The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

ecause of the fall and destruction of the great mother of harlots, the ruling authority or
ecclesiastical hierarchy, located at Rome. There is also implied in the words that those who
are symbolized by the loud voice had come to understand that this destruction was a just
judgment proceeding from the hand of God.
The "heaven" from which this loud voice proceeds is understood by Messrs. Barnes, Lord,
and most others, to be the heaven of God's presence, the abode of angels. The great
rejoicing over the fall of the false religious hierarchy is understood by most of these as
proceeding from angels and others of the heavenly host. There can be no question
concerning the fact that heavenly angels and others of the heavenly host are observing
with intense and unabated interest the things that have been occurring on earth in
connection with the eventful history of Christ's true followers. There can be no question
that the cruel persecutions and sufferings that have come to Christ's followers at the hands
of the mother of harlots have been amongst those vital causes that have aroused the
indignation and sympathy of the heavenly hosts. And when the hour of her destruction
arrives, without doubt there will be great rejoicing in heaven over her fall.
However, by a further and more careful examination of this vision we believe the
conclusion is justified that the heaven of the scene is the symbolic heaven and will have its
fulfillment here on earth. Accordingly, the loud voice of rejoicing would represent peoples
in the ecclesiastical heavens who will see in the downfall of the Papal hierarchy a
judgment of God, and who are moved to rejoice in the great deliverances wrought thereby.
This is the interpretation Mr. Elliott gives to this vision and he indicates it as synchronous
with the Jewish restoration:
"I infer that the Jews will probably just at, or after this catastrophe [the fall of Papacy], be
converted, . . . join, and indeed take the lead, in the earthly Church's song of praise on this
occasion. The language used to designate this song in the Apocalyptic prefigurations being
now for the first time Hebrew, 'Hallelujah,' a circumstance certainly very remarkable and
noted by many previous commentators as having the meaning I suggest: not to add that its probability is enhanced
as I think by the fact that the Jews themselves--at least some of the most learned of their
Rabbis, have supposed that the restoration of their people is to follow on the fall of Rome."
If we may infer that Mr. Elliott means the complete restoration of the Jews, we can agree
with him. We have given his interpretation simply as confirmatory of and as elucidating
the thought that the rejoicing referred to in the vision, takes place here on earth, rather
than in the heaven of God's presence.
Mr. Russell, in a general way describing the final doom of Babylon the Great, comments
on the words of the Scripture under consideration:
"Only then [that is, on the occasion of Babylon's fall] will the people realize their
wonderful deliverance, and that her overthrow was by the hand of God.--Rev. 19:1,2."