The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

appeals were to mankind at large. They endeavored to move them through fear of awful
judgments--even that the end of the world was nigh--to become Christ's followers. Their
interpretations of the character of the great Day of Judgment were very far from the truth,
as many Bible students recognize.
However, as those important events symbolized by the trumpets were gradually unfolded
in history, the Lord's consecrated ones began in a measure to understand their
significance. The Reformers of the sixteenth century understood some of these visions of
the Revelation quite clearly; and now, having reached a time when nearly their whole
history has been spread out before us, we are enabled to see the fulfillment of nearly all of
them very clearly.
In beginning the exposition of what we believe is the fulfillment of the fifth trumpet
symbols we will consider first what the symbols themselves signify, seem to point to, or
require. Hence we make the following observations:
1. In a general way the chief symbol portrays the rise or beginning of a false religion; and
as Papacy's rise has already been described in the symbols of the third and fourth
trumpets, this false religion is evidently an entirely new one. This is seen in that it
originates from a "star" that St. John saw as having fallen from heaven to the earth. A
"fallen star" as already pointed out generally represents a false teacher.
2. That it is a false religion instigated by this "fallen star" (teacher) is also evident in that
smoke is represented in symbol as proceeding from the "pit of the abyss," which is opened
by the "fallen star" (teacher). The term "abyss" is found in several places in the Scriptures.
It occurs four times in the Revelation and once in the Gospel of Luke. (8:31. See Diaglott.)
In Rev. 11:7 and 17:8 it is stated that the symbolic "beast" comes from the "abyss." The
"beast" referred to in these two Scriptures is evidently the Papacy. In Rev. 20:1,3, where the
word is translated "bottomless pit," Satan is represented as being cast into the "abyss," and
placed under restraint for a thousand years. While we may not apprehend all that is
implied in the words abyss and pit, a careful comparison of these Scriptures and their
contexts we believe reveals that these terms, as symbols, are intended to describe a general
state or condition rather than some particular place or locality, and would seem to signify
complete restraint in a debased, degraded, depraved, and darkened condition of mind-restrained
in a state of total spiritual darkness and uncertainty. Being without bottom
would speak of the fact that those in this state have no basis of hope, nothing substantial in
the way of a sure footing or foundation on which to rest their souls--a state of hopelessness
and complete obscurity. This is somewhat the condition of fallen angels or spirits who are
said by St. Peter to be cast down to Tartarus (mistranslated hell, 2 Pet. 2:4), which is
generally understood to be the region round about the earth, to which St. Paul also makes
reference: "Because our conflict is not with blood and flesh, but with the governments,
with the authorities, with the potentates of this darkness, with the spiritual things of
wickedness in the heavenlies."--Eph. 6:12.