Second advent library

i2 Llcruu xv.atigmeofthekingsoftheearth. Thebeastisusedtlrepresent Papacy; The false prophet evidently reprosents Mahometa.nism,_ These have all tl1e spirit ofdevils. The devil pretends to claim over all thekingdoms gpower ofthe world, (seeRev. xii. called thedevil. Papacy gthere is said, in Rev. xiii. to receive itsppwer from the dragon, and to come out of the bottomsspit, and shall go into perdition; of course, must belongto Satan's kingdom. The false prophet, too, is tobe "cast alive into a lake of tire burning with brimstone."All these powers have pretended to work mira,-cles, to establish their authorityover the bodies andsouls of men. But what are the which eachof these teach their political followers. principles The dragonand his political party, in whatever nation they mayappear, (as all three of these political principles mustpervade the whole earth,) will support tyranny, slavery,and aggrandizement ofthe few at the expense of many.The beast and his political party will be known only bytheirhypocrisfgbigotry, and superstition. Their prmcxpalobject wil be to operate on the hopes and fears ofmen, and so 'n anascendencyover the minds of theindividuals wg; maiybe so unfortunsne as to be found intheir ranks. The also prophet will fill his dparty withnotions of infidelity, lust, and conquest. An thespiritof all these parties,working at one and the same time,in all nations, and among l people, will produce an et#fect which only can be known to mortals in experiencing"the conilict. Behold, l come as a thieil Blessed is hethat watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walknaked, and theysee his shame." This verse ives usnotice of the nearapproach of him who hath all powerin heaven and earth. "For when they say, Peace andsafety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, andthey shall not But ye, brethren, are not indar ness, that that escape. ay shall overtake youas a thiefl"Watch, therefore, for if ye have puton the Lord JesusChrist, keep your garment, and let none take yourcrown, that you may be found of him without spot andblameless. "And he gathered them together into aplace called, in the Hebrew tongue, Armageddon ;" that