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thus did he succeed in producing her most successful enemy out of her own bosom. This becomes the subject of the next chapter.

On consulting the writings of the commentators most approved in this country, I find, that by the dragon is generally understood the pagan and persecuting power of Imperial Rome. But, I trust, a few observations will shew the fallacy of this notion.

Where an interpretation is expressly given in the vision, as in ch. i. 20; v. 6, 9; xvii. 7. &c.; that interpretation must be used as the key to the mystery, in preference to all interpretations suggested by the imagination of man. Now in the 9th verse of this chapter such an interpretation is presented; the dragon is there expressly declared to be "that ancient

serpent," (agxaios, a' de̟xy,) called "the Devil;" known by the name of Aaboλos in the Greek, and of Satan in the Hebrew; "who deceiveth the whole "world." Here are his names, and his acknowledged character. No words can more completely express them. No Roman emperor, nor succession of emperors, can answer to this description. The same dragon appears again in ch. xx. 2. and, (as it were, to prevent mistake,) he is there described in the very same words. But this re-appearance of the same dragon is in a very late period of the Apocalyptic history; long after the expiration of the 1260 days, or years; and even after the wild-beast and false prophet, (who derive their power from the dragon during this period,) are come to their end*. And the

Ch. xix. 20.

dragon

dragon is upon the scene long after these times, and continues in action even at the end of another long period, a period of a thousand years*. He there pursues his ancient artifices, "deceiving the nations," even till his final catastrophe, in ch. xx. 10, when the warfare of the Church is finished. Can this dragon then be an emperor of Rome? or any race or dynasty of emperors? Can he be any other than that ancient and eternal enemy of the Christian Church, who in this, as in all other Scriptural accounts, is represented as the original contriver of all the mischief which shall befall it? In this drama, he acts the same consistent part, from beginning to end. He is introduced to early notice, as warring against the Church; as possessing a seat, or throne of power, in a great city inimical to the Christians; as the author of doctrines corruptive of Religion, which are called "the depths of Satan." The evils brought on the Church under the Trumpets, particularly the third and fifth, are ascribed to him. In the succeeding conflicts, the Church is attacked by his agents; by the wild-beast and false prophet §, who derive their power from him; and at length he himself is described, as leading the nations against the camp of the Saints . Nothing appears more plain than the meaning of this symbol. The only appearances which may seem to favour the application of it to Imperial Rome are, the seven crowned heads, and the ten horns of the dragon. But the number seven is of great universality: and although seven heads, or seven mountains, are in another prophecy

Ch. xx. 7,
Ch. xiii.

† Ch. ii. 10. 13. || Ch. xx. 9.

† Ch. ii. 24.

applied

applied to Rome in a particular sense, which may properly designate that city; yet, they have a much more extended and general signification, expressive of the immense influence of Satan in the councils of this world. In a particular sense also, the seven mountains and ten horns of the latter Roman empire are fitly attributed to Satan, because during the period of 1260 years, and perhaps beyond it, he makes use of the Roman empire, its capital city, and ten kings or kingdoms, as the instruments of his successful attack on the Christian Church. Joseph Mede, when he had no favourite hypothesis immediately in view, clearly saw and acknowledged the obvious interpretation of this symbol; and, in one of his learned sermons, has justly described the parties engaged in this spiritual conflict: 1. Satan, and his angels; 2. the woman and her seed. If the Roman emperors are at all concerned in this warfare, it is only as subministrant agents of this arch-enemy of the Church. The dragon therefore appears to me, as he did to Venerable Bede, eleven centuries ago, to be “Dia"bolus, potentiâ terreni regni armatus t." worldly agents, whom he principally employs to carry on the warfare thus begun, will be described in the ensuing chapter.

* Mede's Works, p. 236.

The

† Bedæ Com. in loc.;-" the Devil, armed with the power of "worldly dominion."

PART

PART IV.

SECTION III.

The Wild-beast from the Sea.

CHAP. xii. 18.

18Καὶ ἐςάθην ἐπὶ τὴν ἄμμον τῆς θαλάτ

Καὶ εἶδον ἐκ τῆς 1 σης. θαλάσσης θηρίον α

ναβαῖνον, ἔχον κέρατα δέκα καὶ κεφαλὰς ἁπλὰ· καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν κεράτων αὐτῷ δέκα διαδήματα, καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς κεφαλὰς αὐτὲ ονομαλα βλασφημία 2 ας. Καὶ τὸ θηρίον ὃ εἶδον, ἦν ὅμοιον παρ δάλει, και οι πόδες αὐτῷ ὡς ἄρκλε, καὶ τὸ τόμα αὐτῷ ὡς σόμα λέοντα καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ δράκων τὴν δύναμιν αὑτῶ, καὶ τὸν θρόνον αὑτῷ, καὶ ἐξεσίαν μεγάλην. 3 Καὶ μίαν ἐκ τῶν κεφαλῶν αὐτῷ ὡς ἐσφαγμένην εἰς θάκαλον καὶ ἡ πληγή το θανάτε αὐτό ἐθεραπεύθη· καὶ ἐθαυμάσιν ὅλη ἡ γῆ ὀπίσω τα θηρία. 4. Καὶ προσεκύνησαν τῷ δράκοντι, ὅτι ἔδω κεν τὴν ἐξεσίαν

CHAP, xiii. 1-11.

18 And I was stationed on the sand of the sea. 1 And I saw a wild-beast rising up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and upon his ten horns diadems, and upon his heads names of blas2 phemy. And the wildbeast, which I like a leopard; and his fect as those of a bear; and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his

saw, was

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1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of 2 blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his powe er, and his seat, and 3 great authority. And I saw one of his heads, as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast?

who is able to make 5 war with him? And

θηρίῳ, καὶ προσε
κύνησαν τῷ θηρίῳ,
λέγοντες· Τίς ὅμοιος |
τῷ θηρίῳ; καὶ Τίς
δύναται πολεμῆσαι
Καὶ

5 μετ' αὐτῇ ;
ἐδόθη αὐτῷ τόμα
λαλῶν μεγάλα καὶ
βλασφημίας, καὶ
ἐδόθη αὐτῷ ἐξεσία
[ποιησαι] μήνας
τεσσαράκοντα δύο.

6 Καὶ ἤνοιξε τὸ ςόμα
αὑτῶ εἰς βλασφη
μίαν πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν,
βλασφημῆσαι τὸ ὅ-
νομα αὐτῷ, καὶ τὴν
σκηνὴν αὐτῇ, [καὶ] τὸς
ἐν τῷ ἐξανῷ σκηνᾶν
7 τας. Καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτ
τῷ πόλεμον ποιῆσαι
μετὰ τῶν ἁγίων, καὶ
νικῆσαι αὐτές· καὶ
ἐδόθη αὐτῷ ἐξεσία
ἐπὶ πᾶσαν φυλὴν καὶ
8 λαὸν καὶ γλῶσσαν
καὶ ἔθνος. Καὶ
προσκυνήσεσιν αὐτ
τὸν πάνες οἱ καλοι-
κάλες ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς,
ὧν ἐ γέγραπίαι τὸ
ὀνόμα ἐν τῷ βίβλιῳ
τῆς ζωῆς τὸ ἀρνία |
τῇ ἐσφαγμένο, από
καταβολής κόσμο.
9 Εἴ τις ἔχει ἧς, ακο
10 σάτω. Εἴ τις αιχ
μαλωσίαν συνάγει,
εἰς αιχμαλωσίαν
ὑπάγειν εἴ TIS ἐν
μαχαίρᾳ ἀποκλενεῖ,

"unto the beast, and

"who is able to make 5 " war with him?” And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies: and there was given to him power [to continue in action] forty - two months. 6 And he opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, [and] those who dwell in 7 heaven. And it was

given him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. And power was given to him over every tribe, and people, and language, and nation: 8 And all who dwell on the earth shall worship him; they whose name is not written in the book of life of the

9

Lamb, which was sacrificed from the foundation of the world. If any one have an ear, 10 let him hear. If any one leadeth into captivity, into captivity he goes. If any one shall slay with the sword, he must be slain with the sword. Herein is the patience

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unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell up

on the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the 9 world. If any man

have an ear, let him 10 hear. He that leadeth

into captivity, shall go into captivity: he that

killeth with the sword, 'must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of saints.

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