p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 18. (5/4/1904)

Earlier text: MAGNIFICENT DRESSED DOLL GIVEN

LESSON VII.—THE SEVEN SEALS.

(Study for Sabbath, May 14.)

General Note.—In the vision of the seven churches we studied the spiritual history of the church of Christ as developed in seven successive eras, or periods, from apostolic days to the end of time. The seven seals naturally suggest a line of prophecy covering the same periods, bringing out additional phases of history. The series of the seven churches gives a view of the church of Christ in the midst of apostasy and through the experiences of the latter days. This series of the seven seals gives a view of the falling away and the history of the apostate church in alliance with the world, through these same periods to the long years of papal supremacy. While the sixth in the series of the seven churches brings us to the Advent movement of 1840-44, and to the generation that is to see the coming of the Lord, the sixth seal in this series now to be studied, by an abrupt change from symbolic to literal prophecy, deals with the signs of the second advent and the scenes of the end. Thus there is a distinct parallel in the idea of the advent in the sixth stage of each series, while in each the seventh touches eternity.

QUESTIONS.

1. What was to be revealed to John in this vision? Rev. 4:1, last part.

2. How were the successive scenes of history to be unfolded to the view? Ch. 5:2.

3. Describe the opening of the first seal. What was seen? What did the rider do? Ch. 6:1, 2. Note 1. What is represented by the scene?

4. Describe the opening of the second seal. What was seen?—The work of the red horse. What is represented by the symbol? Verses 3, 4. Note 2.

5. What was seen as the third seal was opened? What words were heard? What stage of history is covered by the third seal? Verses 5, 6. Note 3.

6. As worldliness and apostasy are specially rising up again in the last falling away, what is our danger? 2 Tim. 3:1-5; Luke 21:34-36.

7. What came with the opening of the fourth seal? What fearful work was done? What special era in history answers to this description? Rev. 6:7, 8. Note 4.

8. What was seen with the opening of the fifth seal? What cry came forth? What did the prophet see accomplished? Verses 9-11. Note 5.

9. Having been brought in the history to the last days, with what events does the sixth seal open? Verses 12, 13. The "great" earthquake at Lisbon occurred in 1755.

10. What does Christ say of these same signs? Matt. 24:29, 30.

11. What is the word to our generation? Matt. 24:32-35.

NOTES.

1. The rider on the white horse, going forth to conquer, fitly symbolizes the apostolic church going forth in the conquering power of the Gospel in its purity. See Acts 8:4; Col. 1:2, 3. Compare Rev. 2:2, 3, the message to the apostolic church in the prophecy of the seven churches. In the study of the messages to the seven churches we found that, while the principles involved in each message have lessons for all time, the specifications applied particularly to distinct and successive eras. So, while the symbolism of each of these seals teaches lessons applicable in all time, it will be seen that they, too, have a specific application to the same successive eras in history covered by the prophecy of the seven churches.

2. The symbols of the second seal fitly represent the falling away of the great body of the church from primitive purity after apostolic days. "Errors began to arise, worldliness came in. The ecclesiastical power sought the alliance of the secular. Troubles and commotions were the result." See the reference to the apostate professors in this second era of the church, in the message to the loyal ones in Rev. 2:9. Worldliness and compromise and dependence upon fleshly power must ever work the same. Note that the principles involved in each stage of the great controversy are living issues for all time.

3. In the third era of the church, say from Constantine's day, A. D. 321, to the full establishment of the Papacy, A. D. 538, we found in the message to the third, or Pergamos, church, that the believers were in great peril because of Satan's very seat being in their midst. The church of the apostasy had fully joined the world. Black is the fit symbol of this stage. See Matt. 6:23. As worldliness and commercialism came in, the oil and wine of the Spirit's grace leaked out.

4. Compare with the description of the apostate influences, under which the loyal believers suffered in the fourth, or Thyatira, stage of the seven churches. Rev. 2:18-20. The apostate church (A. D. 538 and onward through the long period of its supremacy) is there described as the persecuting Jezebel, and the teachings as the doctrine of Satan. In this fourth seal, the symbolism scarcely needs interpretation, so vividly does it picture the dark days of papal rule. "Hell" or "hades" (R.V.), the grave. See Dan. 7:25.

5. The fifth, or Sardis, period in the series of seven churches covered the church of the Reformation, the Protestant era, approaching the time of the rise of the special Advent movement. Here the fifth seal plainly suggests the blood of the martyrs and of the faithful of past ages crying out to God to end the long reign of apostasy and sin. Compare Gen. 4:10; Heb. 11:4. When great Babylon is dealt with, in her will be found the blood of all that have been slain upon the earth; for the principles of apostasy have been the same in all ages. Rev. 18:24. Compare Matt. 23:34, 35.

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This Quarter's Lesson Helps

By Editor

No. 1. The Seven Churches and the Seven Seals

A pamphlet specially prepared to aid the teacher and student in the study of the present series of lessons for the senior and youths' classes. It is a valuable contribution to the interest in and profitableness of this series. None should be without it. Ten cents will pay for it to any address, post-paid.

No. 2. Thoughts on the Revelation

Another good help in the preparation of the lessons on the Seven Churches and the Seven Seals is the book, Thoughts on the Revelation. It is a verse-by-verse examination of the entire book of Revelation; so the portions of the Revelation in which are found these wonderful prophecies of the Seven Churches and the Seven Seals, receive due attention and comment.

404 pages, paper cover, 25 cents post-paid.

No. 3. The Great Nations of To-day

By A. T. Jones

Do the great nations of to-day have a place in the prophecies of the Bible? The author of this book clearly shows that they do, as well as the great nations of ancient times. The main prophecies concerning these nations of the present day are found in the book of Revelation. The Revelation, however, is considered by many as a sealed book, and some need a guide in the study of its prophecies in order to arrive at right conclusions.

The book, Great Nations of To-day, is such a guide, and opens up to the reader wonderful treasures of wisdom, which God has given for the benefit of His children living at this time.

Students and teachers of the International Series of Sabbath-school Lessons on the Seven Churches and the Seven Seals are finding this book a great help in the preparation of their lessons.

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The Gospel of Outdoors and Indoors

In a recent sermon on "The Good News of Outdoors," preached at Cornell University, Dr. Francis E. Clark, President of the United Societies of the Christian Endeavorers, while lauding the blessings of field and forest and river and mountain, pertinently remarks: "I do not think that the Gospel of Outdoors is a substitute for the Gospel of Indoors; that because a man can find God in the woods therefore he does not need to look for and listen to Him in the church; that the gospel of the brook takes the place of the Gospel of the Book. . . . He who does not find God in the sanctuary and in His Word will not often find Him in His works, for God must be in us first, to interpret God without us." And this is true; and it is also true, as Dr. Clark intimates, that God comes into our hearts only through faith in the Gospel of His Word. As has been aptly remarked, "The leaf of the forest must be read, if rightly read, through the leaf from His Word." Then, indeed, how delightful is nature, which continually reveals to us, despite the ravages and perversions of sin, the glories of a wonder-working God.

Infallibility

A well-known Catholic priest, Peter C. Yorke, of this city, has the following to say in a recent sermon on infallibility, as quoted in the San Francisco Examiner:—

The gift of infallibility is also necessary if we are to have a sure revelation. . . . Infallibility means that there is in the church the power of declaring without error that such and such a doctrine is the teaching of Christ. It is required in all societies that there be a supreme judge of controversies. Such a supreme judge must in the church be infallible in questions of faith and morals. This office also Christ gave to Peter. He foretold how Satan would sift the apostles as wheat is sifted. How He had prayed for Peter that his faith should not fail, and then gave him the commission, "Confirm thy brethren."

In this the Roman Catholic head becomes a test of its own infallibility. That is, the Papacy presumes as an infallible tribunal to pass upon the authority of certain scripture and scripture interpretations, and then it uses those interpretations to prove its infallibility. This is circular reasoning with a vengeance. There is one thing infallible, God's Word. That Word in itself demonstrates its own infallibility by its inherent morality, its response to human need, the fulfilment of its predictions; and man—any man—is infallible only when he is in perfect harmony with the infallible Word. Jesus said of Himself, "If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true." All that He said and did was but the demonstration of the Word in life, in teaching, in action. And he who will yield to that Word will ever have a twofold witness that he is accepted of God. He will need no self-constituted authority, no papal bull to approve or confirm his course. He will learn that "the head of every man is Christ." In matters of primal importance in the early church the apostle Peter was justly rebuked and properly corrected by the apostle Paul.

CONTAINED IN THIS NUMBER.

Poetry. May, MRS. SUSAN BIRDSALL ROBERTS . . . . . . . . . . 2 The Beauty of Duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Plenty of Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 This Wide, Wide World, THORO HARRIS . . . . . . 12 Thy Will . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

General. Mountains and Visions of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 The Medium of Life, WILLIAM COVERT . . . . . . . 2 Taking God at His Word, ELIZABETH M. PATTON . . . . . . 3 The New Year and the Sabbath, A. SMITH . . . . 4 The Russo-Eastern Question Prophetically and Historically Considered, BRYN MAWR . . . . . . . 4 How They Became Convinced (A Sabbath Symposium) . . . . . 5 Editorial.—Self-worship and Its End—"The Jewish Sabbath"—The "Salt of the Earth"—The Reproach of Feet-Washing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 7 Question Corner—Nos. 1497, 1498 . . . . . . . . . . 7 Outlook.—The Liquor-License Evil—Church and State—Thus They Weave It Together—Can It Be True? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 9 The Home.—Neatness and Order in the Home, MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE—Aston Hall, England, C. H. CASTLE—Literary Notices . . . . . . . 10, 11 Missions.—Persecuted for Christ's Sake in India, Miss GRACE STEPHENS—A Mission among the African Pygmies—How Much for the Lord?—"Working for God" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 13 International Sabbath-school Lesson, The Seven Seals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 International Sunday-school Lesson, The Prodigal Son . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Publishers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Peace, Peace

By Editor

Peace, Peace.—Out of this trouble in the Far East there will doubtless come a patched-up peace. We do not look for this war to continue long. God's work is not done—His sealing work among the nations. Rev. 7: 1-3. Until that time comes the winds of strife will be held; when that work is over, then Armageddon.

Accidents and Disasters

Accidents and Disasters.—Statistics show that the loss of life in this country, from the above causes, during 1903, was as follows: "Fires, 1,792; drowning, 2,471; explosions, 736; falling buildings, etc., 474; steam railways, 4,090; electric railways, 573; electricity, 156; mines, 788; cyclones and storms, 487; lightning, 139; total, 11,706." Those killed are sufficient in number to make a thriving city.

Parole Reform for San Quentin Prisoners

By Editor

We acknowledge receipt of a circular from the life-term prisoners of San Quentin, Cal., in which they desire assistance in a proposed petition to the State Legislature, asking an amendment to the Parole Law. In order to get on parole after seven years of service and good behavior, the prisoner must deposit $25 with the prison directors; must clothe himself anew from head to foot; must first secure employment from some honorable employer, and then have the money with which to pay his fare to the place of employment. This is a practical bar to the parole privilege in many cases; as only a favored few have the means or have friends who would advance the amount necessary to comply with these conditions. It does seem like an injustice to provide clemency for prisoners who earn it by good behavior, and then place it out of reach by impossible financial requirement. The petitioners do not plead innocence of crime; but they plead penitence, and ask for mercy at the hands of the people. Surely a law purporting to give relief to worthy subjects ought not to be limited to those who are fortunate enough to have fifty or sixty dollars, or friends to assist them. We hope their petition will receive such consideration as will conserve the interests of justice and mercy.

Begin a New Life Today

"If I could only live life over again," moans some despairing soul, "how differently would I live it!" and then the soul goes on in the same old way. Now, friend, if you would do differently could you live life over again, why not begin to do differently now? Do you not see that your failure to begin anew now is an evidence that you would do no different if past life were given you anew. In Jesus Christ you may begin a new life to-day. You can leave the past with its disappointed hopes, and start anew in God, an actually new life from this time forward. In Him—

"Every day is a fresh beginning, Every morn is a day made new, You who are weary of sorrow and sinning, Here is a beautiful hope for you, A hope for me and a hope for you."

Still Selling

By Editor

Still Selling.—The Labor and Capital number of the Signs of the Times was issued last December, but is still selling—and ought to till every family in the land has had an opportunity to secure a copy. One of our workers in Dayton, Ohio, F. H. Henderson, writes under date of March 29 that the above-named issue of the Signs is still in demand. He says:

"I am selling right along at 10 cents each. I have but little time to devote to this line of work, but am satisfied that one could be self-supporting in the house-to-house canvass for it. It sells just as readily as when it first came out."

Let others take up the work. The time is now ripe for the circulation of such matter as is contained in that issue. The reduced price is one and one-half cents per copy in lots of 25 or more. Address this office.

The Dangers of Hypnotism

When Hypnotism becomes a complete success it will defeat not a few of its own promises, and disappoint the majority of its devotees. Among other things it promises to make its disciples successful business men, successful in leading others as the hypnotists will, successful lawyers, ministers, etc., successful in resisting the influence of others. Now, when all understand the science, when all have developed into hypnotists, what field will be left? The hypnotizer will find his subject resisting, the promoter of wildcat schemes will find his victims fortified; the sinners will through hypnotism resist the hypnotizing minister, and the judge and jury instructed by this new "science" will turn aside the power of the hypnotizing lawyer. What good will the "science" be? The simple fact is that the whole thing is based on Satanic principle, the control of another's intellect and will. It dates from the suggestion of the serpent in Eden of old. Any power that would place one human under absolute control of another is not of God. Any one who yields his will and mind to the control of the creature makes himself a slave in a worse bondage than Israel in Egypt ever knew. Never, never, yield your mind, your will, to any being in the universe save God. By yielding it to Him, He sets it free, and maintains its freedom.

Eyelight

"Eyelight," or the light of the human, is a very uncertain sort of light. It depends wholly on the heart behind the eye. The eye is the light of the body. If the eye, the outlook, the purpose, is single to God's glory, to the light which streams from His Word, the whole body shall be full of light. But if the eye be evil, double, selfish, the whole body shall be full of darkness. Matt. 6:22, 23. Eyelight is very uncertain; it depends too much on the eye. He with the right eye does not depend upon his eye, but on the light the eye receives from God. He with an evil eye depends upon his eye and walks in darkness. The purpose of the eye is to receive light, not give it. The only true Light is Christ Jesus, the Light of the world.

France and Alcoholism

France and Alcoholism.—According to United States Consul Atwell more alcohol is consumed by France per capita than by any other country. Statistics reveal that last year the consumption reached, in France, was 4.81 gallons a head. The people of Germany are said to have drunk 2.44 gallons; of England, 2.35 gallons; the Swiss, 3.32; the United States, 1.37 gallons. Canada, strange to say, was the most temperate of all, only .51 of a gallon per capita was drunk. In France there is a saloon to every 853 persons, or 464,556 grog-shops all told. What an awful shame!

The Vegetarian Cook Book

By Editor

There are many who would relinquish a flesh diet if they only knew how to secure or prepare appetizing vegetable dishes. They do not enjoy good health under a meat regimen. They are ever and anon alarmed at the evidence that comes to them of its diseased condition, and at the cases of ptomain poisoning. But they do not know what to do. Well, let us tell them one good help to secure a good diet without resorting to flesh meats: Secure "The Vegetarian Cook Book," by E. G. Fulton, published by the Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal. It covers the whole needed range of dietary; its price is only 75 cents, and it will help you to save health and money.

Leo X.’s Wealth

Leo X.’s Wealth.—The report current not long ago declaring that an amount of money equal to $9,000,000 had been laid before Pope Pius by Cardinal Gotti, who said that the late pope had put it into his hands for safe-keeping, has been denied in toto. It is said that no such amount was lost or found.