The opened book represents the last act of the Roman Empire under its last head, followed by a " silence in heaven for the space of half an hour." As it is something in the nature of a solemn pause, happening just previous to the common catastrophe of both series of events, perhaps the idea may be conveyed by considering the immediate event, whatever it be that the opening of the book may represent, as something of the nature of a flash of lightning before the seven-fold thunder begins to roll; and that that series of events ends there!

It has generally been imagined that the little opened book contained a great many of the prophecies which follow the tenth chapter-the half-hour's silence not seeming to represent an event of sufficient magnitude to account for the importance attached to it. But this is a gratuitous assumption. It is certain that it marks a prophetical era, representing an equally prominent event in history to any of the other seals, although of an apparently negative character; and that, like them, it will be a hinge on which a new order of things will turn. For instance, if, just previous to the final decisive. irretrievable blow being struck, signified by the four winds being let loose, proposals involving all the consequences attending such a catastrophe were to be made to that power which is to be the instrument thereof, no language can express the breathless and anxious suspense, the awful silence which would ensue! This being connected with the last, the only act which the yet-to-be-revived head of the Em

pire shall have to

requirements of the

perform, would meet all the prophecy. I merely throw out this idea to shew the possibility that the symbolical expression of an hour's silence, considering the half hour chronologically, may imply the ceasing from action for a fortnight, and be an event of unutterable importance.

Howsoever sweet or pleasant such a discovery may be in meditation, the consequences, it is declared, will be bitter. As much as to say, that the effect of this silence will be the most poignant sorrow, and the deepest anguish; as much as to say, that it is the immediate forerunner of the overwhelming and final ruin of which the seven thunders give such most fearful warning.

The remaining verse of the chapter, I conceive implies, that although the series of prophecies signified by the seven seals is now completed, nevertheless the same ground, in other connections and other relations, has to be retraced, and that it will involve the "fates and fortunes" of "many people, and nations, and tongues, and kings;" likewise implying that yet before "the second woe" will be pronounced to be past, he will have to go back, and prophesy of other events bringing them up to this point of time.

CHAPTER XI.

THE

TRUE CHURCH OF CHRIST;

DESCRIBED AS

AN INNER CHURCH WITHIN THE RULING VISIBLE

CHURCH;

AND

LIKEWISE DESCRIBED UNDER THE SYMBOL OF TWO WITNESSES.

The symbols taken from Jewish worship—The true church enclosed by the providence of God—The visible church paganized, and here called the Gentiles-To be in possession of what is called the outer court 1260 years—The different terms in which this chronological period is represented, and its use-The two witnessesWhat the word signifies—The number two explained — Their depressed condition for 1260 years-Described as two olive trees -Zechariah's prophecy-The Holy Spirit's agency. The two candlesticks-Marvellous power of the two witnesses-Two such witnesses explained to have existed for above 1200 years in such a condition-The Albigenses -The Protestant Churches-High privileges of real believers.

216

CHAPTER XI.

THE TRUE CHURCH DESCRIBED AS 1

THE TEMPLE;

AND

AS TWO WITNESSES; AND ITS DEPRESSED
CONDITION.

WE have not yet reached the announcement of the second woe being past! Other important disclosures have yet to be made, as connected with that termination, belonging to those future prophecies alluded to at the conclusion of the last chapter; more especially those which belong to the internal history of the church, and which are now brought forward in anticipation, to show their synchronical conclusion with the fall of the Ottoman empire, or with the ceasing of the sixth trumpet.

They commence in the following language:

“And there was given me a reed, like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Arise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple, leave out, and measure it not for it is given unto the Gentiles; and the Holy City shall they tread under foot, forty and two months." (Rev. xi. 1, 2.)

The symbols here employed, are again taken from the visible objects of Jewish worship: the temple of God-the altar-the outer court-and the Holy city; and they are applied to the spiritual worship of the Christian dispensation. The temple of God, thus used, is intended to designate any place where God abides by the indwelling of His Spirit, as he formerly abode, literally, in the literal temple; to which temple, as the place where the visible representation and tokens of the Deity were manifested, the Tribes went up to worship. Being a building thus set apart and consecrated to God, honoured with extraordinary marks of divine favour, containing the ark, the repository of His laws; the Shekinah, or visible cloud; the Urim and Thummim, and the holy fire, and as the seat of public worship, it is here chosen as the most proper symbol of the whole body of his spiritual worshippers. The apostle Paul, speaking of the saints of God, says, they "are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple unto the Lord." Eph. ii., 20, 21: see likewise 1 Cor. iii. 17, and vi. 19: also 2 Cor. vi. 16, where it is said, "Ye are the temple of the living God, as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them." These collectively constitute the temple which is here signified; their spiritual worship, the altar; and every individual member is a true worshipper in that one holy temple.

This temple, this altar, and this people, the

L