THE SEVEN CHURCHES, SEVEN SEALS, AND FOUR BEASTS.
By James White
“The book of Revelation,” says Wm. Miller, “has been called by thousands a sealed book; and many a dear saint, while in this imperfect state of vision and knowledge, has wept much, because they could not read and understand the book. For it is very evident that the book of Revelation is not only interesting in its symbolical and mystical descriptions, natural scenery, and figurative language, but it is rich in truth, and the communication of events then hid under the veil of futurity, and would only be unfolded to the natural visions of men, many ages to come. John has written this book after the laws of nature; that is, he has seemed to copy after some of the richest and most picturesque scenes in nature’s laws. He has, in revealing truths to our minds, followed the same steady course that fountains of water do in their course to the sea. He begins as it were back upon the mountains, where the head may be but a fountain, and there gives us a description of the source. He then glides gently along through the vale below, winding between hills and mountains, visiting in his course the hamlets of the peasant, the villages of men, the populous towns and cities of commerce, until he lands us or leaves us in the ocean of eternity. At first, he appears to be describing some bubbling fountain or gentle spring, and swelling in importance as he proceeds, brings in and adds every important stream of events, deepens and widens in his course, until he makes his prophetic history like a deep-flowing river, bearing upon its bosom the gallant ships and galley with oars. At first, he describes a pebbly brook murmuring along the hills, now and then bursting into view with some gentle fall, then gliding softly away, until it meets some rugged head-land, shifts its course, and almost seems to retrace its path; then, suddenly, bursting from the hills in cataracts of foam, bounding from rock to rock, leaping into the vale below, he again seems to follow the alluvial flats and receives his tributary streams, winds on his way, until it falls at its mouth by a tremendous leap into a gulf of waters, and is swallowed up in the waves of the sea.”—Miller’s Lectures. Three times, at least, the Revelator brings us down in this manner, as though he had begun on one mountain, and had traced three different streams of history down to the great ocean of eternity. The seven churches of Asia present a history of the church of Christ in her seven forms, in all her prosperity and adversity, from the days of the apostles, down to the end. The seven seals are a history of the transactions of the powers and kings of the earth over the church and God’s protection of his people during the same time. There are other prophecies of this kind in the book of Revelation, which do not cover the entire ground of the Christian age, but are equally important with those mentioned; such as the seven-headed, and two-horned beasts of chap. xiii, and the angels of chap. xiv. How wonderfully strange, that professed ministers of Jesus Christ should call the book of Revelation a mystery, when the Revelator has in the prophecy of this book spanned the whole length of the Christian age with many prophetic descriptions not only pertaining to earthly governments, but delineating the character and condition of the true church in her changes of prosperity and adversity. Line upon line, line upon line is thus given to point out to the Christian traveler his whereabouts on the highway of time. We will now follow down two of these prophetic streams for near 1800 years, and compare them with the four beasts of chap. iv. They cover four distinct periods, and reach to within less than a century of the present time. They are the first four churches of Rev. ii, and the first four seals of chap. vi. First Church. “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks: I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil; and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles and are not; and hast found them liars; and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and hast not fainted.” Rev. ii, 1–3. This was true of the witnesses of Jesus Christ in the days of the apostles. This church was noted for its works, and labor, and patience. One of its praiseworthy traits was faithfulness. It tried false apostles, and found them liars. That church viewed sin in all its sinfulness, and could not bear them that were evil. Christ could dwell with such a church, and manifest his power in their midst, and go forth with them to battle with principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness. First Seal. “And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.” Chap. vi, 1, 2. The personage riding forth, conquering and to conquer, upon the white horse, represents the Lord Jesus Christ leading on the apostolic church, as they went forth in the power of the gospel, and gained great victories by the power of the Holy Ghost. See Acts of the Apostles. First Beast. “And the first beast was like unto a lion.” Chap. v, 7. It is said at the opening of the first seal, that one of the four beasts said, “Come and see.” This beast evidently represents the church in the same period as the first seal, and the first church. This beast was like a lion, bold and strong, fitly representing the apostolic church. Second Church. “And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive: I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, but thou art rich; and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried, and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Rev. ii, 8–10. This testimony describes scenes of persecution, tribulation, poverty and peril to the followers of Jesus Christ; yet the church in this period was rich in faith, and good works. This state covered most of the period called by some historians, the ten persecutions, which closed about A. D. 313. Charles Buck, in his Theological Dictionary, pp. 332, 333, speaking of this period of dreadful persecution, says: “Historians usually reckon ten general persecutions, the first of which was under the emperor Nero, thirty-one years after our Lord’s ascension, when that emperor, having set fire to the city of Rome, threw the odium of that execrable action on the Christians. First, Those were apprehended who openly avowed themselves to be of that sect; then by them were discovered an immense multitude, all of whom were convicted. Their death and tortures were aggravated by cruel derision and sport; for they were either covered with the skins of wild beasts and torn in pieces by devouring dogs, or fastened to crosses, and wrapped up in combustible garments, that, when the day- light failed, they might, like torches, serve to dispel the darkness of the night. For this tragical spectacle Nero lent his own gardens; and exhibited at the same time the public diversions of the circus; sometimes driving a chariot in person, and sometimes standing as a spectator, while the shrieks of women burning to ashes supplied music for his ears. 2. The second general persecution was under Domitian, in the year 95, when 40,000 were supposed to have suffered martyrdom. 3. The third began in the third year of Trajan, in the year 100, and was carried on with great violence for several years. 4. The fourth was under Antoninus, when the Christians were banished from their houses, forbidden to show their heads, reproached, beaten, hurried from place to place, plundered, imprisoned, and stoned. 5. The fifth began in the year 127, under Severus, when great cruelties were committed. In this reign happened the martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas, and their companions. Perpetua had an infant at the breast, and Felicitas was just delivered, at the time of their being put to death. These two beautiful and amiable young women, mothers of infant children, after suffering much in prison, were exposed, before an insulting multitude, to a wild cow, who mangled their bodies in a most horrid manner; after which they were carried to a conspicuous place, and put to death by the sword. 6. The sixth began with the reign of Maximinus, in 235. 7. The seventh, which was the most dreadful ever known, began in 250, under the emperor Decius, when the Christians were in all places driven from their habitations, stripped of their estates, tormented with racks, &c. 8. The eighth began in 257, under Valerian. Both men and women suffered death, some by scourging, some by the sword, and some by fire. 9. The ninth was under Aurelian, in 274; but this was inconsiderable, compared with the others before mentioned. 10. The tenth began in the nineteenth year of Diocletian, 303. In this dreadful persecution, which lasted ten years, houses filled with Christians were set on fire, and whole droves were tied together with ropes and thrown into the sea. It is related that 17,000 were slain in one month’s time; and that during the continuance of this persecution, in the province of Egypt alone, no less than 144,000 Christians died by the violence of their persecutors; besides 700,000 that died through the fatigues of banishment, or the public works to which they were condemned.” The tribulation of “ten days” mentioned in the testimony to the Smyrna church, may well apply to the last of the ten persecutions, which continued ten years. Second Seal. “And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red; and power was given to him that sat thereon, to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another; and there was given unto him a great sword.” The red horse denotes blood and carnage, and refers to the times of persecution suffered by the Smyrna church. “Given unto him a great sword,” denotes that the persecuting power would have great authority, and that the slaughter of the church of Jesus Christ would be very great. Second Beast. “And the second beast was like a calf.” It is also said at the opening of the second seal, “I heard the second beast say, Come and see.” This second beast is the representation of the church. It was like a calf, and shows that the church would be given to the slaughter like a calf fatted for the market, during the Smyrna period of the church, and the second seal.117 Third Church. “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write: These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges: I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is; and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” Rev. ii, 12-16. This period reached from Constantine, about 313, down to the rise of anti-christ, about 538. During this period the church became very earthly, having her worldly policy, and, like the church of this day, attending to the ceremonies and forms of religion, and neglecting inward piety, the graces of the Spirit, and the life and power of the religion of Jesus. Here was the falling away mentioned by Paul. 2 Thess. ii, 3. Much fault is found with this church, and it is here called upon to repent. This was the age that prepared the church to receive to her bosom the monster, “man of sin,” “son of perdition.” Third Seal. “And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.” “This seal,” says Wm. Miller, “was opened in the days of Constantine, when religion became popular, and was a stepping-stone to power; and this seal agrees with the Pergamos church as to time and place. The black horse denotes error and darkness; and when the church became connected with worldly power and wisdom, she lost her purity of doctrine and practice, and adopted, in her creed, maxims and principles congenial with the natural heart, and forms and ceremonies for show and parade, rather than the humbling and cross-bearing life of the followers of Jesus. The balances denoted that religion and civil power would be united in the person who would administer the executive power in the government, and that he would claim the judicial authority both in church and state. This was true among the Roman emperors, from the days of Constantine until the reign of Justinian, when he gave the same judicial power to the bishop of Rome. The measures of wheat and barley for a penny denote that the members of the church would be eagerly engaged after worldly goods, and the love of money would be the prevailing spirit of the times, for they would dispose of any thing for money. The oil and wine denote the graces of the Spirit, faith and love, and there was great danger of hurting these, under the influence of so much worldly spirit. And it is well attested, by all historians, that the prosperity of the church in this age produced the corruptions which finally terminated in the falling away, and setting up the anti-christian abominations.” Third Beast. “And the third beast had the face of a man.” At the opening of the third seal it is said, “I heard the third beast say, Come and see.” This third beast which represents the church under the third seal, had a face as a man, and shows that the church in the Pergamos period, and period of the third seal, would be like a natural man, proud, haughty, independent, selfish, ambitious, covetous and worldly. Fourth Church. “And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts; and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, (as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak,) I will put upon you none other burden; but that which ye have already, hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers; even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star.” Rev. ii, 18-28. This testimony well applies to the church of Jesus Christ during the 1260 years of Papal supremacy. This age of dreadful cruelty, and martyrdom of the true church, improved her real condition. “I know thy works, and charity, and patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.” How necessary to the purity and prosperity of the church, has been persecution and affliction; how corrupting and destructive to holiness has been worldly prosperity! Verse 20 is strong testimony that we have correctly applied these churches. Jezebel is a figurative name, alluding to Ahab’s wife, who slew the prophets of the Lord, led her husband into idolatry, and fed the prophets of Baal at her own table. A more striking figure could not have been used to denote the Papal abominations. See 1 Kings xviii, xix, xxi. It is very evident from history, as well as from this verse, that the church of Christ did suffer some of the Papal monks to preach and teach among them. In verse 25 is the charge, “Hold fast till I come.” Here is evidence that some who lived near the close of this age of the church would live until the Lord should come. The signs in the sun and moon were fulfilled in 1780, very near the close of this period; and in reference to these signs the Saviour said, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke xxi, 28. The time had come for the church to look up and expect her coming Lord in the clouds of heaven; hence it is said to some in Thyatira, “Hold fast till I come!” The “end” mentioned in verse 26, can refer to but one event; namely, the end which is elsewhere in Scripture spoken of in connection with the second advent of Jesus Christ. These facts, in the testimony to the church in Thyatira, furnish the strongest proofs that the testimonies to the seven churches are prophetic, covering the whole Christian age. Fourth Seal. “And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” The fourth seal evidently opened with the Papal supremacy, about A. D. 538. And what language could better illustrate the dreadful cruelties of the Papal power on the church of Jesus Christ than the above? Christians were killed with the sword. They were imprisoned and stoned to death. The most cruel and bloody means of torture were invented to inflict death in every possible shape that men and devils could invent. Tens of thousands suffered death under the most excruciating torments that the Inquisition could devise. And after the Papal bloodhounds had glutted their thirst for blood, thousands were thrown to ferocious beasts. The time and place of the opening of this seal cannot be mistaken. It was during the period of Papal supremacy. Fourth Beast. “And the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.” At the opening of the fourth seal it is said, “I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.” This fourth beast, which represented the true church under the fourth seal, was like a flying eagle. “And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.” Rev. xii. Here “a time, times, and half a time” is explained to be 1260 days. These days used in symbolic prophecy are years, and refer to the 1260 years of Papal supremacy. The fourth beast represents the true church during that period. Whiting translates beast in Rev. iv, “living being.” We have now traced the churches, the seals, and the beasts, or living beings, as far as they will compare as covering the same periods of time. The seals are seven in number, the beasts but four. And it may be well here to notice, that at the opening of the first, second, third and fourth seals the first, second, third and fourth beasts are heard to say “Come and see!” but when the fifth, sixth and seventh seals are opened, there is no such voice heard. Neither do the last three churches, and the last three seals, compare, as covering the same periods of time, as the first four churches, and the first four seals do. But, as we have shown, the churches, seals and beasts do agree, as covering the same time for the space of nearly 1800 years, till we come down to a little more than half a century of the present time. Here we close our remarks on this subject for the present. At some future date we shall endeavor to follow down through the remaining seals, and say more respecting the last three churches.