the image of the beast, that it should even speak, and to cause as many as would not worship itself to be killed.

16. He also caused all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads; (an open profession of popery) so that none might buy nor sell, who had not the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name,

17. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding, compute the number of the beast, for it is that of a man (in the numerical letters in LATEINOS, the Latin, or Rumiith, the man of Rome), and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

CHAP. XIV.

THE FALL OF BABYLON.

THEN I looked, and, lo, the Lamb (Christ) stood on the mount Sion (of the church), and with him an hundred and forty four thousand, having his own name, and the name of God his Father, written in their foreheads; (that is, being professed worshippers of God.)

2. Then I heard a voice from heaven as the sound of many waters, and as that of a great thunder; (and I heard) also the sound of harpers playing on their harps;

3. And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the ancients; and none could learn that song but the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.

4. These were not polluted with women, for they are virgins, or pure souls, free from idolatry and vice. These follow the Lamb wherever he goeth, (walking as he walked.) These were redeemed from among men, being the first-fruits of Christians to God and to the Lamb.

5. And in their mouth was found no deceit; for they are blameless before the throne of God.

6. Then I saw another angel (a reformer, as Luther), fly thro' the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to the earth's inhabitants, even to every nation, and tribe, and language, and people; 7. Saying, with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment (on his enemies) is come; and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

8. There followed also another angel, saying, Babylon, (even Rome) the great city, is fallen, it is fallen; because it made all the nations drink of the wine of its raging spiritual whoredom (or idolatry). 9. The third angel also followed them, saying aloud, If any man worship the (Roman) beast, and his (idolatrous) image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand (to adore it), 10. He also shall drink of the wine of God's wrath, poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and be tormented with fire and brimstone before the holy angels, (approving it), and the Lamb; 11. Yea, 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 whoever receiveth the mark of his name.

12. Here is the patience of the saints who keep the commands of God, and the faith of Jesus.

13. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth: Yea, the Spirit saith, that they may rest from their labours; and their works follow them. 14. Then I looked, and, behold, a white cloud, and on it one sat like the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

15. And another angel came out of the temple, crying aloud to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust

in thy sickle and reap: for the time is come, the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16. So he thrust in his sickle on the earth; and it was reaped.

17. And another angel came out of the temple in heaven, having also a sharp sickle. 18. And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over the fire of it; and cried aloud to him that had the sharp sickle, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and lop off the clusters of the wild vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe. 19. So he thrust his sickle into the earth, and lopped off the grapes from the vine of the earth, and cast them into the great wine-press of the wrath of God, 20. Which was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the wine-press even unto the horsebridles, at the distance of a thousand and six hundred furlongs, (at the battle of mount Megiddo, xvi. 16.)

CHAP. XV.

THE SEVEN LAST PLAgues.

I SAW also another great and wonderful sign in heaven, seven angels having the seven last plagues, because in them is to be completed the wrath of God. 2. I saw also (a great crystal vessel,) as it were a sea of glass, (3 Kings vii. 23). (sparkling with the reflection of rays from the throne of God,) as if mingled with fire; and they that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, so as not to receive it, and over the number of his name, stood by the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 3. And they sung the song of Moses the servant of God, (Exod. xv.) and the song of Jesus the Lamb, saying, Great and wonderful are thy works, Lord God Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 4. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are

made manifest.

5. Now, after that I looked, and, behold, the tabernacle of the temple, in heaven, wherein was the ark of the testimony, was again opened, (more light of knowledge displayed).

6. And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure white linen, and having their breasts girded about with golden girdles. 7. And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and

ever.

8. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from the emblems of his power; and none was able to enter into the temple till the vials of the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. (Exod. xl. 34. Isaiah vi. 4.)

CHAP. XVI.

THE ANGELS POUR QUT THEIR VIALS.

Now, I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go, and pour out the vials of God's wrath on the earth.

2. So the first went, and poured out his vial on the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous (and sin-plaguing) sore on the men who had the mark of the beast, and that worshipped his image.

3. And the second angel poured out his vial on the sea (islands) and it became as the blood of one dead: and every living animal creature died in the

sea.

4. And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters, (rulers and powers;) and they became as blood.

5. Then I heard the angel of the waters, who poured his vial thereon, say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, who art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast thus executed judgment (on despots and persecutors); 6. For they have shed the blood of

saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they deserve it. 7. I heard also a voice out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

8. And the fourth angel poured out his vial on the sun (or supreme powers); and power was given him to scorch men with fire. 9. And men were scorched with great heat, (or war and despotism), and yet they blasphemed God's name, who hath authority over these plagues: but they repented not to give him glory.

10. And the fifth angel poured out his vial (to ruin Rome) on the papal beast's seat; so his kingdom was full of trouble and darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 11. And blasphemed the God of heaven, because of their pains and sores, but repented not of their deeds.

12. Then the sixth angel poured out his vial on the great river Euphrates; and its water was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east (the Jews) might be prepared to conquer (Joshua iii. 17. and possess their land, v. 16.)

13. Then I saw three unclean spirits like frogs, (emblematic of impostors) come out of the (pagan) dragon's mouth, and the (papal) beast's, and the (papal) false prophet's. 14. For they are the spirits of demons, working wonders, who go forth to the kings of the earth, even of the whole world, to ga ther them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. (v. 16.)

15 Lo, I come unawares as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments (his virtues and graces), lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

16. And they even (the converted Jews) assembled to a place called in the Hebrew tongue, The mountain of Megiddo, (Judges v. 16. Zech. xii. 11. to conquer and possess the holy land.))

17. Then the seventh angel poured out his vial