PLAN OF THE APOCALYPSE. It will assist the reader greatly in understanding the Apocalypse, to become familiar, in the first place, with the plan, project, or design. To assist him in this, the following map or description is drawn. The Apocalypse is principally divided into FOUR PARTS. We are confident this was not understood by those who divided the New Testament into chapters and verses. It will not, therefore, be in our power to pay a strict reference to that division. FIRST PART. This comprises the first three chapters, and contains the introduction, and the epistles to the seven churches in Asia. SECOND PART. This comprises the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th chapters. It is capable of a very important subdivision, as we shall show hereafter. The great topic of this general division is the overthrow of the Jewish nation, temple, and worship, and the establishment of the kingdom of God in the place of the Mosaic ritual. THIRD PART. This part extends from the beginning of chapter xii. to xx. 10. The principal subject throughout is the overthrow of the Roman persecuting power. FOURTH PART. The fourth and last part extends from chapter xx. 11, to the end of the book. It is to be regretted that the division of chapters had not been made at the end of the 10th verse of the 20th chapter. If the 21st chapter had commenced at the beginning of the 11th verse of the 20th, the division would have corresponded much more nearly to the true plan of the work than it now does. The subject is the final triumph of the Gospel. The principal visions of the Apocalypse will be found in the 2d, 3d, and 4th parts. A MORE CIRCUMSTANTIAL ACCOUNT OF THE DIVISIONS OF THE APOCALYPSE. Description of the imaginary dwelling-place of God, and of his attendants and their employments, chap. iv. Opening of the book sealed with seven seals, which revealed the punishment and destruction of the Jews, chap. v. EVENTS PRELIMINARY TO THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. Opening of the 1st seal-Preaching of the Gospel, vi. 1, 2. War, Pestilence, "3, 4. " 7, 8. "9-11. "12-vii. 17 viii. 1-xi. 19 RECAPITULATION OF THE EVENTS UNDER THE SEVENTH SEAL. The description of the events under the seventh seal, as we have indicated, extends through the entire 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th chapters; and we find under this seal another series of seven, viz., the sounding of the seven trumpets, as follows: Trumpets given to the seven angels, viii. 1-6 persecuted, . The first beast, The second beast, Symbols of the Christian Victory, SEVEN VIALS OF WRATH. 2d 66 66 4-7 |