1917_The_Finished_Mystery_Text

And unto them was given power.— To attendan old-time Methodist meeting and witness the"getting the power" was to see the sight of a lifetime.As the scorpions of the earth have power.—"A well-known injurious insect of hot climates,which is shaped very much like a lobster. Theyare carnivorous in their habits, and move alongin a threatening attitude with the tail elevated.The sting, which is situated at the extremity ofthe tall, has at its base a gland that secretes apoisonous fluid, which is discharged into thewound by two minute orifices at its extremity.The scorpion makes a painful wound in men andbeasts which produces fatal results unless speedyremedies be provided such as scarifying thewound or sucking out the poison."— McC.Revelation 9:4And it was commanded them that they shouldnot hurt the grass of the earth.— Men ofindependent thought — Rev. 8:7.[Neither any green thing.] Neither any tree.—Saint.— Rev. 8:7.But [only] those men.— The unconverted.Which have not the seal of God in theirforeheads.— Methodists understand that to beconverted from being a sinner means to have theseal of God in one's forehead. All the energies ofthe Church are devoted to gathering in goats tothe sheepfold.Revelation 9:5And to them it was given that they should notkill them.— No such sane and merciful sentenceas "The wages of sin is death" has any place inMethodist theology. Wesley was born at a timewhen the original meaning of the word "Hell"had become hidden, and was saturated with thelater teachings that it signifies a place of torment.He threw his whole heart into the work ofspreading this error throughout the earth.But that they should be tormented fivemonths.— In symbolic time, 150 years. (Rev.2:21). Wesley became the first Methodist in