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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
CHRIST THE HEAD AND DIRECTOR OF THE CHURCH'S
AFFAIRS; WITH A DESCRIPTION OF ITS STATE AT
THE TIME THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN.
The title of the Book of Revelation-Its dedication to the Seven
Churches-The circumstances of John when it was written-
Given on the Lord's day-The command given-Description
of the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ-The encouragement
he gave-The subject matter of this Book, the mystery of God
-Addresses to the Seven Churches of general application—
Address to the church in Ephesus-in Smyrna—in Pergamos—
in Thyatira-in Sardis-in Philadelphia-in Laodicea-The
history in the Revelation is a carrying out of these principles--
The Divinity of Christ and the Holy Ghost-The unity of the
Church-Millennial Intimations
CHAPTER II.
REPRESENTATION OF THE DIVINE GLORY IN HEAVEN,
AND ITS BLESSED INHABITANTS.
The second division of the Revelation here commences with the
things to be "hereafter ”—The symbol of their being unfolded—
Scene described to be in Heaven-The Throne of God-The
Elders-The Seven Spirits-The living creatures-The Worship
of Heaven-The whole taken from Jewish worship-Similar
visions of Isaiah-Ezekiel-The Symbols of the Throne-What
the Elders represent - The Lightnings and Thunders-The
seven lamps of fire-The sea of glass-The four living creatures
considered and explained-The language of their Songs of
praise
17
CHAPTER III.
THE EXALTATION OF CHRIST IN HEAVEN; THE COM-
MITTAL OF THE CHURCH'S CONCERNS
INTO HIS
HANDS; AND THE WORSHIP PAID то HIM BY ITS
BLESSED INHABITANTS.
Symbol of the Book-A master symbol-Its seven seals-Their
general meaning-Form of the books of the ancients-Impor-
tance of the contents of the seven-sealed book-Coming forward
of Christ as the slain Lamb-In what sense he opens the seals-
Extent of time they represent-The study of them important—
Worship of the living creatures—The prayers of the Saints-New
Song of heaven-Future honour of the Saints-Song of the
Angels-And of the whole Creation-Divinity of Christ....33
THE FOUR FIRST
CHAPTER IV.
SEALS; SHEWING THE GRADUAL
PROGRESS OF THE FRIGHTFUL APOSTACY OF THE
CHURCH OF CHRIST.
Opening of the First Seal-A very remarkable Era-Concern of
the Church above respecting it-Its symbols and their meaning—
Emperor Constantine and the triumph of Christianity over
Paganism-Pagan persecutions-Apostate Julian-Opening of
Second Seal-Meaning of the Symbols-Paganism destroyed by
Theodosius-His character-The Church's fierce divisions and
slaughter Opening of the Third Seal-Emperor Justinian-
His great actions and their lamentable influence on the Church
-Its gross Darkness-Preservation of the Bible incorrupt-
Opening of the Fourth Seal-The Church in a state of utter
corruption-Charlemagne The important era he formed-Con-
fined to the Latin nations-Great misery of this period......49
CHAPTER V.
CONTINUATION OF THE SEALS; OR THE PARTIAL RE-
COVERY OF THE CHURCH AT THE REFORMATION;
AND THE APPEARANCE AND ACTINGS OF INFIDE-
LITY, AS EXHIBITED IN THE
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.
CONSEQUENCES
OF
General observations on the preceding Seals, and the Apostacy
they pourtray-Where spoken of in the Old Testament-They
form epochs of History-Theodosius-Unity of the four first
Seals-Danger of Prosperity to the Church exemplified-THE
REFORMATION The age of Martyrs-Its influence-Its instru-
ments-Abilities of the reigning Monarchs-Persecutions-St.
Bartholomew's Massacre and others - Cry for Vengeance-
Future Persecutions yet to take place-THE FRENCH REVOLU
TION-Symbols of the Sixth Seal explained to refer to it-Ex-
emplified the principles of Infidelity ...
.71
CHAPTER VI.
THE SUSPENSION OF THE FEARFUL
DOOM
HANGING
OVER THE NATIONS; THE SEALING AND PRESER-
VATION OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD AFTER A PERIOD
OF PERSECUTION; AND THE OPENING OF THE
SEVENTH SEAL.
Present state of Peace-Most destructive wars only suspended-
Deliverance of the righteous from them-Their sealing-Their
symbolical number-Their characters-Nature of their preser-
vation-A newly-arrived company seen in Heaven-Proof
that it is Heaven-That they are newly arrived-That they have
experienced a great salvation-Their Song-That they came
out of a great Tribulation-That they are the company that was
sealed―Their arrival in Heaven appears to have been a Trans-
lation—Arguments to prove this to be probable-Nothing incre-
dible, and why-Seventh Seal-A solemn and awful pause-
General Observations
..93
CHAPTER VII.
THE JUDGMENTS OF GOD UPON THE ROMAN EMPIRE:
PARTICULARLY UPON THE WESTERN EMPIRE, BY
THE TERRIBLE INVASIONS OF THE GOTHS, VAN-
DALS, HUNS, AND OTHER BARBARIANS-THE
FIRST TRUMPETS..
FOUR
New Series of Events-Judgments for Sin-Explanation of the
Master Symbol -Prayers of the Righteous heard-Infliction
of horrid Wars-Connection of the first four Trumpets-They
are all Symbolical-The third part, meaning of Barbarous
Nations-Destruction they caused-Unanimity of Commenta-
tors respecting the Interpretation of the Trumpets - First
Trumpet, the Invasions of Alaric king of the Goths, and others
-Second Trumpet, those of Attila king of the Huns—Third
Trumpet, the devastation of Genseric king of the Vandals-
Fourth Trumpet, the extinction of the Imperial authority in the
West...
117
CHAPTER VIII.
THE JUDGMENTS OF GOD UPON THE ROMAN EMPIRE
BY THE SARACENS; OR THE RISE OF MAHOMET.-
THE SOUNDING OF THE FIFTH TRUMPET.
The meaning of the term, a woe trumpet-The fifth trumpet- Gibbon, value of his history-Rise of Mahomet-Compared to the falling of the star-His diabolical principles-Their
effects-His followers compared to locusts-The correctness
of the comparison-Their tormenting-Their discipline--Their
victories-Their licentiousness-Their cruelty and ferocity-
Their false and apostate religion-Their caliphs-Confined to
no third part―Their great conquests not permanent-Their limi-
tation-Great defeat by Charles Martel-Gibbon's observations
thereon Importance of that defeat-The duration of their
excursive ravages—Application to the type of locusts-Founda-
tion of Bagdad-Decline of the Saracenic empire..
145
CHAPTER IX.
THE JUDGMENTS OF GOD UPON
THE EMPIRE, MORE
ESPECIALLY IN THE EAST, ON THE SOUNDING OF
THE SIXTH TRUMPET ; OR THE RISE AND ESTA-
BLISHMENT OF THE TURKS, OR OTTOMANS.
The four horns of the altar-Second" Woe" comes at some dis-
tance of time from the first-Fall of the Saracens-First
Turkish Sultan-The Turks a great people before they were
restrained or "bound"-Divided into four kingdoms on the
Euphrates -Their being bound-by their own divisions—by
the Crusades--by the Moguls—Their being loosed_Rise of the
Ottoman Power-Work it was to perform-Preparation for it
-Time of its continuance-Description of the Turks-Their
overthrow of the Eastern Empire-Fall of Constantinople—
Establishment of Mahometanism on its ruins-Attempts on the
West-Western Idolatry and Wickedness .
171
THE
CHAPTER X.
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-appear-
ance of our Lord Jesus Christ-His description same as in