hope is vain. All that can now be done, is for those that truly fear God to take warning and stand firm,— and instant warning; for this denunciation of the sins and idolatry of the Western nations is as much as to say, that their turn will come, and that on them the next and last woe will fall!

CHAPTER X.

THE

FALL OF THE PAPACY,

IN CONNECTION WITH

THE CEASING OF THE SIXTH TRUMPET ;

AND WITH

THE OPENING OF THE SEVENTH SEAL.

The mention of the second woe being past, deferred-Re-appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ—His description same as in Rev. i., and for what purpose-As the Slain Lamb, and for what end— His opening the seventh seal, or the "little book”—The purpose of His present appearing―The seals and trumpets here unite their histories—The seven thunders— What is to be generally understood by them-Christ's solemn asseveration —Same as described in Daniel-Import of it explained to signify the end of the Papal power-Awful warning given against this apostacy-History of Redemption as connected with it, finished-To be deeply studied and digested-Different characters in which Christ appears— Observations on the little opened Book, and the prophecies yet to be given.

200

CHAPTER X.

THE FALL OF THE PAPACY,

IN CONNECTION

WITH THE CEASING OF THE SIXTH TRUMPET.

AFTER the particulars of the first woe trumpet were given, the termination was at once announced in these words, "The first woe is PAST, behold there cometh two more woes hereafter." But the case is very different here; after the particular description of the second woe is concluded, the announcement of its termination is deferred or suspended for near two chapters, in which are related a great variety of events which are to happen before it can be said, "The second woe is past!"

The first thing that arrests our attention is the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ again upon the scene; for the following description, as compared to that in Rev. i. 13-16, can apply to no other.

"And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud, and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet were as pillars of fire." (ch. x. 1.)

As I have above observed, if the symbols in the

first chapter are symbols of the power and deity of Jesus Christ, then must these be also, for they are

in substance the same.

of His countenance, that it

In the former it is said

was "as the Sun shineth

in his strength :" here it is expressed "and his face was as it were the sun.' His feet are said, in the first instance, to be "like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace ;" and in the latter, they are said to be "pillars of fire;" whilst His "being clothed with a cloud, and a rainbow upon his head," are symbols likewise that belong only to God. So that it may be truly said, if the one description represent the "Son of man," as it is expressly declared it does, so must the other.

On this re-appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ, I would remark, how much it will assist the right understanding of the connecting parts of the various lines of this history, to keep in mind the particular parts performed by the different inhabitants of the heavenly world; but especially those performed by the Lord Jesus Christ. And I consider this is parti cularly the case in the present instance, as an attention to it will cast a flood of light upon what has ever been found one of the most difficult parts of the whole prophecy, and which has exceedingly perplexed all

commentators.

On looking back, therefore, we find that Christ is brought forward in the first chapter with the sublime attributes of Godhead, as exercising an ever-watchful superintendence over the most minute affairs of His church. He next appears, fulfilling all which con