The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

means of European Colonies has been firmly established from Canada to Chile, in a world
unknown to the ancients."
While we recognize the fact that this rapid spread of Christianity ultimately led to a
decline in spirituality and developed into a world-wide formal profession, yet wherever it
has gone, a few comparatively of the true followers of Christ have been found. In this
manner has God's purpose been accomplished in the gathering, the developing, the testing
of the elect class. It must also be remembered that Christianity has exerted a powerful
influence for good in holding up a standard of righteousness to the nations--an influence
more or less enlightening them. In this wide-spread proclamation of the essential truths of
Christianity, there was displayed on the part of Christ's followers a recognition of the
Divine kingly power symbolized by the first living one like a lion. Their trust in this
Divine power gave them courage to go forth and conquer. Thus was the administration of
the Divine government made manifest.
The second seal opened
"And when He opened the second seal, I heard the second living one saying, 'Come.' And
there came out another, a red horse; and to the one sitting on him was it given to take
peace from the earth, and that they should kill each other; and there was given to him a
great sword."--Rev. 6:3,4.
In examining this symbolic horseman, we discover from the great sword that was given
him, that he, like the first, was a warrior; the only difference in this respect being that the
great sword is suggestive of greater destructiveness than the bow. Like the first horseman
he was an aggressive warrior. The result of this second warfare was that peace was taken
from the earth. The significance of this is that he makes use of his "great sword" in the
endeavor to overthrow the empire he ought to uphold, and thereby destroys the peace he
should be striving to promote. This warrior is a usurper, and has turned his hand against
his own government. Unlike the first warrior, his conquests were made for selfish ends,
and he was not crowned. Civil war is here described.
This symbol, like the other, is drawn from military and political life in the Roman Empire.
Familiarity with the history of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire will enable us to
call to mind the long line of conspirators and usurpers that rapidly followed each other
from the reign of Commodus, 183 AD to Diocletian, 284 AD. These conspirators and their
conspiracies made the lives of the rulers insecure, and frequently resulted in strife, bloodshed,
and disaster among the people. Of all conflicts among men, civil war is one of the
most terrible and cruel in its effects.
Here then we have the symbol; where shall we look for its fulfillment? This also is found
in the religious world. The agents symbolized by this horseman are false teachers who
usurp the power of Christ. It is what the Savior called, "Nicolaitanism," which early began
to be established in the Church. It refers to the creation of the office of diocesan bishops,
which came about in this way: It was the custom of the Lord's consecrated in each city to
meet together for convenience in different assemblies. Necessarily, there would be a