The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

How long shall we be permitted to enjoy these blessed privileges? Will the great anti-
Christian system ever again, in God's providence, be permitted to lift its head in pride and
arrogance? Will it ever again be permitted to gain and exercise the power it once possessed
to make war on God's saints? We will not attempt to speculate concerning these matters,
but will watch closely the rapid unfolding of history as it fulfills other visions of the
Revelation, concerning the closing events of the Divine Drama of the Ages. These visions
picture the utter destruction of this system, as also other systems that partake of its spirit
and unite with it, as prophecies seem to intimate they will, in taking away the liberties of
the sons of God. The consideration of these matters will come in connection with the study
of visions found farther on in this grand book of symbols--visions designed for the comfort
and encouragement of God's saints in times of trial.
The great earthquake
We will now consider another effect produced by the great Reformation, on Papacy, and
the nation that for a thousand years was its most devoted servant in carrying out its
persecuting decrees against God's witnesses. These matters are brought to view in the
symbols contained in the next verse:
"And the same hour was there a great earthquake and the tenth part of the city fell, and in
the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand."--Verse 13.
The expression, "in that hour," would in harmony with the interpretation foregoing, refer
to the closing of the twelve hundred and sixty years of Papal domination over the saints. It
was immediately after this time that the saints of God came under very favorable
conditions to study and understand God's Word--His truth concerning Christ's Kingdom,
and were thus prepared to proclaim a last world-wide testimony.
We would, therefore, look for the fulfillment of the events symbolized by the great
earthquake, and the fall of a tenth part of the city just before the opening of the nineteenth
century. An earthquake, as we have seen in previous expositions, is designed to represent
a revolution. While the general effects of the Reformation caused many revolutionary
disturbances amongst earth's nations, the one referred to in this vision must have reference
to a particular, a very special one, occurring at this particular time--just before the opening
of the nineteenth century. It must refer to one that would not only weaken, but end
Papacy's power to persecute and "wear out the saints of the Most High." This great
symbolical earthquake can refer to no other event than that of the great French Revolution
and Reign of Terror. This event is by all historians said to be the most terrible of its kind
that had ever occurred in human history. The time this event occurred, as we have already
seen, marked the beginning of a new era, not only for the Lord's people, but for all
mankind as well. It was also the most severe blow to Papacy's power and influence that
had ever been given since the great Reformation began. The "great earthquake" is applied
by many expositors to this notable event of human history. We quote Mr. Russell's
reference to the event as fulfilling this part of the vision: