The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

ishop or elder (which in the Scriptures are synonymous titles) of each of these assemblies.
All were elected by the assemblies, and served as elders or bishops of the congregations
that elected them. Before the second century closed, disagreement and strife arose
concerning the settlement of disputes, either of doctrine or church government. Councils
were held, at which certain persons were appointed who were given jurisdiction over a
certain number of churches, to whom everything of this kind was referred. These decisions
were final. These persons to whom were given the name diocesan bishops after a little
time used their offices as a means of carrying out their own selfish purposes, claiming of
course that these were of God. It was the beginning of what finally in the early part of the
sixth century (539 AD) culminated in the usurpation of power by the Bishop of Rome as
head of all the churches over the world. This began about the middle of the second century
and by the powers assumed and exercised by these so-called bishops, discord, strife, and
divisions (instead of peace, concord, and unity) were introduced into the Church. We
quote the historian:
"In this (second) century the polity of the Church was quietly organized. There was an
organized fellowship among the members; bishops had become influential; not in society
but among the Christians; dioceses and parishes were established; there was a distinction
between city and rural bishops; delegates of churches assembled to discuss points of faith
or suppress nascent heresies; the diocesan system was developed, and ecclesiastical
centralization commenced; deacons began to be reckoned among the higher clergy; the
weapons of excommunication were forged; missionary efforts were carried on; the
festivals of the Church were created."
The color of the horse, red, denotes that the pure doctrines symbolized by the white horse,
had become defiled; false, impure doctrines were substituted and thus peace--that spirit of
faithful and harmonious cooperation--was taken away and a state of strife and contention,
envy and jealousy among God's professed people obtained. Thus would be required on
the part of Christ's true followers, the development and exercise of the Divine qualities of
firmness, strength, stability, and patient endurance, symbolized by the second living one
like an ox.
The third seal opened
"And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third living one saying, 'Come,' and I saw,
and behold! a black horse, and he who sat on him having a balance in his hand. And I
heard a voice in the midst of the four living ones saying, 'A chenix of wheat for a denarius,
and three chenices of barley for a denarius; and the oil and the wine thou must not
injure.'"--Rev. 6:5,6.
This symbol is that of a civil ruler exercising the authority of a judge as shown by the
balance (scales) in his hand; also by the mention of the wheat, barley, oil, and wine, the
thought being that he exercised power over these articles. It describes a class of Roman
emperors who instituted a series of unjust and excessive taxations, thereby causing
poverty and famine among their subjects. A chenix was a little over a quart; a denarius