, Peace, Harmony, and Felicity in the Universe of God. THE PURE TESTIMONY.--A HYMN. 1 The pure testimony picks out things invented, And hypocrites soon will be sorely tormented, The pure testimony exults in the cross; 2 The pure testimony has no selfish movements, It seeks to exalt nothing else but a Saviour, It holds nothing else but Christ Jesus for all; 3 Then fill up your vials with pure testimony, O, come ye, from Babylon, Egypt, and Sodom And pour out your vials ye angels of God, 4 The pure testimony beats down sin and satan, The pure testimony says, sin is destroyed; 8 A battle is coming between the two kingdoms, The pure testimony, and satan's vile legions, But Jesus will vanquish the legions of Hell, |