The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

also be illustrated by the vision of Micaiah, in which it appeared that a lying spirit had
gone forth, and that it had spoken by the false prophets of king Ahab, to draw him to the
battle of Ramoth Gilead. (1 Kings 22.) Mr. Barnes refers to these unclean spirits thus:
"They are not here probably symbols of persons, but of influences or opinions which would
spread abroad, and which would characterize the age (period) referred to. The reference is
to what the 'dragon,' the 'beast,' and the 'false prophet' would do at that time in opposing
the truth, and in preparing the world for the great and final conflict."
As this part of the vision is largely future in its fulfillment, it will be necessary to wait the
unfolding of history to determine with certainty what this teaching will be. That which
seems most reasonable, and in full harmony with other Scriptures which describe the
manner in which the Age will end, is thus given by Mr. Russell:
"These three classes will all give forth one kind of teaching, called symbolically unclean
spirits (impure, erroneous teaching), like frogs.
"This harmonious teaching in which these can all unite, we believe to be the dogmas of 'the
divine right of kings,' the 'authority of the clergy,' and the claim that mankind is bound to
submit to these and be controlled by them. Many of these--kings and clergy--and many of
those who will recognize their claims, will doubtless be honest, but will be thus in
opposition to God, because they know not that they are in the hour of His judgment and
that the time for the displacement of these Antichrists and the governments of their
appointing has come. It is a blessed fact that these beastly governments will eventually
give place to the Kingdom of God; that the times of the Gentiles will end by being fullfilled;
and while this is now due to be understood and appreciated by the saints--those
entirely consecrated to God's Word and will--yet 'none of the wicked shall understand';
hence they will be found fighting against God and His arrangements.
"Each of these systems will utter the same things, and these utterances will have the effect
of gathering the kingdoms of earth together to the great Battle of Armageddon.
"The symbolism of Scripture, rightly understood, is very forceful, and there is always a
close resemblance between the symbol itself and the thing symbolized. When the Holy
Spirit uses a frog to represent certain doctrines or teachings, we may be sure that the
application will fit well. While a frog is a small creature, yet it puffs itself up until it almost
bursts with the effort to be somebody. A frog has a very wise look, even though it does not
know very much. Then a frog croaks whenever it utters a sound. . . .
"The three most prominent characteristics of a frog, then, are pomposity, an air of superior
wisdom and knowledge and a continual croaking. The spirit of all [the dragon, the beast,
and the false prophet] will be boastful; an air of superior knowledge and wisdom will be
assumed; all will foretell dire results to follow--any failure to obey their counsels.
However conflicting the creeds, the differences will be ignored in the general proposition
that nothing ancient must be disturbed, or investigated, or repudiated.