think without doubt this may be considered one of these frogs. ernment. out. Let us see if we can find the others. The next frog was to proceed from the mouth of the beast. The beast in the Scriptures represents a tyrannical govCan we find anything in society at present which is the legitimate product of tyrannical governments? I think we can. And I will try to point it The trouble I shall have in describing it, lies in the fact that in one country it is called by one name and in another it goes by a different one. In them all it amounts to the same thing. It is that spirit of lawlessness that would destroy all property rights, obliterate every distinction in society, and, to achieve its ends, would trample under foot everything that is good and noble and honorable. In Russia it is called Nihilism, in Germany it is called Socialism, in France and Spain Communism, and in many other countries it takes the form and name of Anarchism. It is a vile spirit, characterized by the worst passions of the human soul; shrinking not from any crime that it may accomplish its own purposes. Its aim is to destroy all human governments. It is the spirit of despotism, and itself becomes despotic, fighting society, overthrowing all laws, destroying property, and disregarding human life. In my view, this describes the second frog. The third was to proceed from the mouth of the false prophet. The term "false prophet" here means a specific power. It is generally conceded that this refers to Mohammedanism. Now, what were the doc trines of Mohammed? He established a politico-ecclesiastical government. He claimed to have received a revelation of a new gospel from heaven; so that, while admitting our Bible as divine, it was superseded by the Koran. He believed in a plurality of wives on earth and sensual pleasures in heaven. He discouraged the use of alcoholic liquors. His people were visionary and fanatical. Do you not recognize this frog in this generation? It is within our borders. It is Mormonism. It is a facsimile of Mohammedanism. Its founder professed to have a new revelation. He admitted the Bible, but supplemented it by the book of Mormon. The Mormons have an ecclesiastico-political organization. They hold to the same doctrines of plurality of wives, sensual pleasures in heaven, total abstinence from ardent spirits, and on other points agree with Mohammed. Thus we have found the three frogs, which (verse 14) "are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." All three of these unclean spirits have come to prominence since the pouring out of the sixth vial of God's wrath. They are to be factors, and fearful ones, in the great tribulation spoken of by our Savior in Matthew, which will fall on the world when the seventh vial of His wrath shall be poured out. For at the close of the seventh vial the Word of God says: "It is done." The mystery of God will then close. The world will go on as it has been; men shall marry and be given in marriage; they shall plant and build; business shall be brisk and dull; and all things shall continue as they have been from the beginning. And lest any of us shall be taken unawares, he says (verse 15): "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” In the beginning of Revelation he is "blessed who readeth and heareth the words of this prophecy." For all these reasons we conclude that we are now living in the period between the pouring out of the sixth and seventh vials of God's wrath. There is but one more vial. When this last one takes place, it will be followed immediately by the coming of the Son of God. The mystery of God shall then be finished. LECTURE VI POURING OUT THE SEVENTH VIAL Pouring out the seventh vial. Into the air. What is that? Satan's kingdom. The conversation with Jesus on the Mount of Olives. The tribulation of those days. Distress of nations. With perplexity Sea and waves roaring. The casting down of thrones. The sun, moon and stars. God feasts the fowls on human flesh. The preparation for the great tribulation. WHAT is meant by pouring out the "seventh vial of the wrath of God into the air"? We must turn to the Word of God for the explanation. In Eph. 2:2 Paul calls Satan the "prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." The word "air" here, is used in other places in the Bible in the sense of "darkness." Eph. 6:12, Paul says: "We wrestle against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Col. 1:13: "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness." Then we have "the kingdom of darkness." All these are scriptural expressions for the kingdom of Satan. Now, as the devils are fallen angels, they are not material beings, and hence do not dwell on earth; but being spiritual, they inhabit the air. Then, as being rulers over a kingdom of darkness, they preside over all ignorance, crime, false life, and everything debasing and degrading, and everything opposed to God. Thus we have Satan called the "God of this world," Corinthians 4:4. Our Savior called him the "prince of this world" (John 12:31 and 14:30 and 16:11) several times. Paul says: "We wrestle principalities, against powers The spirits of wicked- against spiritual wickedness in high places,;" or heavenly places, as the Greek has it. This "heavenly places" means here the regions of the air. Then we conclude the air is the abode of all devils. ness make this their home. "vial of wrath into the air" means to pour it out on Satan's kingdom. It will fall on all his works, and on all orders of his servants. Not only will "the principalities and powers, and rulers of the darkness of this world, "feel this seventh vial of wrath, but every false thing on earth, and everything which has antagonized the kingdom of our God, shall be overthrown. Paganism in all its forms and ramifications will go down. Mohammedanism with its cruelty, wars and bloodshed, and with its sensual paradise, will go to destruction. The Papacy in its pride and tyrannical oppressions, as the next great system of error (Revelation 18:5), "shall be utterly burned with fire," for "her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities" in warring against his saints, and putting so many millions of them to death. Then all species of sin shall be destroyed from the earth. All who have sold themselves to the powers of evil, all active workers against our Lord Jesus Christ, will meet their reward. In truth every creature who is not positively a friend of Jesus, and everything which stands in the way of his kingdom, shall utterly be overthrown and brought to naught. We proceed to consider the Scriptures on this last vial. |