| Scripture |
Additional Comments |
| |
|
| 1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. |
I – The John class, the church in the flesh during the time of our Lord's second advent.
Looked – This is one of the characteristics of the John class. They followed the Lord's instruction to look, to watch for the signs of His presence. Mark 13:35-37
Lamb – Our Lord Jesus.
Stood – Compare Dan. 12:1.
On the mount Sion – The Kingdom of God.
This clearly pictures our Lord at His Second Advent.
With him – The saints are here shown as being with Jesus in Glory. This indicates that three things must have taken place.| 1 | Return of Jesus as King. | | 2 | Resurrection of the saints who slept – 1 Cor. 15:51,52; 1 Thess. 4:16,17 | | 3 | Full number (144,000) must be reached, i.e., this cannot occur prior to 1881. |
144,000 – The full number of the body of Christ – see Rev. 7:3-8.
Their Father's name – His characteristics. These are conformed to the image of His son – Rom. 8:29. To see what God says this is see Exo. 34:5-7
Written in their foreheads – This corresponds to Rev. 7:2,3 where the saints are "sealed in their foreheads." Please note, the sealing in the forehead takes place on this side of the veil.
Please notice the last of the Expanded Bible Comments (R1470) where Br. Russell applies this to the saints who "pass through much of the trouble with a happiness based upon this knowledge." |
| 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: |
I heard a voice from heaven – From the symbolic heaven. It figures to be the symbolic heavens because this is a book of symbols – Rev. 1:1.
As the voice of many waters – See Voice of many waters.
Compare Eze. 1:24.
And as the voice of a great thunder – Thunder is symbolic of controversy. [R511, R576] When the 144,000 are shown in Mount Zion there is "great" controversy.
And I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps – By comparing this phrase with Rev. 15:2,3 we see this has reference also to the saints, those who sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. The harps are the bible.
Compare Psa. 137:1-7. |
| 3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. |
They – The 144,000.
Sung – See Isa. 52:8; Rev. 15:2-4.
As it were – It is not actually a new song but it seems to be a new song. How can this be? Because this song was being sung in the days of the Apostles but many of the truths were lost sight of during the dark ages. Now the original song is being sung again. It is not really a new song, but it seems to be because it has not been heard for so many centuries.
A new song – The Song of Moses and the Lamb (Rev. 15:2-4).
"This song belongs to the early morning." NS635:4
Before the throne – See Before the Throne. This shows a connection with the throne while in an earthly condition.
The four beasts – The four attributes of God. Rev. 4:7
The elders – see Rev. 4:4,10
No man – The fact that it indicates men cannot sing this song unless they be of the 144,000 implies this song is being sung while some of the church class is still in the flesh. See R2570:5
Learn that song – The song of Moses and the Lamb (Rev. 15:2-4).
The 144,000 – The Little Flock are the only ones who can sing this song, not even the Great Company can sing this song. – This should emphasize to us the importance of learning this song. Note, this song is being learned and sung while the saints are still in the flesh.
Redeemed from the earth – "Ye are bought with a price." 1 Cor. 6:20.
The fact that this class is redeemed from the earth (organized society under religious restraint) reminds us that the saints are never included in the sea class (the irreligious restless masses of mankind) because they trust in the Lord. |
| 4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. |
These – The 144,000, the true church.
Are they which were not defiled with women – A woman pictures a church (consider Rev. 12:1.) The 144,000 have not been defiled by the nominal churches (women). This does not mean these did not come from the nominal churches but rather when they heard the Truth they followed the Lord's command to "come out of her my people."
For they are virgins – This is what the Bride of Christ is supposed to be. Those symbolic women (churches) that did not remain pure but instead united with the kings of the earth to become Christendom (Christ's Kingdom – falsely so-called) and are not included in the Little Flock. Of those who remain virgins there are two classes. The Church is styled "wise virgins" and "the king's daughter" while the Great Company is styled "foolish virgins" and "the virgins her (king's daughter) companions." Matt. 25:1,7,11; Psa. 45:13-14
These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth – 1 Pet. 2:21
See R1257:5
These were redeemed from among men – Titus 2:14; 1 Pet. 1:18,19
Being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb – 1 Cor. 15:20,23; Jas. 1:18 |
5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. |
In their mouth was found no guile – Just like our Lord Jesus. 1 Pet. 2:22; Isa. 53:9
This is also true of the church in the flesh. Psa. 32:2
Their mouth is filled with the message of Present Truth and they are singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. This is a message that is without guile. We are to remember, it is not as members of the fallen race that we stand before the throne but as new creatures.
They are without fault – As new creatures. 1 John 3:9; Psa. 32:2
Before the throne of God – See Before the Throne.
Omitted by the Sinaitic Manuscript. – They (144,000) are before the throne as indicated in vs. 3 but this verse by itself does not prove it. |
| |
|
| 6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, |
I saw another angel – Other than the Lamb standing on Mt. Zion. This angel is Pastor Russell, or rather it is part of the message he proclaimed.
In CR63 Br. Russell applied this to the colporteurs.
Fly in the midst of heaven – The nominal heaven, still, at the time of the fulfillment of this prophecy, including both the wheat and the tares.
Having the everlasting gospel – This could have reference primarily to 'The Divine Plan of the Ages' (or rather, its message). It may include earlier publications, especially 'Food For Thinking Christians' which had basically the same message.
This Gospel is primarily the Gospel of the Kingdom. Gal. 3:8
To preach unto them that dwell on the earth – The message of the First Volume was aimed primarily at this class. A11:1
And to every nation – All the governments (not just the people of the nations).
And kindred and tongue and people – The Divine Plan of the Ages was sent out world-wide and translated into a variety of languages. It's message has been spread to all nations and people of earth, though not necessarily received or appreciated. By the end of 1916 nearly 5,000,000 copies of 'The Divine Plan of the Ages' had been circulated in twenty different languages. |
| 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. |
Saying with a loud voice – As the voice of a multitude – Eze. 1:24. This indicates he is speaking with divine authority, i.e., the message he is delivering is from God and not from man.
Please see topic "Loud Voice."
Fear God, and give glory to him – As we should do, especially since we now can see His overall plan. This too is contained in the First Volume.
For the hour of his judgment is come – This is also contained in Volume One. We have chapters on "The Day of Judgment" "The Kingdoms of this World" "The Kingdom of God" and in "Concluding Thoughts" we are urged to be zealous because these things are right at hand.
This lets us know the timing for this verse. It is during the time of our Lord's second Presence, the time when He judges the earth (beginning with the nominal church.)
And worship him that made heaven – Power of spiritual control.
And earth – Organized society under religious restraint. R498
And the sea – Irreligious, restless masses of mankind. R498
And the fountains of waters – Sources of Truth. 2 Tim. 3:15; Eph. 4:11-12 |
| |
|
| 8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. |
Another angel – Another messenger. Several translations (supported by the Greek) indicate "A Second Angel." This is the second of six "messenger's" given in this chapter (vss 6, 8, 9, 15, 17, 18)
It would appear that the 'angels' or 'messengers' used in this chapter indicate special messages of truth from the Lord delivered by the Lord's people (primarily through the seventh messenger) during the time of His second presence.
Babylon is fallen, is fallen – This message is delivered by our Lord in Rev. 18:1-2. This is how we know that this particular angel is our Lord in this passage.
This seems to be the primary message of volume 3, "Thy Kingdom Come."
Compare Isa. 21:9; 47:5-9; Jer. 51:6-9; Rev. 18:2.
Question: Why does the Lord here say Babylon "is fallen is fallen," why twice? Why not simply say "Babylon is fallen" and leave it at that? See R2553. See also Additional Comments on Rev. 18:2.
That great city – A city is always pictures a government and often a kingdom (C258:1). Compare with Rev. 16:19.
She – Here emphasizing that it is the ecclesiastical portion that is the most guilty part of this confused church-state arrangement. If this were speaking of the Man of Sin it would not be rendered as 'she.'
Made all nations – The nations of Europe, the Gentile nations.
Drink of the wine – The false doctrine of church and state. Especially the 'Divine Right of Kings,' the 'Divine Authority of the Clergy,' and the responsibility of the people to be obedient to that arrangement.
Her fornication – Of her uniting with the kings of the earth instead of waiting, as the true virgin church, for the return of her heavenly bridegroom, our Lord.
R1444 Isa. 5:11,22 Matt. 9:15-17, Isa. 5
R4842 |
| |
|
| 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, |
Followed them, saying with a loud voice – With the voice of Divine Authority. See additional comments vs. 7.
If any man worship – We are supposed to worship God. This group has placed the beast and his image above God. They do this by paying more attention to the utterances and dictates of the beast and his image than they do to the Scriptures, the word of God. Instead of being obedient to God, these are obedient to the beast and his image.
The beast and his image – Beast – Papacy.
Image – Protestantism.
This says "If any man has more respect for both these false institutions of men (both claiming to be the institutions of God)..."
And receive his mark in his forehead – His intellectual understanding. This mark is in direct contrast to the mark in the forehead received by the 144,000. This mark of the beast appears to be primarily belief in the trinity (see Rev. 13:17-18.)
Or in his hand – His strength, indicating where he puts his activity, his support. Ecc. 9:10 |
| 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: |
The same – Whoever does the above.
Shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God – Shall receive the seven last plagues – "for in them is filled up the wrath of God." – Rev. 15:1
Which is poured out without mixture – Unlike the twisted mixture coming from the Babylonish systems. The Lord's wrath is coming out in full measure, designed to accomplish exactly what is needed for His purposes.
Into the cup of his indignation – Unlike the seven vials (smaller containers than a cup) God's wrath is to be full and the destruction of mystical Babylon will be complete.
In other words, the one full cup of the Lord's wrath is distributed among the seven vials. 7 vials = 1 cup of God's wrath.
He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone – See R2609:16 – Brimstone = sulfur.
In the presence of the holy angels – This likely refers to the saints. It does not seem likely that this would refer to literal angels since the remainder is all symbolic.
And in the presence of the Lamb – This indicates that the Lord (the Lamb) is present, i.e., this is a post 1874 A.D. picture. |
| 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. |
The smoke of their torment – Remembrance. "Where there's smoke, there's fire." see R2609:15
Ascendeth up – "Babylon came in remembrance before God" – Rev. 16:19
For ever and ever – Strong's 1519, 165, 165. This is the Greek way of saying forever.
And they have no rest day nor night – These cannot rest because their system of belief is much too constrained by the narrow traditions of men and corrupted by the influence of the Adversary. – Contrast with Matt. 11:28 ("Come unto me .. I will give you rest.")
Who worship the beast and his image – see Additional Comments vs. 9.
Whosoever receiveth the mark of his name – see Additional Comments Rev. 13:17-18. |
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. |
Here is the patience of the saints – Why here? This is the time of judgment upon Babylon as described in the preceding verses. But the churches still remain. The saints are then subject to questions. If the judgment began in 1878, why are the churches still (130+ years later) here?
Here are they that keep the commandments of God – Do not lose patience, do not fall into the ways of the world, do not let go the anchor of faith. All that God has promised is indeed working out exactly as planned. While being observant of God's working out His plan, focus on your own character development.
One of the commandments of God was "Come out of her my people.."
And the faith of Jesus – Jesus always said "Not my will be done, but thine." He had such complete faith in the Father that He withstood all the jeering and all the cruel mockings of his (so-called) trial and crucifixion. He did not loose faith in the Fathers time arrangements and neither will his followers.
This may be thought of in a similar manner as Hab. 2:2,3. |
| |
|
| 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. |
I heard a voice from heaven – See Voice From Heaven
Write – Publish the following message. This is exactly what Pastor Russell did.
unto me – These words are not in the original text (although they may be implied.)
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord – This is the only place in the Bible where death is called "blessed."
The dead are those already counted as dead of the world of mankind (Matt. 8:22) and have given themselves in sacrifice to the Lord. Col. 3:3. When these die they "die in the Lord." It is to this class only that death is described as being "blessed."
Note also that of this group it says they "die." It does not say they "sleep." 1 Cor. 15:51,52
From henceforth – From 1878 onward. See The Time is at Hand Chapter 7 and especially the diagram on page 219.
That they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them – In other words, they have been working for the Lord and that work has been laborious. However, once they die they are instantly raised to life and given glorious spiritual bodies (1 Cor. 15:51-53). Their work for the Lord now continues ("their works do follow them") but that work is no longer laborious. |
| |
|
| 14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. |
I looked, and behold a white cloud – Cloud = trouble (Matt. 24:30; Rev. 1:7). This is a white cloud, indicating that the purpose of the trouble is a righteous one. The Lord is bringing the trouble upon the old system of things in order to bring about its destruction and prepare the world for the righteousness to be manifested under the new covenant.
Upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man – The Lord is here described as sitting upon this white cloud. This is reminiscent of his sitting on the colt and riding into Jerusalem, presenting himself as King.
Having on his head a golden crown – Dan. 7:13,14. Jesus is clearly presenting himself here as being the King over the earth. This ties back to 1878.
And in his hand a sharp sickle – Present Truth (Heb. 4:12; Rev. 1:16). |
| 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. |
Another angel – Another part of the Harvest Message. This message seems to include parts of Volume 2 ("the time is come for thee to reap") and especially Volume 3 ("The Time of Harvest," "The Work of Harvest.")
Came out of the temple – The temple is similar to saying "Zion." It refers to the Lord's people. It sometimes refers to the Little Flock and sometimes to the nominal temple, the nominal church. The context determines the correct understanding. In this case it would appear this has reference to the true church. It is certain that no such message has come from Babylon.
Crying with a loud voice – The voice of Divine Authority. See Loud Voice
To him that sat on the cloud – To our Returned Lord who sits on (is in control of) the cloud (trouble) of this day.
Thrust in thy sickle, and reap – This is not a command by Pastor Russell to the Lord but rather it is simply Pastor Russell recognizing that it is the time for this harvest of the vine of the earth and that it is the Returned Lord who does the Harvesting. The sickle here is Present Truth.
For the time is come for thee to reap – From the prospective of this picture, it is for the Lord to do the reaping. Elsewhere it is the saints who are shown to be reaping (Matt. 24:31). The reality is that we have the privilege of doing work for and with Him. By ourselves we are nothing and can accomplish nothing. This picture is simply reminding us of that arrangement. "The glory, Lord, be thine."
For the harvest of the earth is ripe – This refers to the fact that a large part of the Harvest Work was to be done amongst the order-loving people of society. Earth represents organized society under religious restraint (R498). In Eze. 9 the work of marking (sealing) in the forehead being done by "the man clothed in linen with the writer's inkhorn by his side" is done in "the city," (symbolic Jerusalem.) This corresponds to the angels gathering together the Lord's elect in Matt. 24:31. Compare Rev. 7:1-4.
What this phrase seems to be saying is: Another message comes out from the true church and says to our returned Lord (who is in control of the time of trouble), 'We recognize from our study of the Bible that it is the time for the Harvest of the Gospel Age, therefore, go ahead with your work of harvest (thrust in your sickle) and we will watch with anticipation, (ready to do our part whenever possible) for the result. |
| 16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. |
He that sat on the cloud – Our returned Lord Jesus.
Thrust in his sickle on the earth – Thrust the truth into organized society.
And the earth – Organized society under religious restraint. R498
Was reaped – The message of Present Truth caused a great separation of those order-loving people who had greater love for the Lord and His Truth than they did for the various organizations to which they had been attached. Therefore they obeyed the voice of the Lord and came out of Babylon. Rev. 18:4. |
| |
|
| 17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. |
Another angel came out of the temple – A message of truth coming out from the true church.
Which is in heaven – We here need to remember the times. This was during the ministry of the seventh messenger, Pastor Russell. He is part of the temple class and the messages from the Lord came to the temple class through him. The Towers went to many of the Lord's people who were still in the nominal system (heaven) and had the effect of separating them out. But this did not happen at once. Indeed, as Br. Russell said in C166:1 these "must be well sealed in their forehead before they can obey this command" (to "'come out,' based on that knowledge.")
He also having a sharp sickle – This seems to refer, as previously in this chapter, to a particular segment of the Harvest Message. |
| 18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
|
Another angel – Possibly a reference to that part of Present Truth contained in Volume 3 and largely in Volume 4. It was "The Day of Vengeance" (later changed to "The Battle of Armageddon") which spoke of how Christendom was held up before the entire world in its true light. It clearly demonstrated that Christendom was not what it claimed to be, i.e., it was not Christ's Kingdom but was in fact merely the kingdoms of this world united with the false church systems, the "vine of the earth". This fits very well with the message later in this verse about gathering the clusters of the vine of the earth.
In verse 16 it was the earth (organized society) itself that was reaped. Here it is a different group. It is the ripe clusters of the fruitage of the vine of the earth.
Came out from the altar – The brazen altar in the court. This is the place of sacrifice. Please see additional comments on Eze. 9:2.
Which had power over fire – We indeed have fiery trials of our faith. Remember those sacrifices placed on the brazen altar were burned (fire).
We need to remember that "the man clothed in linen" took coals (representing the plagues) from off the altar and, at the Lord's command, scattered them over the city (over nominal Jerusalem, Christendom). – Eze. 10:2, 6-7 These "coals of fire" represent the plagues, the hard truths of God's Word. (Psa. 18:13) Thus he may be said to "have power over fire."
And cried with a loud cry – With divine authority.
To him that had the sharp sickle – The one who has the sharp sickle (of Truth) is always our returned Lord Jesus. However, Jesus is often pleased to accomplish His work through His saints.
The fact that it is a sharp sickle indicates that it is in good working order. The user of this sharp sickle is ready to use it. Heb. 4:12
Thrust in thy sharp sickle – Let these truths go with force into the symbolic earth.
Gather the clusters – The fruitage. Hos. 8:7
The mention of clusters suggests the various denominations of Christendom. Matt. 13:30.
Vine of the earth – The fruitage of an earthly vine. Our Lord said "I am the vine and ye are the branches." That is the heavenly or true vine, i.e., the Christ – Head and body. This "vine of the earth," this union of church and state, is the false vine and it has produced an earthly fruit.
For her grapes are fully ripe – The fruitage of this belief that the church and the state are supposed to be united (Christendom, Christ's Kingdom – falsely so-called) has produced all kinds of earthly ideas. All of which are based on the thought that there is no coming Kingdom of God on Earth. There cannot be because (say they) it is already here in this church-state union.
We also take note that the reference here is to her grapes. This reminds us of Jezebel and her daughters. Rev. 17:5. |
| 19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
|
The angel – The angel here may be viewed from two standpoints. Primarily it refers to our Lord Jesus. Secondarily it may also refer to the seventh angel who is the earthly agent used by our returned Lord to send out the message of present truth.
Thrust in his sickle – The message of Present Truth.
A sickle is not normally the instrument used to collect something as small as clusters from off a vine. A sickle is used to cut a large portion at one time, as, for example, wheat. To use a sickle on a grape vine would indicate that the vine is going to be destroyed in the process. This is not what would be done if the vine was going to produce fruitage again. This vine of the earth is never again to produce fruitage.
Into the earth – Organized society under religious restraint (R498).
And gathered the vine of the earth – Christendom. D18:2
Since this is done by the use of the sickle it indicates the vine is to be uprooted. See Mal. 4:1
And cast it into the great winepress – A winepress is for making new wine. This wine has not yet had a chance to ferment. New wine indicates new doctrines (C160:2.) The result of treading the winepress will be the ruin of Babylon, Christendom and out of that destruction the world will be ready to receive the new wine (doctrines) of the Kingdom.
Joel 3:13 – Note the context.
Winepress of ancient Israel; Winepress cluster from the Byzantine Empire
Of the wrath of God – The fullness of God's wrath being shown in the seven last plagues – Rev. 15:1. |
| 20 And the winepress was trodden outside of the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
|
The winepress – The time of trouble. R5505:13.
Was Trodden – By our Lord Jesus. Isa. 63:1-6
Treading of any winepress is simply describing the first part of the process that was used to make wine. The ripe grapes were tossed into the wine-press and the grapes were then crushed by people with their feet. This is the "treading" part.Do not mis-understand here. The normal pattern was for the people to do this treading of the grapes. However, in this case, it is not the people doing the treading, it is the Lord. – Isa. 63:3. The juice from the grapes would then travel through a channel through a filter (made of bushes) and into another chamber which held the juice. The juice was then taken from this lower chamber and put into jars for fermentation.
Without the city – From outside Christendom.
Primary thought: The three unclean spirits like frogs (Rev. 16:12-14,16) gathered the nations of Christendom together. If it were within the city we might think it was from the people who still believed that this was Christ's Kingdom. At the time of the seventh plague, the Euphrates has been dried up (at least as it appears to those living within the walls of Babylon). The antitypical Cyrus has diverted the waters of the Euphrates (peoples, nations, tongues) so that the waters no longer flow into the city but are now outside it, i.e., "without the city."
Secondary thought: If this is referring to the literal city of Jerusalem as possibly being a picture of Christendom (remember, Jerusalem represented Israel and the Jewish people who were also a church-nation) then when we look outside the city we find the valley of Hinnom – the garbage dump where they burned the refuse of the city and which pictures the second death.
Blood – Life.
Came out of the winepress – Out of the Time of Trouble comes the life of Christendom, i.e., Christendom loses all life. Not only does Christendom (Christ's Kingdom, falsely so-called) cease to exist but also all who had any measure of spiritual life while in her must also come out or they will lose that life.
The horse bridles – Horses are symbolic of doctrines. A bridle is that which the rider uses to control the direction of a horse. This vivid picture seems to be describing the death of the doctrines that were being used to control the people of Christendom. This likely has reference to the same thing as the three unclean spirits like frogs in Rev. 16:12-16, namely, the divine right of kings, the divine authority of the clergy and the responsibility of the people to be subservient to these as being from God.
By the space of – Strong's 575. This should read "of" or "from." Thus it should read "..even unto the horse bridles, from a thousand six hundred furlongs."
1600 furlongs – This has a double significance.
1) Many have noted that 1600 is 40 squared (40 x 40 = 1600). The number 40 seems to be associated with God's judgment. Therefore this would represent God's final judgment upon that false system of Christendom.
2) This is a very specific measurement and yet it is different from the normal time measurements given in Revelation. Those usually indicate days and are understood as representing years (a day for a year – Eze. 4:6). This indicates not a future event but the full treading out of all that was built up over the 1600 year period.
In order to understand just how accurate the Lord is in His timing as well as His symbology, we need to examine the beginning of this period. First the text states that it is the vine of the earth that is cast into the winepress. Our Lord said that He is the vine, we are the branches. The indication is clear. There is a heavenly vine and an earthly one. So what is the vine of the earth?
We suggest the vine of the earth is the union between church and state. [see D18:2] The true church is described as a virgin, waiting for the return of her bridegroom. But the false church became tired of waiting and decided to play the harlot by uniting with the kings of the earth. This has produced many false doctrines (trinity, divine right of kings, etc.) which in turn has produced the large outcrop of tares. It is this fruitage which is cast into the winepress.
When did this false vine (church and state united) begin? The historical account of the persecution of Christians under the order of emperor Diocletian beginning with the year 303 and continued for 10 years (see Rev. 2:10) followed by Constantine's Edict of Milan (313 A.D.) demonstrate a radical change in church state relations. Within about one year the Roman state went from persecution of the church to calling a church council.
In 314 A.D. Constantine (head of the state) called the church counsel of Arles to discuss the controversy over the Donatists – a group of believers who claimed the true church should have nothing to do with the affairs of the state – not unlike Bible students of today.
Consider what a major point in history this is. The head of the civil power (Constantine, the Roman Emperor) called a church counsel! This is the beginning of the vine of the earth.
How accurate is this? The counsel of Arles was convened August 1, 314 – 1600 years from this beginning of the vine of the earth, to the very day World War I began – August 1, 1914!
We need to remember here that this marks the exact date when the vine of the earth is cast into the winepress. It gives no indication whatsoever as to how long it will take to completely tread out all this fruitage.
This date also marks the exact terminus, to the day, of the Times of the Gentiles. The Gentile Times began on the 9th day of the 5th month (AV) 2,520 years earlier. Aug. 1, 1914 is also the 9th day of the 5th month (AV).
In other words, two separate long-term prophetic events (2520 years and 1600 years) reach their terminus on "the selfsame day!" |