I have expressed a doubt whether either the doctrines or the wars of Mahomet would have had a place in this prophecy but for their relation to the Christian church ;* and I think it questionable whether the downfall of the Turks would have been noticed but on the same account. This was the reason of so much being said of old Babylon. She might have risen and fallen unnoticed by the prophets, if she had had nothing to do with Jerusalem. But though she was an instrument in God's hand in purging that corrupted city, yet seeing that she "meant not so," but set herself against God himself, it required that she should in the end be overthrown, and that her overthrow should be marked in prophecy. In like manner, though Mahomet and his followers were instruments in punishing a corrupt part of the Christian church, yet seeing they meant not so, but set themselves against Christ himself, they also shall be overthrown, and their ovorthrow is marked in prophecy.

With regard to the second part of this vial, or that which respects the papal powers, this is the most tremendous. This is the last struggle of the beast and his adherents, and which will issue in their utter overthrow. This is "the great day of God Almighty;" the same as the harvest and the vintage in Chap. xiv. and the "taking of the beast and the false prophet" in Chap. xix.

Preparatory to this great day we have The mustering of the forces "Three unclean spirits like frogs," are described as going forth amongst the nations to gather them together; one from the' mouth of the dragon, another from that of the beast, and another from that of the false prophet. These spirits may denote the corrupt principles which shall be disseminated in the earth, tending to deceive and destroy mankind. As the dragon is described as the grand mover of all these mischiefs, as he is not said to be taken with the beast and the false prophet in Chap. xix. and is denominated "that old serpent the Devil and Satan ;" I consider him as a being of a different order from either of them. And as the unclean spirit which proceeded from the dragon may be supposed to correspond with his character, it may be a spirit of diabolical malignity against God and true religion.—The beast being understood of the last head of the Roman empire, the great supporter

*On Chap. ix. 13-21.

of popery, the unclean spirit proceeding out of his mouth may be that which assumes the place of God in the consciences of men, and converts Christianity into an egnine of state policy. The false prophet, though designated by a new name, appears to be the same that was represented in Chap. xiii. by the two-horned beast, and in 2 Thes. ii. 3. by "the man of sin." This is evident from the character of each being the same. The coming of the man of sin was to be with "signs and lying wonders." The two-horned beast "deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by means of his miracles ;" and amongst the operations of the three evil spirits mention is made of "miracles," which seem to pertain to the false prophet. The man of sin, the two-horned beast, and the false prophet, therefore, are the same, namely, the papal hierarchy, or the community of which the Pope is the head. The evil spirit proceeding out of his mouth may be that of blind zeal, and religious imposture.

These three evil spirits, discordant as they may be in some respects, will be united in their opposition to true religion. Hence in the great battle wherein the beast and the false prophet are taken, (Chap. xix.) (and which, as has been observed, is the same as this at Armageddon,) the whole triumvirate is engaged "against him that sat on the horse, and against his army." It shall be a character it seems of these times that both the friends and enemies of Christ will be nearer together than they have been wont to be irreligion and false religion will unite their standards, and fight with neither small nor great, but with Christ and his adherents. Where men agree in the grand outlines of false doctrine, and conceive themselves to meet in their political interests they caneasily overlook their differences.

It seems as if a spirit of infatuation, like that in Pharaoh and his host at the Red Sea, would possess the enemies of Christ prior to this their last overthrow. The kings of the earth are gathered together, partly by hatred of God and religion, (the spirit of the dragon,) partly by the desire of subjugating both to political purposes, (the spirit of the beast,) and partly by blind zeal and religious imposture, (the spirit

of the false prophet,) and being assembled, will direct all their force against God and his cause. In what particular mode their hostility will be manifested, and by what means Christ will prevail against them, is too much for us to determine. The first may be by direct persecution, or if by war, it will be one whose object shall be to exterminate the true religion; and the last may be by turning their hearts one against another. Though they have been gathered together, and have unitedly engaged in this notable enterprise, yet finding it unsuccessful, they may fall out with one another. The spirit of the dragon may prevail over that of the beast and that of the false prophet, and he may think to govern the world without them. The antichristian kings also perceiving how things are going, may be for joining the strongest side. But if so, they will find themselves deceived. The next vial will purify the world of their baleful influences, and the Angel with a great chain in his hand stands ready to lay hold on the dragon himself and to cast him into the bottomless pit.

The warning language addressed to the faithful (ver. 15.) seems to intimate that these important events will come upon men unexpectedly, and that many will be stripped by them of their professions and prospects. Blessed are they whose religion will stand the test of such times of trial.

17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. 18 And there were voices and thunders and lightnings, and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake and so great. 19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

As the sixth vial has issued in the overthrow of the temporal power of antichrist, the seventh seems to respect its spiritual dominion, or the hold which it has on the minds of men.

*

The moral atmosphere of the world has long been polluted by false religion, from which it seems to be the object of this vial to cleanse it as by a thunder-storm, which thunder-storm produces a great earthquake, and this the falling to pieces of the great antichristian city, and other cities with it. The face of the world from hence becomes changed, and the wrath of God pursues, as by a terrible hail-storm, the men who repent not of their deeds.

Nor may this purification of the moral atmosphere be confined to Christendom, but extend to the whole earth. Paganism, Mahometanism, apostate Judaism, and every thing which stands opposed to the truth shall now be driven out of the world. An "earthquake" is the well-known symbol of a revolution; and so great and mighty a revolution of religious principle, may well justify the description given of it. And now a voice out of the temple of heaven, even from the throne of God, is heard, saying, IT IS DONE! The threatening of the angel in Chap. x. 7. is accomplished-the 1260 years are ended-THE MYSTERY OF GOD

IS FINISHED!

As this vial seems to be wholly of a spiritual nature, the "thunders and lightnings and earthquake and hail" do not seem to refer to wars, or to any other temporal calamities, but it may be to the effects of truth, and to those spiritual judgments which will fall on them who continue to reject it. The body of antichrist, as I may say, will be destroyed by the temporal sword, as described under the preceding vial; but the "spirit of Christ's mouth" shall destroy his spirit. Such from the beginning was the doom passed upon that wicked one; and such is the punishment of those who escape in the great battle wherein the beast and false prophet shall be taken, but who repent not of their deeds: they

That these are very distinct, we need go no farther than Ireland for proof. Popery has there long existed not only without the aid of temporal power, but in a manner against it; yet there are few if any countries, where it has faster hold of the minds of men.

shall be "slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceedeth out of his mouth." Chap. xix. 21.

The city being "divided into three parts," as by an earthquake, denotes, I think, the breaking up of the papal system; and what "the cities of the nations" which fall with it can be understood to mean but those worldly establishments of religion which have symbolized with popery, not only in worship and ceremonies, but in an alliance with the kingdoms of this world, I cannot conceive. To understand "the great city" of the Roman empire, and “the cities of the nations" of particular states, neither comports with the meaning of the terms in other parts of the prophecy, nor with the spiritual judgments denoted by this vial. "The great city" is mentioned in several other places in the prophecy-as in Chap. xi. 8. "Their dead bodies shall lie in the streets of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified."—And in Chap. xiv. 8. " Babylon is fallen, that great city.”—And in Chap. xviii. 10, 21. Alas, that great city, Babylon."-"Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down." In none of these passages does it appear to mean the empire, but the church of Rome. The empire is symbolized by a beast, from which the great city is distinguished. Chap. xi. 7, 8. But if "the great city" mean the Church of Rome, even "great Babylon who now comes in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath," "the cities of the nations" must mean those ecclesiastical communities which have symbolized with her.

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