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The Sixth Plague.
"And the sixth poured out his bowl on the GREAT RIVER--the
Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way of those kings who are
from the sun-rising might be prepared." (v. 12).
Literal Babylon was built upon the river Euphrates.
Its wealth, supplies and sustenance came largely from this source. It had
immense walls and strong gates over the river. Within the city, in bondage,
were Israelites, God's covenant people, and to overthrow Babylon and deliver
these God appointed Cyrus the Median General. (Isa. 45:1-5; Dan. 5:30,31.) He, coming to this strong city, did not attack
it directly, but, by digging another channel for the waters of the river, he
dried up the old [R510 : page 7] channel, through
which he marched his army under the gates and captured the city.
That this historic fact is used as the basis of a symbol
in Revelation, none can question. Babylon and her fall are frequently mentioned,
and here the drying up of the Euphrates adds to the correspondence. While "Babylon"
is used as a general name for the entire nominal Church, it is used and is
specially applicable to that portion of it called "the mother of
HARLOTS." This sixth plague, or form of evil, is upon Babylon, the mother,
and while other systems have channels, or rivers, her system is built upon the
"GREAT RIVER." "And in her forehead was the name written BABYLON
THE GREAT, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth." (Rev. 17:5.) Following the literal, and applying it to the
symbol, we reason that the waters of this great river represent the people who,
by their influence and money, support Papacy--from which Babylon the great
draws her revenues. And to this agrees the explanation by the angel: "The
waters which thou sawest where the harlot sitteth are peoples and multitudes
and nations and tongues." (Rev. 17:15.) The millions of
Papacy's subjects are of every tongue and clime, and this symbol shows that a
disaffection is to spring up between the subjects and the church authorities
which will turn aside her support and "dry up" her revenues, and thus
speedily lead to Babylon's complete destruction. "The drying up" will
probably require years for its accomplishment.
The direct cause of the drying will be the
relationship existing between Papacy and the kingdoms of earth. Papacy, under
the claim that it was Christ's vice-gerent--His representative--in the days of
her prosperity claimed the right to appoint the kings of earth, and did so; and
subjects had a right TO REBEL against any government or king not thus
recognized by Papacy. Since she has lost her power over the kingdoms of earth,
she does not press this old claim, but would rather conciliate all the
kingdoms; both those which she appointed and those appointed and sanctioned by
other daughter churches. In this she is arraying herself directly on the side
of these kingdoms, and in opposition to the increasing desire and effort of the
people for liberty. Therefore, when present tendencies have produced a closer
affiliation of religion and State than has existed for some time, it will
result in leading the masses to throw off the yoke of the Church as well as the
State, since both will be leagued against their cherished ideas of liberty and
equality. The support of the people--the waters of the Euphrates --being thus
withdrawn, the Babylon Church organization will become weak and helpless, by
reason of the drying up of the waters from its channel.
A hint in this direction is furnished in the history
of the past month. Though the rulership of Great Britain is not of Papacy's
appointment, and in fact was created in violation of her laws and claims, yet
the Pope has issued a "bull" or edict to its faithful in Ireland commanding
both priests and people to desist from hostility toward the laws and government
of England. Not to speak of the merits of the question, this action is
certainly contrary to the previous claims and theories of this Church; and from
their words it is evident that some of the Irish people are not slow to see
this. At a public meeting held to consider the Pope's edict, a famous orator
among them (Charles O'Brien) said, "The Irish people will neither be ruled
by Rome nor Westminster." [The Protestant Irish are mostly Presbyterian,
ruled by the principles of the "Westminster Confession of Faith."] And
among the masses it was freely proposed to "Boycott the Pope" by
refusing to pay "Peter's pence" (a regular collection among
Romanists, the world over, for the support of the Pope). Does not this look
like a beginning of the turning away or drying up of one of the tributaries of
that "great river"? As surely as God has given the symbol, so surely
will it be fulfilled, and even now it hasteth greatly.
The "drying up" is "to prepare the way
of the kings from the Sun-rising." These kings we understand to be the
saints--those who, with Christ, will be "kings and priests" to reign
over the earth. (Rev. 10:5.) They come, not to the
Sun-rising, but from the Sun-rising. They come bringing light with them. This
is a beautiful symbol of how "the righteous shall shine forth as the Sun
in the kingdom of their Father." They bring with them light, liberty and
joy to the groaning creation, for "The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
with healing in his wings." The object of all these changes is to prepare
mankind for the rule of righteousness--the kingdom really of God's appointment
which is to take the place of these which Anti-christ has attempted to
authorize. "And I saw out of the MOUTH of the DRAGON, and out of the MOUTH
of the BEAST, and out of the MOUTH of the FALSE PROPHET, three impure spirits like
frogs" (verse 13). The DRAGON, as before explained, symbolizes civil
government (especially that which once constituted civil Rome). The BEAST still
and always, means Papacy. The FALSE PROPHET is a new symbol, and takes the
place of both the "two-horned beast" and "the image of the
beast," and, we believe, is a still more comprehensive symbol,
representing all systems teaching error--those called "orthodox" as
well as many considered heterodox. These three classes will all give forth one
kind of teaching, called symbolically unclean spirits (impure, erroneous
teaching), like frogs.
This harmonious teaching in which these can all
unite, we believe to be the dogmas of "the divine right of kings,"
the "authority of the clergy," and the claim that mankind is bound to
submit to these and be controlled by them. Many of these--kings and clergy--and
many of those who will recognize their claims, will doubtless be honest, but
will be thus in opposition to God, because they know not that they are in the
hour of his judgment, and that the time for the displacement of these
Anti-christs, and the governments of their appointing, has come. It is a
blessed fact that these beastly governments will eventually give place to the
kingdom of God; that the times of the Gentiles will END by being FULL-filled;
and while this is now due to be understood and appreciated by the saints--those
entirely consecrated to God's word and will--yet "none of the wicked shall
understand": hence they will be found fighting against God and his
arrangements.
Frogs have a very wise look, large mouths, are much
puffed up, and utter only croakings. These doctrines, called spirits in symbol,
which are to be common to these three classes, frog-like-- much puffed up--are
proclaimed with great swelling words, with a show of superior wisdom--wise
look--and with much croaking.
In brief, this indicates that when these systems give
forth these unclean spirits or doctrines of the divine rights of kings and
clergy and submission of the people as to God, it will be with boastfulness, an
attempt to overawe with dignity, superior wisdom and ability, and with
continual allusion to the disasters which must attend any change of present
arrangements. This croaking, already beginning, as this darkness of trouble
draws on, will increase with it. It will be heard from every mouthpiece, large
and small, religious and political, officers and press. In fear they will be
uttering warnings and threats, and few will be the independents to plead the
cause of right, or to show that the time for the reign of righteousness has
come, and hence the conflict.
These are the "spirits of demons, working signs,"
i.e., doctrines of devils --the devils' theory relative to present evil
governments, indirectly of Satan's appointment, through his agencies. These
doctrines show signs in proof of their authority. They will give evidences and
seemingly plausible reasons for the rights of kings and clergy; chief among
these will doubtless be God's appointment of kings and priests over fleshly
Israel--which, however, was typical of the church and not of worldly systems (1 Peter 2:9).
These unclean spirits, erroneous doctrines, "go
forth to the kings of the whole habitable earth, to gather them together for
the war [conflict between right and wrong] of the great day of the omnipotent
God." (verse 14.) The kings of the whole world may properly be supposed,
in symbol, to include not only kings, but princes, generals, also those termed
financial kings and merchant princes, and the GREAT ONES among religious
teachers. These classes influence and encourage each other with this impure
doctrine of Satan--hence they gather or unite them all together on the one side
of the conflict already drawing nigh. Were it not for this harmony and unity
inspired by this teaching, each of these classes of kings and rulers would have
felt the weakness and erroneousness of their claims, and truth might have
prevailed more easily against them; but in their union they find strength and
hope for success in retaining their hold upon the people. "And THEY gathered
them together into THAT PLACE which is called in Hebrew ARMAGEDDON" (verse
16). Armageddon means mount of DESTRUCTION; and this describes what will be the
result of this doctrine. It will unite all these systems in one cause as
against the masses of the people and their liberties, and the result will be
the total destruction of all those erroneous systems of Church and State. They
shall fall.
The fifteenth verseis abruptly thrown in as a
parenthesis. It reads literally thus: "Lo, I come AS A THIEF! Blessed the
one WATCHING and keeping the garments of himself; so that not naked HE may walk,
and they see the shame of HIM." This is very significant. It declares that
at the time when this evil doctrine will be apparently uniting all upon the
side of law and order--upon the side of kings and clergy--our Lord will then be
PRESENT, but secretly and unknown except to the watching ones. [R511 : page 7] Only those who are truly his and watching
in the light of his Word will not be deceived by this impure teaching, but will
realize his presence and the necessity of the foretold fall of all these
things, because the rightful king is present to remove these out of the way of
his kingdom.
The position of this declaration-- thrown in
disconnectedly--is significant. It teaches that our Lord will be present before
the impure teaching begins to GATHER them to their destruction.
W.T. R-509 c : page 7 – 1883 r.