THERE are two classes of symbols used in the book of Revelation which are clearly distinct from, and stand in direct opposition to, each other. The one class are wild beasts of earth, the other, angels of heaven. The beasts, all will agree, symbolize wicked powers of earth; and under these symbols the sayings and doings of the opposers of God, his people and his truth, are clearly marked out in prophecy. These beasts are represented as speaking blasphemies. They all speak like the old serpent called the Devil and Satan—the father of lies—consequently they speak lies, and not the truth. But the other class of symbols, the angels, we understand to symbolize the special sayings and doings of the people of God; therefore we regard all their proclamations as the truth. To this, some object. Say they, The angels symbolize proclamations to be made to the inhabitants of earth, by a portion of the church, but the messages are not the truth. A Timeist with whom I lately conversed, in speaking of the angel of Chap. x, who lifted up his hand to heaven, and swore by him that liveth for ever and ever, that there should be time no longer, said, "That angel swore to a lie as sure as you live."
If this part of the angel's testimony be false, who can believe that he told the truth when he added, "But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished?" The truth of this declaration I never heard called in question. And if the prophecying again, spoken of in the conclusion of the chapter, is to be another message on definite time, who can say that the second prophecying will not be false also? None can place implicit confidence in a witness who has been convicted of perjury. But it would seem that our time friends are determined to make the angel swear again to the same thing; that is, that time should be no longer; and they would have us believe, without a doubt, that now he tells the truth!
But if we have good evidence that the little book in the angel's hand was open, I shall believe his testimony, whoever may dispute it. For this we do not depend upon the witness accused by our friend of false-swearing; but John says, He had in his hand a little book open. So there is no room to say that the angel guessed that the little book was open, but guessed wrong, and therefore swore falsely. The book on which the time message was founded was open when the angel testified that the prophetic periods were ended, and that the seventh angel was about to sound. Then his testimony is true, and when he prophesies again he will prophesy something else besides definite time.
But there has been a class who, from year to year, have been trying to make that angel swear again, and to swear in such a way as to impeach his former testimony. But he will not do it. When he delivered his testimony the inhabitants of earth trembled at his presence. Nothing like it has since occurred, though men have done their best to call him back, again and again, to mend his testimony by contradicting what he had already said. The time message is in the past; it has been fulfilled once for all. The truth is, another message is to be given after the true time message, and therefore probationary time does not close with this. Another message, a prophecying again, must follow the termination of those periods at the close of which it is said that time shall be no longer. This message is that of the third angel of Chap. xiv. Since the termination of the 2300 days in 1844 the third angel's voice has been heard, and it is waxing louder and louder, and will terminate only with probationary time. And now we are bid to watch, because we do not know the time of our Lord's coming. We hope to be found so doing; having our loins girt about with truth (all the commandments, Ps. cxix, 151) and our lights burning. (The faith of Jesus in lively exercise.) If we are found in this position, we shall have right to the tree of life. R. F. C.