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THE REVELATION OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE.
“The revelation of St. John the Divine unlocks
the history of the human races,
and also sheds much light on the
overthrow of evil.”
Below are excerpts from the original
1885* publication
"A review of the Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments": Chapter vii. The vision of the opening of the sixth seal continues, "And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. "And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea. "Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
"And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed
an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children
of Israel." "And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. "And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, "Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
"Therefore are they before the throne of God, and
serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne
shall dwell among them. In the opening of the sixth seal is made manifest the judgment and destruction of the present age specified by the vision of Daniel, as follows: "I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. "A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. "I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. "As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time." The beast destroyed was the evil element of the fourth creation or age; when, therefore, the transgressions are come to the full, then shall the age to which they pertain be judged. This judgment is set forth in the opening of the sixth seal.
The identity of
the multitude of the redeemed from among men with the four beasts which
are around the throne, is again established by the text for the
multitude which no man could number stands before the throne, and again
it is said that "the angels stood about the
throne, and about the elders and the four beasts;" therefore
the multitude which was before the throne must be the same with the
beasts: for both occupy the same relative position around the throne,
and, consequently, must represent the same magnitudes. Chapter viii. "And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour." And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. "And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne." And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. "And the angel took the censer, and rilled
it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were
voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake." The vision of the angel with the censer is emblematic, and
indicates that the way to the throne of God is ever open to the prayer
of the saints. This vision embraces the time from the beginning or first
creation of man unto the judgmental era, when the destruction of the
wicked shall be fulfilled. This relates to the destruction of the first race of
men, or to the end of the first of the three ages hidden by the vail.
This race was destroyed by fire. And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed." This seems emblematic of the destruction of the
second race of men, or of the end of the second age hidden by the vail.
This race was destroyed by famine, during which the drought was so great
that the sea wasted away, and the rivers dried up, and all things sown
by brooks withered away. The text continues, "And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters: And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part
of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because
they were made bitter." In the great deluge of Noah the fountains of
the deep were broken up, as well as the windows of heaven having been
opened, in consequence of which the bitter waters of the sea overflowed
the land, and covered even the tops of the mountains; therefore, whilst
water flowed on every side of them, the remnants of the doomed of that
dreadful day found not one drop wherewith to quench their raging thirst.
Some died from the overwhelming of the waters, some perished from
hunger, and many perished because the waters were made bitter. These three ages being under the veil, the destruction of each, therefore, is likened unto a third part. Their destruction as thirds was expressed in the figures of the prophet Ezekiel. The text continues, "And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise." This seems to relate to the destruction of the fourth race, or the approach to the end of the present age, which, after the lapse of the third following the smiting of the Shepherd, may take place at any time. If the division of the time from Adam unto the approach of the end, or the beginning of the judgmental era, be considered, then a period equal in value to one of these thirds will be left for the fulfilment of the wonders called for in the latter part of this age. The thirds of the fourth age are typical of the thirds of the whole age of man: that is, as three ages of man are hidden by the vail, so are the thirds of Zechariah hidden under the vail; and as there are in reality four ages of man, so in reality are there four epochs in the fourth age, each equal in value to the third of Zechariah. By the sounding of the four trumpets time has been indicated
from the first creation of man unto the judgmental era, which also was
indicated by the opening of the six seals, and by the vision of the
angel with the golden censer. According to the light given by the opening of the sixth seal, the servants of God were sealed in their foreheads to the number of one hundred and forty-four thousand, which were of the tribes of Israel. It must be remembered that these twelve tribes appertain to the four creations of men whose names are raised up at this time; consequently the inhabiters of the earth to whom the woes apply must be those which have not been sealed in their foreheads by the angel of God, and, therefore, are the great multitude of fallen of other hosts than man.
Chapter xiii.
"And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of
the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten
crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
"And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as
the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the
dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
"And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly
wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
"And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and
they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is
able to make war with him?
"And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and
blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two
months.
"And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his
name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
"And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome
them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and
nations.
"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are
not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of
the world.
"If any man have an ear, let him hear.
"He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth
with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and
the faith of the saints."
What is this beast? From the given characteristics, it is identified
with the four beasts which came up from the sea, as seen by Daniel in a
vision, the first of which was like unto a lion, and the second was like
unto a bear, and the third was like unto a leopard, while the fourth was
diverse from all these. These beasts are emblematic of the evil element
of the four ages, during which the dragon makes war with the remnant of
the woman's seed, or the saints. Daniel in his vision beheld until the
fourth beast was judged, and his body given to the burning flame; but as
for the other three, their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
The beast, therefore, which now arises, is emblematic of the evil
element which continued during the forty-two months called for by the
text, or from the first creation of man until the Messiah came in power
as both God and man, at which time the evil element fled before him, the
strength of the Adversary having been broken during the forty
generations preceding this advent.
Now, although the power of the Adversary is very great, and that in his
war against the saints he caused them to be overcome of evil, it does
not follow that they shall worship him: for the text states that it is
those whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain
from the foundation of the world that shall worship him. Whose names are
written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the
world? Undoubtedly they are those whom he did predestinate and called to
be conformed to the image of the Son: for those whom he did
predestinate, them he also foreknew; and if he foreknew them and called
them according to a purpose, then it becomes clearly evident from the
Divine character that their names must have been written in the book of
life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Moreover,
because they are led captive by evil, it does not follow that their
names shall be blotted out of the book of life: for the text states,
"He
that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth
with the sword must be killed with the sword;" from which the manifest
inference is that the captive shall be set free, and he that leadeth
into captivity shall be the captive. In this lies the faith and hope and
patience of the saints.
The text continues, "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the
earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
"And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and
causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first
beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
"And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from
heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
"And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those
miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to
them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the
beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
"And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the
image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would
not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
° And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and
bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
"And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the
name of the beast, or the number of his name.
"Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the
beast for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six
hundred threescore and six."
This beast is the spirit of antichrist that shall come: it is the false
prophet. Whilst he is against Christ, he sets himself up for Christ,
taking to himself, as it were, the characteristics of a lamb. This is
the great deceiver which shall come to deceive the hosts dwelling upon
the earth in the last days; and the image of the beast which he causes
to be made and set up is the abomination which maketh desolate. Paul, in
his Second Epistle to the Thessalonians, indicates that this shall be
before the coming of Christ, and he cautions those to whom he is sent,
namely, the Gentiles, against the deceiver; therefore the time when this
beast shall appear is prior to the thousand years era.
It does not follow that these beasts are visible to man in the flesh,
but rather that they are spiritual, and visible only to spiritual hosts:
for it must be kept in mind that the fall of man is not the only evil
work accomplished by the Adversary. The great host which he cast into
the earth must be taken into consideration, and who could object to a
highway of escape from bondage being opened unto them? Such a highway is
open unto them through Jesus Christ the Son of God; yet a caution is
necessary to all hosts against such a powerful deceiver as the
antichrist called for by the text, which is Satan, or the devil: for by
the text of St. John he has the power of death over such as shall not
worship the image of the beast; and by the text of St. Paul he possesses
the power of death over those under bondage to him; therefore, owing to
the perfection of his evil device and his great power, he expects to
perpetuate the captivity of the fallen by his powerful personation of
Christ, aided by all lying signs and wonders. When, therefore, he comes
as Christ to personate Christ, the knowledge is given to all hosts that
the Son of man shall make his advent in the clouds of heaven, from which
Satan had been cast out years before, never to return, and hence he
never can manifest himself in this manner. In order to guard against
antichrist, it is absolutely necessary to be governed by the sign of the
Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven.
What is the number of the beast? The text states,
"It is the number of a
man, and his number is Six hundred threescore and six."
What does the number six hundred threescore and six mean? The solution
to this, which has previously been stated, involves the antiquity of
man: for the man called for by the text is the six hundred and
sixty-sixth from the first creation or advent of man.
This man is the one of whom Daniel speaks, and in whose days the
abomination which maketh desolate was set up: a point in history about
three thousand four hundred and fifty-eight years before our Adam, or
before the commencement of the Pisonic era.
The aggregate existence of the human race is set down at a thousand
generations: for in Deut. vii. 9, it is said, "Know therefore that the
Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant
and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a
thousand generations." In this the covenant is to a thousand
generations. Again, in 1 Chron. xvi. 15, it is stated,
"Be ye mindful
always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand
generations." Still again, in the cv. Psalm it is said,
"He hath
remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to
a thousand generations."
The six hundred and sixty-sixth generation would come in the last half
of the Gihonic era, or about the year 22311: which approximates to the
time when the daily sacrifice was taken away and the abomination set up,
as recorded in Daniel.
This great chronological link is determined from the number of the man
called for by the text of this book: the succeeding link is given by
Dan. xii. 2, and is from the time the daily sacrifice is taken away
until the coming of the Messiah in the days of Abraham: a period
approximating five thousand five hundred and twenty-eight years. The
third link is also given by Daniel, in the same chapter and verse, and
embraces a period of five thousand seven hundred and twenty-one years.
The sum of these links will aggregate thirty-three thousand five hundred
and sixty years, while by the thousand generations it is fixed at
thirty-three thousand five hundred years.
The year in which the daily sacrifice was taken away has been approached
by two entirely distinct calculations: one of which is from the first
creation of man by the number of the man called for in the text, or the
number of the beast, and the other is by the records of Daniel. This
prophet adds still another link in the historical chain of the antiquity
of man, and, although given before, a recapitulation is not considered
out of place. It is said in Dan. ix. 26, "And the people of the prince
that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end
thereof shall be
with a flood."
And in viii. 13, 14, it is
stated,
"How long shall be the vision concerning the daily
sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the
sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
"And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then
shall the sanctuary be cleansed."
These two quotations undoubtedly belong together as referring to the
same people, the people of the prince that shall come. This prince is
the man whose number has been given as six hundred threescore and six;
and, according to the prophet, the end of this people shall be with a
flood; which was fulfilled in the deluge of Noah.
The length of their existence is given at two thousand and three hundred
days, which, by the unit of value of the book of Daniel, would give nine
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven years. This period embraces the
time from the destruction of the Hiddekelic race until the destruction
of the Gihons in the great deluge of Noah, and not the time from the
creation of the first Gihon unto Adam.
Another approximation is given wherewith to establish the antiquity of
man upon the earth, which is based upon Rev. ix. 14, 15, which reads as
follows:
"Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels
which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
"And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men."
The
river Euphrates is typical of the first age of man, and the four angels
are typical or pertain to the four ages. These are intimately bound
together, and the time during which they are bound is typical of the
existence of man, or rather, from the first creation of man until the
destruction of the third part of man in the judgmental era. From the
fact that even an hour is mentioned in the given time, it seems more
than probable that it is of much importance, and, therefore, a value
must be given to it as a key to the value of the whole. This has been
set at three and one-half years, which represents the length of the
ministerial epoch in the Saviour's life. Now, by reducing the time
during which the angels were bound in the river Euphrates to hours, and
multiplying by the value given to an hour, a period of thirty-two
thousand eight hundred and forty-seven years is obtained, which
represents the great link from the creation of man unto the destruction
of the third part of men during the judgmental era. To this must be
added the thousand years era, and the short era of Destructions which
follow, in order to approximate the total limits of time, which would
amount to thirty-four thousand and seven years.
Four independent calculations are thus given to show the duration of
time and the antiquity of man, which are tabulated as follows:
First. By the thousand generations: 33,500 years. Second. By the three great links: 33,560 years. Third. By the number of the children of Israel: 33,752 years. Fourth. By the angels bound in the river Euphrates: 34,007 years.
It is remarkable that all these calculations are based in value upon the
times of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: for the week of Daniel is
the period extending from the birth of the Saviour until he entered upon
his ministry, which was about thirty years. The value of the hour has
already been stated as the time the Saviour was engaged in his ministry,
a period of about three and one-half years. The value of a generation is
that embraced from the birth of the Saviour until his crucifixion, a
period of about thirty three and one-half years. The cutting off of the
Messiah made a dividing of time whereby a value is given to the number
of the children of Israel as regards years, whilst by the Messiah the
three great links are obtained. The value of the hour, as above given,
shows how small a part, as regards time, the ministry occupied in the
labors involved in the overthrow of evil and the redemption of man. If,
however, the ministry had been fifteen days less than the three and
one-half years, then the value of the total time would have been
thirty-three thousand six hundred and seventeen years, instead of the
thirty-four thousand and seven years. These four methods for computing
time are very close in their results, and it must be considered that
nothing has been vouchsafed for more than an approximation to the end.
By many types and figures it was shown that Jesus Christ should come at
or about the time he did come, and all the above calculations go to show
that Jesus Christ truly was the promised one, the one to whom the
heritage was promised.
Those whom he came to redeem are identified with the times, and he knows
them all; they all are connected with his labors. These labors are hard
of utterance, but they shall be sung, as it were, a new song by the
hundred and forty and four thousand virgins, in whose mouth was found no
guile and no man can learn this song but these virgins, which were
redeemed from among men, being the first-fruits unto God and to the
Lamb.
The identity of the beast with the evil element, manifested by the book
of Daniel, seems clear enough, more especially since the Grecian empire,
historically, is a matter of the past. If the vision of Daniel had no
further reference than to events of that period, then that whole
prophecy is now altogether of the past, and to all intents and purposes
becomes simple history of our era. But the many types and figures given
by Daniel force a different conclusion, and shed the light that the
Grecian empire is a type of the third age of man, and also that the
abomination which maketh desolate was really set up some time during the
second division of that epoch.
It now follows that, as the power of the Adversary was manifested in that age, whereby many were deceived, so shall it be in the latter part of this age, that many shall be deceived when the same abomination is set up. After this time it shall be set up no more: for the decree has been made clear that the desolations of Jerusalem shall not be continued beyond the present age, the whole strength of the Scriptures being positive on this point. Long-suffering is not weakness, but it is established that mercy may be free to all who seek for it. The destruction of the three previous creations is no evidence of weakness, but it is evidence of long-suffering. The time has nearly arrived when those who will not believe the truth shall believe a lie; their delusion shall be strong, and the measure of their iniquity shall be full. Those who are wise will count the number of the beast; then they will see that his power is the power of the Adversary: for by the number they will be brought to the man in whose days the abomination which maketh desolate was set up. If they shut their eyes to that, they will be doubly deceived: for the evidence was given that for its sins and wickedness the Gihonic race was swept away, by which the power of the Most High was made manifest to all hosts. Chapter xvii. "And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: "With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. "So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. "And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: "And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth. "And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
"And the
angel said unto me, Wherefore dost thou marvel? I will tell thee the
mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the
seven heads and ten horns. "The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. "And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth; "And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. "And the beast that was, and is
not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into
perdition." Babylon the great is the city of confusion wherein dwelleth all evil and unrighteousness. It is represented in the text by a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast having seven heads and ten horns. The seven heads or mountains upon which the woman sits are the seven subdivisions of the times during which the Adversary seeks the perpetual establishment of his kingdom. The seven kings are the evil elements of
these seven epochs, and when John was carried in the spirit into the
wilderness by the angel, it was to the sixth epoch, or to the time when
the abomination which maketh desolate was set up: for the text states of
the kings,
"five are fallen, and one is, and the other is
not yet come:" therefore the stand-point must be in the sixth
epoch. This evidently points to a relation between the beast that shall
ascend out of the bottomless pit and the abomination which was set up
during the second epoch of the Gihonic era, which is further confirmed
by the text where it says, "And the beast that was, and is not, even he
is the eighth, and is of the seven."
Thus the eight grand subdivisions of the times are clearly
indicated by the evil elements; and they, the times, contain the great
city Babylon as well as the great city Jerusalem: they have their evil
elements as well as their good elements. In Babylon is centred all the
evil, but it shall be destroyed; whilst Jerusalem shall be rebuilt. In
Babylon was found the blood of the prophets, and of the saints, and of
all that were slain upon the earth; her destruction shall be complete:
in one hour shall she be made desolate. Chapter xx. "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. "And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, "And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." This is the great "thousand years" era, when all the redeemed shall reign with Christ on the earth. This epoch succeeds the judgmental era, and is a portion of time. During this time the ties which were sundered by the powers of evil will be reunited, and harmony and rejoicing shall prevail. This exhibition of peace and power will in all probability be witnessed by the remaining hosts of the fallen, and those which shall still cling to the standard of the Adversary shall surely be destroyed. After enumerating those who shall reign with Christ during the thousand years, the text continues, "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, "And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. "And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. "And the devil that deceived them was cast into a lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." From this it will be seen that after the lapse of the thousand years Satan is loosed from his prison, and immediately sets about the recovery of his army, which has been forgotten for so long a time. This is the epoch spoken of by the prophet Isaiah (xxiii. 15, 16): "And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot. "Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten: make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered." Those who now return are those whose lives were prolonged for a season
and time. All through the thousand years, pain, suffering, and evil had
not the slightest foothold; it was utterly abolished among the
participants of that wondrous reign. Now, if those witnessing all this
should fall away again, there is no possibility left whereby they can be
saved from destruction. Satan has been bound during this time that they
should not be deceived by him, and now that he is loosed again they must
decide for themselves which is God, even as Elijah spake on Mount
Carmel, "If the Lord be God, follow him; but
if Baal, then follow him." Satan, however, succeeded in
deceiving the great host, and they sought to his standard, but were
overwhelmed in the baptism of fire which came down from God out of
heaven. This is the baptism wherewith all shall be baptized; but those
who have lived and reigned with Christ the thousand years, on them the
fire has no effect: it is only the chaff which is burned with the
unquenchable fire. All things must pass through this fire that all
things which are impure may be destroyed forever. This is the baptism of
which John spoke when he said, "I indeed
baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is
mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize
you with the Holy Ghost, and ivith fire: whose fan is in his hand, and
he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into his
garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
This baptism takes place in the era of Destruction. "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. "And whosoever was not found
written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
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