2-8. the fourteenth verse, which intermediate verse is evidently parenthetical. Armageddon signifies "mountain of destruction," also mountain of delights," and "mountain of the Gospel." The comprehensiveness, or varied meaning of this word, is doubtless significant of the circumstances and events connected with it, and we may infer from it, that the place of gathering is in Christendom, where Antichrist will bear rule, and exercise dominion, the ten kings giving their strength and power unto the beast: for mountain, in the symbolical language of this book signifies a government. And as it is on apostate Christendom that the last act of judgment will fall, so here it is that CHRIST's saints will be revealed in glory, when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our LORD and of His CHRIST. The prophet Isaiah speaking of this last act of judgment upon Isa. xxxiv. the nations of Apostate Christendom, says, "The indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and His fury upon all their armies: He hath utterly destroyed them, He hath delivered them to the slaughter. Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood. And all the hosts of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll; and all their host shall fall down as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. For it is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, and the year of the recompenses for the controversy of Zion." The language of this prophecy strikingly accords with that of the sixth seal, trumpet, and vial, and indeed with the whole fourfold form of the prophecy of this period: for the Epistle speaks of a remnant which shall escape the hour of judgment, and of those that shall be made of the synagogue of 45. Satan. An allusion to the name Armageddon may also be traced in Daniel's prophecy of the fall of Antichrist and his confederate hosts, when tidings out of Dan. xi. 44, the east and out of the north shall trouble him. For he shall hear of "the kings of the east," or in other words, of the risen saints coming with the LORD to judgment; "and he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacle of his palace between the seas in the glorious Holy mountain,"-or as it reads in the margin-" the mountain of delight of holiness,' "and he shall come to his end and none shall help him." For he shall fall by the sword of the LORD of Hosts as declared in the nineteenth chapter of this book. "And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse and against His army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived those that had received the mark of the beast, and those that worship his image. These both were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain by the sword of Him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of His mouth and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." The place of gathering also, being expressly said to be in "the Hebrew tongue," seems to suggest the idea that we should turn to the Old Testament Scriptures for prophetic intimations of this gathering. We have already noticed the prophetic word of the Hebrew Scriptures in relation to the events of this period: and in respect to typical persons and events, we may men- Isa. xxxvii. tion those of Sennacherib's host, of Sisera, of Midian, Judg. v. and of Pharaoh. 36. Judg. vi. 22. PART XII. THE EPISTLE TO THE CHURCH IN LAODICEA. THE SEVENTH We now enter upon the Seventh or last period of the Christian dispensation. And if we have been sensible of the holiness of the ground, over which we have already passed; if we have trodden it with slow and solemn pace, expatiating on its fulness with gratitude and awe, as every footstep opened to us fresh mysteries, we are so far prepared to enter on the last scene which now presents itself to us, under that fourfold form of prophecy, which closes the present age. Proceeding then, with our interpretation of the prophecies belonging to this period, with the advantage of the light we have received, we commence, as before, with its spiritual phase, revealed in THE SEVENTH EPISTLE. Rev. iii. 14- 14 And unto the angel of the Church of the Laodiceans write : These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of GOD; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: If any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My FATHER in His throne. 22 He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Believing, as we do, that the epistolary form of prophecy is so arranged and constructed as to guide us in its interpretation, the name of the Church to which this Epistle is addressed, first claims our attention. The name of Laodicea, like that of Philadelphia, is clear and unequivocal, signifying the popular voice or public opinion-the judgment and righteousness of the people. Laodicea is compounded of aòs a people, and Sixalos just-a people which justify themselves, a self-righteous and self-contained people. We may gather, therefore, from the meaning of this name, that the subject matter of the Epistle is to instruct and admonish a people who judge of the righteousness of things, not in the light of the HOLY GHOST, nor by the Word of GOD which endureth for ever in heaven, but by the tribunal of the people. The significancy of the name inscribed in this Epistle, in relation to the condition of the Church, will become more evident, as we meditate on what is written therein. "These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of GOD." This threefold title, by which the great Shepherd addresses Rev. v. His last Epistle to the Church, is peculiarly applicable to its condition and to the things which are now to be fulfilled. 1st. The LORD designates Himself, The Amen." By this title He was known of old. Hence it is writIsa. Lxv. 16. ten by Isaiah, "He that blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the GOD of truth, and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the GOD of truth,” which reads in the Hebrew, "The GoD Amen." This name comprehends all fulness and perfection. As the Amen, He fulfils the purpose of GOD, and sanctions and confirms every truth and act in His Church. Therefore, "When the four living creatures say Amen, the four and twenty elders fall down and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever." The word "Amen," is likewise expressive of the certainty of things; and in this sense S. Paul uses it in his Epistle to the Corinthians, "But as GOD is true, our word towards you was not yea and nay; for the SON of GOD, JESUS CHRIST, Who was preached among you by us, even by me, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in Him was yea for all the promises of GOD in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of GOD by us." The Amen being put in opposition to the nay, shows that it is expressive of immutability. Thus the announcement of the LORD's Advent at the beginning of this book, is confirmed by the words, Vide Rev. i. "Yea, Amen." And the promise that He cometh 2 Cor. i. 1820. 7. Vide Rev. xxii. 20. : quickly, is made sure in like manner, at the closing of the prophecy, "Even so, Amen." The Amen has also especial reference to GoD's acts. The Christian dispensation, properly speaking, is the age of realities and not of shadows or words only. It commenced by acting, even by that most wonderful and mysterious of |