The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

had become matters of history. Mr. Lord's interpretation of this symbolic hail storm is
certainly instructive:
"A hail storm is a symbol of sudden, and resistless strokes, by which in a violent political
revolution, men are smitten down from dignity, independence, and happiness, to
helplessness, vassalage and ruin; as such a storm strips the leaves and fruits from the trees,
and dashes down the crops of grass and grain. Such a devastating tempest is to beat down
the men who belong to the train of Antichrist, and they are to blaspheme God because of
their calamities. The revolutions and contests, indicated by these symbols, are doubtless to
follow the Advent of the Son of God to raise the saints from death. . . . and to occupy a
considerable period."
Mr. Barnes' comment, as will be seen, does not attempt to explain the significance of the
hail, although recognizing that the language is symbolical. His words are in connection
with a summary of all the plagues, and read as follows:
"This finishes the summary statement of the final destruction of this formidable anti-
Christian power. The details and the consequences of that overthrow are more fully stated
in the subsequent chapters [17, 18, and 19]. The fulfillment of what is here stated will be
found, according to the method of interpretation proposed, in the ultimate overthrow of
the Papacy. The process described in this chapter is that of successive calamities that
would weaken it, and prepare it for its fall; then a rallying of its dying strength; and then
some tremendous judgment that is compared with a storm of hail, accompanied with
lightning, and thunder, and an earthquake, that would completely overthrow all that was
connected with it, and that sustained it. We are not indeed to suppose that this will
literally occur; but the fair interpretation of prophecy leads us to suppose that that
formidable power will, at no very distant period, be overthrown in a manner that would
be well represented by such a fearful storm."
It will be noted that Mr. Barnes makes the plagues to come upon Papacy alone and fails to
see the fall of Protestantism, and the judgments that are to come upon that system, as well
as upon the so-called Christian nations in general. Mr. Lord makes their application more
general, and world-wide.
The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies
We regard the following as a most reasonable interpretation of this great symbolical hail
storm:
"Hail is solidified water. If water or rain, causing fruitfulness and refreshing to earth, be a
symbol of truth, refreshing and causing gracious fruits in humanity, then hail must signify
truth delivered in such a way as to be dangerously destructive to things with which it
comes in conflict. These will be heavy--a talent each--about the weight of a man--sufficient
to break down everything before it. This recalls the symbolic use of this same word by
Isaiah, 'And the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies and the waters [truth] shall
overflow the hiding place.' (Isa. 28:17.) Untruth--error--falsity, is the bane of the world, and